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The Duragesic Pain Patch
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As recently as February of 2004, a recall was issued for yet another defective prescription medication - Janssen Pharmaceutica’s 75mcg/hr Duragesic patch. Again in April of 2004, the drug maker issued a separate recall for more of the fentanyl transdermal system patches. With two recalls within as many months, it appears that the Duragesic patch continues to cause injury while innocent users are at risk from this unsafe product. If you or someone you love has suffered adverse effects because of manufacturing defects in the Duragesic patch, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your injuries. We may be able to help you.
Transdermal fentanyl was originally approved in 1990 to treat acute, postoperative and moderate-to-severe pain. Applied to the skin, the Duragesic adhesive patch delivers a powerful and constant dose of the opioid pain medication fentanyl (in gel form) for pain relief of up to 3 days. Janssen Pharmaceutica Products, owned by Johnson & Johnson, issued a Class l Recall of all of their 75mcg/hr Duragesic on February 17, 2004 due to a potential breach in the seal on one edge of the patch. The defective seal allows medication to leak from the patch causing patients to receive either too much or too little of the drug. Leaks that occur while the patch is on the skin expose patients to a potentially life-threatening overdose of fentanyl. Patients receiving too much fentanyl may experience sedation, drowsiness, nausea and more serious complications including fatal respiratory illness or cardiac arrest. Conversely, if the fentanyl seeps out of the patch before its application to the skin, patients may receive too little medication to adequately treat their pain. In this situation, patients used to a specific does may experience withdrawal effects including sweating, sleeplessness, and abdominal discomfort.
In April 2004, Janssen Pharmaceutica expanded the Duragesic patch recall to include 2.2 million patches. Again, concern over defective seals was the cause of the recall. If you have 75 mcg per hour DURAGESIC patches, check the outer carton or foil pouch for the control number and visit the Food & Drug Administration website for relevant information about the recalls. The Duragesic® (Fentanyl Transdermal System CII) Lot Control Numbers recalled are: 0327192, 0327193, 0327294, 0327295 and 0330362.
You should be alert to the possibility of receiving a defective patch and its associated risks of overdose or inadequate control of pain. If you or someone you love believes they have experienced adverse effects resulting from the Duragesic patch, it is important to contact your doctor for health advice. It is also in your best interests to consult with a qualified personal injury attorney who can help protect your legal rights. It is important to act quickly since there may be a limited timeframe in which to file a claim. You need top-notch legal skills and the support of an experienced team of professionals .
If you that feel you, or someone you know, have been injured by a medical or pharmaceutical product, determining your legal rights can be complicated, and it may be unclear who to bring a claim against, and to what sort of damages you are entitled. To ensure that you receive just compensation, you should consider contacting an attorney with experience handling this type of case.
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