Duragesic Pain Patch Recalled

Dan Frith

Contributor

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Johnson and Johnson has voluntarily decided to recall its widely popular pain patch over concern that some patients could suffer a fatal overdose from its use.

The Duragesic patch has been prescribed for patients experiencing moderate to severe chronic pain. It contains fentanyl, an opioid that can lead to problems such as respiratory depression and fatal overdose. Fentanyl is the active ingredient in the brand name pharmaceutical product Duragesic, manufactured by Johnson & Johnson, and is also available in generic form. Fentanyl is an extremely strong narcotic pain killer that can cause death from overdose and may be linked to 120 deaths being investigated by the FDA.

Signs of fentanyl overdose include:

Trouble breathing or shallow breathing
Tiredness, extreme sleepiness or sedation
Inability to think, talk, or walk normally
Feeling faint or dizzy
Mental confusion