Bravo to the West Virginia judge who fined Johnson & Johnson $4.5 million for sending a brochure with false information about Duragesic pain patch to a physician.
The FDA had warned about the misleading information twice but Johnson & Johnson continued to promote the pain patch without the problem.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Pain Patch Dosing Updated
Manufacturers of a chronic pain patch are changing dosing instructions in order to try to circumvent the potential for overdose risks.
In February 2008, 25 mcg/hr Duragesic patches sold by Janssen-Ortho Inc. and 25 mcg/hr Ran Fentanyl Transdermal System Patches sold by Ranbaxy Laboratories were voluntarily recalled for overdose risks. These pain patches treat persistent to severe chronic pain for people who are getting no pain relief in other products.
The new dose guidelines are to convert adult patients from their current oral or injection therapy to the fentanyl transdermal patch.
People using the pain patches without any problems should not stop or decrease their dosage without talking to their doctors.
In February 2008, 25 mcg/hr Duragesic patches sold by Janssen-Ortho Inc. and 25 mcg/hr Ran Fentanyl Transdermal System Patches sold by Ranbaxy Laboratories were voluntarily recalled for overdose risks. These pain patches treat persistent to severe chronic pain for people who are getting no pain relief in other products.
The new dose guidelines are to convert adult patients from their current oral or injection therapy to the fentanyl transdermal patch.
People using the pain patches without any problems should not stop or decrease their dosage without talking to their doctors.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Coping with Chronic Pain: Duragesic Pain Patch
Chronic pain is something that is affecting a growing number of people. Many of them suffer as a result of diseases like arthritis or cancer. Coping with this kind of pain is not an easy thing. It requires physical therapy and a healthy constitution. Apart from that, the patient needs to be in constant touch with their doctor regarding medication, which forms a large part of chronic pain therapy.
Chronic pain medication falls into three main categories; painkillers, antidepressants and anticonvulsants. Of these three, the painkillers are the most important for many people. They are also the most tricky to prescribe, since different medication work best for different people, depending on their condition. Long-lasting medication is the most beneficial for those who are in constant pain. The Duragesic Patch is one such painkiller that is slow acting, releasing the painkiller into the body via a patch. However this drug has recently come under the spotlight because it has been abused for its high narcotic levels.
The physical therapy for chronic pain relief is just as important as the medication. This includes regular exercise and eating well-balanced, nutritional foods. Smoking and taking daytime naps are two things that should be avoided. Apart from that, patients also undergo occupational and behavioral therapy. These include doing yoga and other exercises to reduce stress. The bottom line is that these methods do not make the chronic pain go away. Instead, they teach the patient how to control it and live a productive life in spite of it.
Chronic pain medication falls into three main categories; painkillers, antidepressants and anticonvulsants. Of these three, the painkillers are the most important for many people. They are also the most tricky to prescribe, since different medication work best for different people, depending on their condition. Long-lasting medication is the most beneficial for those who are in constant pain. The Duragesic Patch is one such painkiller that is slow acting, releasing the painkiller into the body via a patch. However this drug has recently come under the spotlight because it has been abused for its high narcotic levels.
The physical therapy for chronic pain relief is just as important as the medication. This includes regular exercise and eating well-balanced, nutritional foods. Smoking and taking daytime naps are two things that should be avoided. Apart from that, patients also undergo occupational and behavioral therapy. These include doing yoga and other exercises to reduce stress. The bottom line is that these methods do not make the chronic pain go away. Instead, they teach the patient how to control it and live a productive life in spite of it.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Duragesic Pain Patch Settlement Reached
A jury awarded the family of a 38-year-old mother $16.6 million because of her death caused by duragesic pain patch overdose.
The woman suffered reflex sympathetic dystrophy and the drug was prescribed by her physician because of her chronic pain. Johnson & Johnson is the parent company of the Duragesic pain patch.
The lawsuit claimed that the defendants, Titusville, N.J.-based Janssen Pharmaceutica Inc. and Mountain View, Calif.-based ALZA Corp., knew about problems with the Duragesic patch that allowed it to leak fentanyl in doses large enough to kill patients. Both companies maintain that the pain patch is not defective.
The verdict is the fourth trial loss for the companies since 2006 when other families sued and won for pain patch deaths. Some patches containing fentanyl were recalled in February 2008 because of a flaw that could cause them to leak. Those patches were sold in the United States by Actavis South Atlantic LLC.
The woman suffered reflex sympathetic dystrophy and the drug was prescribed by her physician because of her chronic pain. Johnson & Johnson is the parent company of the Duragesic pain patch.
The lawsuit claimed that the defendants, Titusville, N.J.-based Janssen Pharmaceutica Inc. and Mountain View, Calif.-based ALZA Corp., knew about problems with the Duragesic patch that allowed it to leak fentanyl in doses large enough to kill patients. Both companies maintain that the pain patch is not defective.
The verdict is the fourth trial loss for the companies since 2006 when other families sued and won for pain patch deaths. Some patches containing fentanyl were recalled in February 2008 because of a flaw that could cause them to leak. Those patches were sold in the United States by Actavis South Atlantic LLC.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Duragesic: The Flip Side
There are two main reasons why Duragesic pain patch has gained media attention. Duragesic drug can have potentially mortal side effects if used incorrectly.
It is not recommended for all patients. For example, pregnant and nursing women shouldn't take Duragesic. It can't be used with certain medications as well. It's not surprising that a number of patients have unwittingly suffered because they were unaware of the warnings. Duragesic drug also hit the headlines when it was the subject of a product recall.
But now, Duragesic, along with a number of other synthetic drugs, is being linked with overdose cases. Recent reports have shown synthetic narcotics are being used to cut drugs like heroin. Unlike other drugs, these narcotics are made completely in the laboratory, which means that they are extremely potent. Duragesic, in particular, is a strong, slow-working pain killer that should only be used under medical advice. It isn't an everyday pain medication. Duragesic should only be used when chronic, long-term pain starts flaring up and your normal medication doesn’t work.
One of the primary dangers and main lures of Duragesic is the fact that it is almost 80 times more potent than morphine. When heroin is cut with this narcotic, it becomes incredibly strong which is why many users take an amount that they think is normal and end up overdosing. Many drug addicts have taken to stealing Duragesic pain patches as well.
It is not recommended for all patients. For example, pregnant and nursing women shouldn't take Duragesic. It can't be used with certain medications as well. It's not surprising that a number of patients have unwittingly suffered because they were unaware of the warnings. Duragesic drug also hit the headlines when it was the subject of a product recall.
But now, Duragesic, along with a number of other synthetic drugs, is being linked with overdose cases. Recent reports have shown synthetic narcotics are being used to cut drugs like heroin. Unlike other drugs, these narcotics are made completely in the laboratory, which means that they are extremely potent. Duragesic, in particular, is a strong, slow-working pain killer that should only be used under medical advice. It isn't an everyday pain medication. Duragesic should only be used when chronic, long-term pain starts flaring up and your normal medication doesn’t work.
One of the primary dangers and main lures of Duragesic is the fact that it is almost 80 times more potent than morphine. When heroin is cut with this narcotic, it becomes incredibly strong which is why many users take an amount that they think is normal and end up overdosing. Many drug addicts have taken to stealing Duragesic pain patches as well.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Darker Side of Duragesic Pain Patch
An issue of significant concern is that a popular medication has brought along grave risks of serious side effects. Duragesic pain patch has been the cause of so much concern.
What is a pain patch?
A pain patch or a transdermal patch is a medical adhesive that's placed on the skin to deliver a specific dose of medication through the skin into the bloodstream. It works by releasing a chemical substance opiate that has morphine-like action into the body.
How effective is a duragesic pain patch?
Duragesic is very effective as a painkiller as one patch provides relief for almost 72 hours. Patients use fentanyl when all other forms of pain relievers fail.
So what's the problem?
Unfortunately, serious side-effects haunt the use of many skin patches.
Following are the details of a Duragesic pain patch lawsuit that shows its harmful effects.
• A 28-year old man suffered chronic hip pain after a car accident and wore a Duragesic pain patch on his arm.
• He was later found dead at his computer and tests revealed that he had at least three times the lethal dose of fentanyl in his system. • His father filed a lawsuit on behalf of his deceased son.
• The jury in the Federal District Court in West Palm Beach found that Janssen Pharmaceutica Products and Alza Corporation were guilty in the young man’s death and awarded $5.5 million to the father.
This real life-story is an alert to the public to exercise extreme caution while using potent medication such as the Duragesic pain patch.
What is a pain patch?
A pain patch or a transdermal patch is a medical adhesive that's placed on the skin to deliver a specific dose of medication through the skin into the bloodstream. It works by releasing a chemical substance opiate that has morphine-like action into the body.
How effective is a duragesic pain patch?
Duragesic is very effective as a painkiller as one patch provides relief for almost 72 hours. Patients use fentanyl when all other forms of pain relievers fail.
So what's the problem?
Unfortunately, serious side-effects haunt the use of many skin patches.
Following are the details of a Duragesic pain patch lawsuit that shows its harmful effects.
• A 28-year old man suffered chronic hip pain after a car accident and wore a Duragesic pain patch on his arm.
• He was later found dead at his computer and tests revealed that he had at least three times the lethal dose of fentanyl in his system. • His father filed a lawsuit on behalf of his deceased son.
• The jury in the Federal District Court in West Palm Beach found that Janssen Pharmaceutica Products and Alza Corporation were guilty in the young man’s death and awarded $5.5 million to the father.
This real life-story is an alert to the public to exercise extreme caution while using potent medication such as the Duragesic pain patch.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Duragesic Pain Patch: Miracle or Murderer?
It's true that the Duragesic Patch has also been abused by quite a number of drug addicts. The patch contains an opioid that is nearly a 100 times more potent than morphine. The result is a quick and often extremely dangerous high. The fact is it’s so easy to misuse also means that patients who really need the patch must be extra careful. The patch should not be used for pain that will clear up on its own in a few days- for example, if you're recovering from surgery, you shouldn't use the patch to help in coping up with the pain. The patch is designed for flare-ups that regular medication can't control.
When the Duragesic Patch was first released, it was thought to be a wonder for treating chronic pain. Unlike heavy drugs that often had to be ingested painfully, this patch released narcotic painkillers slowly which in turn, were absorbed by the skin. But the patch has recently come under attack for being the cause behind a number of fatalities. The FDA is still researching whether these deaths were due to patient misuse or if the patch was the true culprit.
It's also your physician's responsibility to ensure that you are in a position to take the Duragesic Patch. If any of your major organs is diseased, you have a head injury, or react to certain drugs, this patch might not be the right answer for you. Pregnant and breast-feeding women must also avoid the patch.
When the Duragesic Patch was first released, it was thought to be a wonder for treating chronic pain. Unlike heavy drugs that often had to be ingested painfully, this patch released narcotic painkillers slowly which in turn, were absorbed by the skin. But the patch has recently come under attack for being the cause behind a number of fatalities. The FDA is still researching whether these deaths were due to patient misuse or if the patch was the true culprit.
It's also your physician's responsibility to ensure that you are in a position to take the Duragesic Patch. If any of your major organs is diseased, you have a head injury, or react to certain drugs, this patch might not be the right answer for you. Pregnant and breast-feeding women must also avoid the patch.
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