Do You Have These Duragesic Patch Side Effects?

Constant Monitoring Of Patient Is In Order To Avoid Dangerous Side Effects

The pharmaceutical company PriCara distributes transdermal pain patches under the brand name Duragesic. The fentanyl in these is a powerful opioid, about 100 times stronger than morphine. If the product is defective or used incorrectly, serious Duragesic patch side effects can occur, including a potentially fatal overdose.

This drug is prescribed by doctors for patients with severe chronic pain, particularly those conditioned to narcotics (such as cancer patients), and only after lesser painkillers have proved ineffective. The opioid is stored in a reservoir inside the patch, which is intended to deliver the medication over a period of 72 hours. Direct or increased exposure carries the risk of an overdose.

Fentanyl use commonly carries mild adverse effects that you may recognize from other medicines. These may be normal for most patients, and include:

• Nausea

• Constipation

• Stomach pain

• Headache

However, more serious adverse effects include:

• Liver damage

• Severe allergic reaction

• Hyperventilation

• Addiction

Of course, the risk of a fentanyl overdose is perhaps the most dangerous. Signs are characteristic of central nervous system depression and can end in death, including:

• Slowed heartbeat

• Slowed breathing

• Pinpoint pupils

• Cold, clammy skin

• Fainting

• Seizures

Anyone who experiences these symptoms after using a fentanyl transdermal system should immediately contact a health care provider, as an overdose can lead to a fatal respiratory depression, where the victim stops breathing.

The risk of overdose is especially high for those who are not already conditioned to narcotics. Unfortunately, the FDA has reported that some doctors have been prescribing Duragesic for uses other than serious chronic pain relief, such as headaches. This is despite the fact that the drug’s warnings stress that it should only be used when less potent medications have not been effective and when around-the-clock relief is required.

The FDA has already issued several public health advisories, emphasizing potential misuses of the product that can result in dangerously high levels of the potent opioid. Duragesic currently includes many black box warnings, which indicate that the medication carries a significant risk of serious or even life-threatening adverse effects. Patients should always read the full prescribing information on their medications, but it is particularly important with a drug such as this where serious injury can occur.

Some patients who have been injured after using this medication have sought legal help. Anyone who has suffered an injury after using the drug may want to consider consulting a drug liability attorney. Product liability lawsuits can be extremely complex, but a knowledgeable lawyer or team of lawyers with expertise in the field will be able to suggest the best course of action and determine whether the details of any specific case are appropriate for legal action.

Of course, research is vital for any legal matter. Using a directory such as LegalTube can help those who have suffered injury from these drugs find an experienced Duragesic patch lawyer.