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Fentanyl® is a prescription pain-reliever designed to treat chronic, long-lasting pain.
How does Fentanyl® Work?
Fentanyl® is released into the body via a patch on the skin. Fentanyl® is first absorbed into the body’s fat, and from there is released into the blood-stream, at which point it begins to take effect.
Are There any Possible Health-Related Risks?
There are a number of very serious side effects associated with Fentanyl®, including death, coma, and long-term, severe respiratory problems. In addition, a number of patients prescribed Fentanyl® have suffered life-threatening overdoses of the drug directly resulting from faulty patches.
Furthermore, these leaking patches are potentially hazardous and life-threatening to anyone else whose skin may come into contact with the drug.
The FDA Issued a Public Health Advisory on Fentanyl® on July 1, 2009, stating, "Despite issuing an advisory in July 2005 that emphasized the safe use of the fentanyl patch, FDA continues to receive reports of death and life-threatening side effects in patients who use the fentanyl patch. The reports indicate that doctors have inappropriately prescribed the fentanyl patch to patients for acute pain following surgery, for headaches, occasional or mild pain, and other indications for which a fentanyl patch should not be prescribed. In addition, the reports indicate that patients are continuing to incorrectly use the fentanyl patch by replacing the patch more frequently than directed in the fentanyl patch instructions, applying more patches than prescribed, or applying a heat source to the patch, all resulting in dangerously high fentanyl levels in the blood."
What are the Specific Potential Health Risks?
The most serious risks include:
- Death
- Coma
- Cardiac failure
- Aphasia: the loss of the brain’s ability to understand language
Also from the FDA Advisory of 2009: "The fentanyl patch contains fentanyl, a very potent narcotic pain medicine. It is only intended for treating persistent, moderate to severe pain in patients who are opioid-tolerant, meaning those patients who take a regular, daily, around-the-clock narcotic pain medicine. This is extremely important because patients who are opioid-tolerant are more resistant to the dangerous side effects of narcotic pain medicines than patients who only occasionally take these medicines. For patients who are not opioid-tolerant, the amount of fentanyl in one fentanyl patch of the lowest strength is large enough to cause dangerous side effects, such as respiratory depression (severe trouble breathing or very slow or shallow breathing) and death.
FDA is highlighting the following important safety information on the fentanyl skin patch:
The fentanyl patch should only be used by patients who are opioid-tolerant and have chronic pain that is not well controlled with other pain medicines. They are not to be used to treat sudden, occasional, or mild pain or pain after surgery."
All of the the following have been attributed to Fentanyl®: Consult with your physician before you stop taking any medications, including Fentanyl®. Contact Us
If you or someone you know has taken Fentanyl, a legal professional should be consulted immediately. For a free evaluation of your potential claim, call 1-888-446-8087, or fill out an intake form on this website by clicking on "Can We Help You?" on the upper right hand corner of the home page. All cases are taken on a contingency-fee basis, which means the prospective client does not pay for our services unless an award or compensation is received. Â
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