Duragesic Patches Can Be Deadly
Duragesic patches are a pain relieving product that delivers fentanyl, a highly powerful drug through the skin over several days. Fentanyl is up to one hundred times stronger than morphine. This opioid pain medicine is normally used for treatment of severe pain such as cancer or nerve disorders. Illinois personal injury lawyers are finding out that doctors are increasingly using this powerful drug for less serious afflictions such as back pain and migraines.
Duragesic patches deliver fentanyl through the skin over several days. Duragestic is the trade name of a “fentanyl transdermal therapeutic system” which is the technical name for the patch. This product is marketed by Janssen Pharmaceutica and manufactured by ALZA Corporation. These companies are both subsidiareis of Johnson & Johnson. Because of the slow release, Duragesic patches can provide up to seventy two hours of pain relief.
Although you probably haven’t heard about it on the news, this powerful narcotic has caused dangerous and deadly side effects in and around Chicago. Personal injury attorneys explain that a design flaw caused some of these patches to leak the powerful drug into the body too quickly for the body to properly absorb it. The FDA launched an investigation and found well over one hundred deaths associated with the patch.
Illinois personal injury lawyers must step in when patients have been harmed by this powerful product. The following symptoms are signs of fentanyl overdose:
- Inability to walk, talk or think properly
- Feeling dizzy, confused or faint
- Tiredness, sedation or extreme sleepiness
- Shallow or trouble breathing
If any of these signs are present, the patient must get medical attention quickly. If you have experienced and serious side effects from Duragesic patches, contact a Chicago personal injury attorney immediately.
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