Should the 50, 75 & 100 mcg/hr Duragesic Fentanyl Patches be Recalled?
On Feb 18, 2008 a Duragesic Press Release from PriCara, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc PriCara RECALLS 25 mcg/hr DURAGESIC (fentanyl transdermal system) CII PAIN PATCHES. The patch recall stressed that the fentanyl recall only applied to the 25 mcg/hr patches and that other strength fentanyl patches (12.5mcg/hr, 50mcg/hr, 75mcg/hr and 100 mcg/hr) were not part of the patch recall, even though they have a similar design with even more toxic dosages, if these strength patches leaked. Any patient with a leaking 50mcg/hr, 75 mcg/hr or 100mcg/hr Duragesic patch would be more likely to have a fentanyl overdose toxicity induced organ failure, coma or death. In fact our law firm has received numerous calls from patients and families of some Duragesic patch users that actually have died from 50mcg/hr, 75 mcg/hr or 100mcg/hr Duragesic patch. In fact on one autopsy it was discussed by the medical examiner that he couldn’t understand how the fentanyl level could be at such a
