Fentanyl Pain Patches May Cause Serious Injury, Accidental Death

Fentanyl is a narcotic pain reliever designed to treat chronic pain. Fentanyl is marketed under the name Duragesic, Actiq, Fentora and Sublimaze, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

The medication is administered through injections, lozenges or adhesive skin patches that release the medication over an extended time. Unfortunately, some patients who are prescribed the potent medication suffer life-threatening side effects and death.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the skin patches to treat patients with moderate to severe chronic pain who had become opioid tolerant. But the FDA has received numerous reports of patient deaths and serious complications after doctors inappropriately prescribed the medication to relieve pain in patients with headaches or mild pain who were not opioid tolerant.

Fentanyl is more powerful than morphine, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The amount of fentanyl in one of the lowest strength patches is enough to cause dangerous side effects for patients who are not opioid tolerant, according to the FDA.

Side Effects of Fentanyl Patches

The prescription medication can be extremely dangerous for adults, leading to accidental overdose and death. Signs of an accidental Fentanyl overdose include trouble breathing, sudden drop in blood pressure, a slowed heartbeat, clammy skin, and feeling faint or dizzy.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a public health advisories on the dangers of the drug in 2005 and 2007 after receiving reports of a number of fentanyl-related deaths were reported.

In September 2013, the FDA required color changes to the Duragesic pain patches so that they are more visible to prevent accidental exposures. The FDA asked makers of generic brands to make similar changes. Patches that are not stuck on tightly may fall off or stick to someone in close contact such as a child.

Fentanyl Patches Pose Fatal Risk to Children

Fentanyl patches can be deadly for children if they are accidentally exposed to them. The FDA sent out Drug Safety advisories in 2005 and 2007 to parents, caregivers and health-care professionals, warning of the consequences of improper storage and disposal of fentanyl patches.

If a child puts a fentanyl patch in the mouth or applies it to the skin, it can cause a deadly overdose, according to the FDA.

According to the FDA’s Division of Medication Error Prevention and Analysis, the FDA knows of 32 cases in which children, most of them younger than 2, were accidentally exposed to fentanyl since 1997. Twelve exposures resulted in death of the children, and 12 required hospitalization, the article reports.

If someone in your family is using fentanyl to treat pain, be aware of the dangers it poses.

People who are injured by dangerous drugs may be legally entitled to hold the drug manufacturer responsible through a product liability lawsuit for injuries and deaths caused by the drugs. If someone in your family suffers such an injury, contact an experienced attorney who can help you obtain compensation for your loss.