Duragesic Pain Patch May Cause an Overdoses of Fentanyl Leading to Coma or Death. The FDA is investigating the deaths of 120 consumers who were using the Duragesic Patch containing the drug Fentanyl. Family members of people who have died or suffered severely from the use of the Duragesic Patch can seek monetary compensation from the manufacturer for pain and suffering, lost earnings and medical bills, as well as other compensation depending on your case. Call our firm today for a free consultation to learn if you may have a case and what your options are. You can talk to a lawyer at no charge by calling 866-569-3400

ER Legal is a Plaintiff's Law Firm that Sues Negligent Drug Companies on Behalf of Consumers throughout the Unites States when a Defective Drug has Caused Death or other Serious Harm

Duragesic is a prescription drug, administered through a transdermal patch, that contains a high concentration of fentanyl – a potent narcotic painkiller 80% stronger than morphine. Used to manage chronic pain that is unresponsive to less powerful medications, the Duragesic patch releases a continuous dose of fentanyl (the active chemical in the Duragesic pain patch) into the body, typically over three-day periods.

Due to a potential cut in the lining where the fentanyl gel is stored, a number of serious, potentially fatal, side effects have been linked to the Duragesic pain patch. The most dangerous and severe Duragesic side effects include:

• Impaired breathing
• Reduced blood pressure
• Coma
• Death

The risk of suffering these and other harmful side effects significantly increases when the fentanyl patch is combined with any other drug known to slow the nervous system, such as antipsychotics, muscle relaxants, narcotic painkillers, sleep aids, tranquilizers, and alcohol.

Duragesic Overdose: Life-Threatening

In July 2005, the Food and Drug Administration issued an alert stating that the agency was looking into reports of Duragesic deaths from fentanyl overdose. As a result, Johnson & Johnson, the maker of the patch, was required to add an increased warning to the drug’s label.

One year later, in July 2006, a jury decided that the Duragesic pain patch was responsible for the death of a Texas woman who received a lethal dose of fentanyl when her patch leaked. Johnson & Johnson was forced to pay her family nearly $1 million in damages.

The FDA is currently investigating at least 120 more deaths tied to the defective pain patches. In addition to defects, other factors that could cause a fentanyl overdose and potentially death include heat, which causes a rapid release of the dangerous narcotic, and inappropriate use.

A damaged patch can increase the release of fentanyl into the body, delivering a potentially fatal dose. Heat also can lead to the rapid release of fentanyl from the Duragesic patch, possibly causing an overdose or other serious side effect.

Symptoms of a Duragesic overdose include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Extreme drowsiness
• Other abnormal reactions

If you are using the Duragesic Pain Patch, you may want to consult your doctor and ask about safer alternatives to the Duragesics pain patch. If anyone you know is currently using the Duragesic Pain Patch, please pass along this information and suggest they consult their doctor about dangers of Duragesic Pain Patch.

Families of those who have suffered severe adverse reactions such as depressed respiratory function, coma, or death may be entitled to take legal action on their loved one’s behalf. If someone you love has died or is suffering severely because of the Duragesic Pain Patch, it may be possible to receive monetary compensation for pain and suffering, medical bills and loss of earnings.

The attorneys at ER Legal are currently speaking with affected families. To ask question, learn more, or inquire about a potential case against Johnson & Johnson, makers of the Duragesic Pain Patch, contact us now.