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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2005 >> Fentanyl Warning
        
(Message started by: unsolved1 on Jul 16^th, 2005, 3:27pm)

Title: Fentanyl Warning
Post by unsolved1 on Jul 16^th, 2005, 3:27pm

U.S. Warns Fentanyl Patients About Drug. Fentanyl is in Duragesic patches and Actiq lollipops.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050716/ap_on_he_me/fentanyl_warning

Unsolved

Title: Re: Fentanyl Warning
Post by firebrix on Jul 16^th, 2005, 6:30pm

The most irritating thing about this to me personally is the advice to flush used patches. Ye gods! :o >:( We all live downstream..........

Title: Re: Fentanyl Warning
Post by hdido on Jul 16^th, 2005, 8:25pm

Is it the children or the patches that we are supposed to flush down the toilet?

Title: Re: Fentanyl Warning
Post by Versilleus on Jul 17^th, 2005, 2:07pm

Here is an new label from J&J for the Duragesic patch. Warning pdf.
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/SAFETY/2005/duragesic_ddl.pdf

One thing which bothers me is the 120 deaths being investigated associated with this drug all seem to be from either abuse or misuse.
Example: Not taking at the scheduled times(too soon), applying heat to release the substance more rapidly, being prescribe to individuals with acute or post-operative pain and my personal favourite drinking alcohol. I hope by now people know alcohol will amplify the effects of most medications.
In Canada the Duragesic patch comes with a rather long insert with ALL of these warnings! Is this different in the U.S.?
With the rush to pull pain medications off the market lately I worry logic over run and pain sufferers will be left out in the final decision of what to do with medications which help them.

Title: Re: Fentanyl Warning
Post by hdido on Jul 17^th, 2005, 2:28pm

In the US fentanyl has more warnings on it/in the package than any other medicine that I've ever seen. Most of the deaths, I agree, were probably due to misuse by people trying to get high. If you have ever watched the Discovery Channel's reality show "American Casino", the former main character, Michael Tata, who ran the casino was found dead in his bed the morning that he was to go on vacation. Although the cause of his sudden death was never said on the show, it was available on the web. That 33yo talented young man died as a result of mixing Actiq (a fast acting fentanyl lozange, looks like a lollipop) and vodka-what a waste of a life. There will always be people who misuse drugs to get high or for reasons other than they are prescribed for, but fentanyl is an effective medication, a godsend for those poor souls suffering terrible chronic pain from cancer and other diseases. My experience in the health field has shown me that virtually 100% of people prescribed such drugs for valid medical conditions do not abuse them-indeed, many tend to undermedicate themselves and suffer needlessly. The drug is not the problem, the people who misuse it are; anyone who keeps such drugs where children can get them need a real education and more, like those who leave loaded guns where kids can get them.

Title: Re: Fentanyl Warning
Post by gore2424 on Jul 19^th, 2005, 5:05am

hello all I have been wearing a duragesic fentanyl 75 pain patch for over two years now before that I tried 67 different meds in different combo's even had a trigemanal ryzotomy operation in May 2002 (in Mayo Clinic they went into skull and cut trigeminal nerve at base on right side leaving right side of face permantly numb) (had only 3-4 months relief then cluster back in full force). I have been chronic since Nov. 1999. I havent had any problems with this med except when the VA (they supply most of my meds for me ) made mistake and I went once 7 days and once 8 days without my pain patch and let me tell you that was not a fun time. When my neuro found out I went without that long he said next time call him and he will put me in hospital to make sure I am comftable. He does give me (14) 30mg morpine pills a month for the real bad days I have and thats what saved me the last time. I have but dont do it anymore used a hairdryer on my patch to help get med into me on bad days. It wasnt worth the risk cause once I fell asleep right away in the bathroom. Wont ever do that again. Also I dont stay out on very hot days cause that also will put you out if you get over heated outside. I do have a drink once in awhile (usally a cup of mudslide its only 5% alcohol). I change my patch every 72 hours like it says and I flush the old one down toilet and make sure it goes away. I wouldnt worry about them getting into anyones tap water the way they treat water at water plants takes all the bad stuff out before it even gets to your tap water. I also wrap the whole package in a plastic sack then wrap it in another too before putting it in garbage so my dog and cats which sometimes knock it over never get to it. I truely believe if it wasnt for these pain patchs that I wouldnt be here today. I tried many things and this has worked good for me the last two years. Terry

Title: Re: Fentanyl Warning
Post by hdido on Jul 19^th, 2005, 8:52pm

See the "State of Pain" thread for other concerns about narcotic analgesics.

Title: Re: Fentanyl Warning
Post by hdbngr on Jul 20^th, 2005, 4:55pm

This may be internet myth, but I heard one of the deaths occurred because a woman ran a high fever and the medication released too quickly into her system.

I have used the patch, and they do help, but ditto on the getting too hot. I took my son to the water park on a very hot day and I suddenly got so sleepy I could hardly keep my eyes open. When I got home three hours later, the patch was completely dry. It was supposed to last another day and a half.

If anyone is taking or has taken Palladone, it is under fire as well. Apparently even a small amount of alcohol combined with the 24 hour time release capsule can be lethal.

Title: Re: Fentanyl Warning
Post by hdido on Jul 20^th, 2005, 8:38pm

New urban myths. Used the fentanyl patches for years as well as Palladon (time release and fast release), was in very hot weather, even had a drink or two. These are powerful drugs and they are very effective at relieving pain, but if someone who uses them for "fun" and doesn't know about what they can do, the results can be fatal. Used properly and under a doc's care, the worst problem most people have is constipation; you won't turn into an "addict" nor drop dead when the temperature outside hits 100.

Title: Re: Fentanyl Warning
Post by hdbngr on Jul 22^nd, 2005, 4:53pm

I know the fever may be one, but the Palladone risk is serious. Check out this link:

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2005/NEW01205.html

They are saying even one drink combined with the Palladone may cause a fatal reaction.

Title: Re: Fentanyl Warning
Post by hdido on Jul 23^rd, 2005, 2:33am

Interesting, the info on the FDA website about slow release Palladon. No reported cases of anyone dying. Palladon has been used in Germany for quite awhile in the slow-release form and still is; took it for several years myself and while I really don't drink much anymore (maybe a bottle of wine a year), I did have a drink of wine while taking Palladon and am still here. It is an effective drug and I don't think that the Germans, being overly cautious medically, would allow it to continue to be prescribed, particularly given the beer drinking culture that they have. If "drug dumping" can possibly occur with Palladon and alcohol, I wonder if it is the same with other time release narcotics, such as fentanyl patches; Palladon contains the same medication as Dilaudid. It will be interesting to see if the drug is taken off the market. I'm not sure if an effective medication should be removed from the market due to the actions of people who misuse it. Although I am a smoker, I wonder why tobacco is not removed from the US market-we all know that its use kills thousands each year.

Title: Re: Fentanyl Warning
Post by Jimmy_B on Jul 23^rd, 2005, 8:10am

On Palladon...alcohol is not affecting the drug...per se but the delivery method. I don't believe anyone has died...but they have found computer models that suggest alcohol can undermine the Drug Delivery of Palladone...so in theory, alcohol taken with Palladone will cause all of the drug to be dumped into the system at once. Other time release products use different type of delivery methods to insure time release...so I don't think this should affect them.

Jimmy