Duragesic pain patch - skin patch - Duragesic

Duragesic pain patch containing narcotic fentanyl is a powerful painkiller. The medication has been in the headlines lately on reports of severe side effects causing deaths.

Useful Information On Duragesic Pain Patch
Duragesic pain patch is a transdermal skin patch [generic name is fentanyl]. Chronic pain sufferers use fentanyl to treat moderate to severe pain. Duragesic pain patch relieves pain by releasing a chemical substance called odium that has morphine like action on the body.

What Is A Skin Patch?
A skin patch or a transdermal patch is a medical adhesive patch placed on the skin to deliver a specific dose of medication through the skin onto the bloodstream.

How Effective Is Duragesic Skin Patch?
Duragesic is very effective as a painkiller as a single patch provides relief for almost 72 hours. Patients use fentanyl when other forms of pain relievers fail.

Side Effects
Duragesic patches can have many side effects. These include drowsiness, light-headedness, weakness, and euphoria to name a few. In some people, Duragesic can impair coordination and the ability to think. Due to a host of possible side effects, Duragesic needs to be used with extreme caution and under strict medical supervision.

FDA issued a public health advisory to alert patients and caregivers by highlighting important safety instructions.

Reports Of Adverse Side Effects

• In 2004, FDA issued a safety alert informing recall by Janssen Pharmaceutica Products. L.P. of one complete lot of Duragesic pain patch.
  
• The New York Times dated 16 July 2005 carried a news report of a FDA spokesperson-informing occurrence of 120 deaths since Duragesic was approved in 1990
• The spokesperson however added that the matter was under investigation to ascertain whether the deaths were actually caused due to Duragesic pain patch or not.