The U.S. FDA issued a public health advisory to alert healthcare professionals, patients and their caregivers of reports of death and other serious side effects from overdoses of fentanyl in patients using fentanyl transdermal (skin) patches for pain control.

Deaths and overdoses have occurred in patients using both the brand name product Duragesic and the generic product. Some patients and healthcare providers may not be fully aware of the dangers of this very strong narcotic painkiller. The directions for using the fentanyl skin patch must be followed exactly to prevent death or other serious side effects from overdosing with fentanyl.

Read the entire MedWatch safety summary, including links to the public health advisory, healthcare professional and patient information sheets and the drug information page at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/SAFETY/2005/safety05.htm#Fentanyl.

Source: MedWatch