Fentanyl Side Effects
As of July 2005, the Duragesic patch (fentanyl) has been linked to the deaths of at least 120 patients. So far, the Food and Drug Administration has issued two warnings about the risk of a fentanyl overdose for patients who improperly use the Duragesic patch.
A study by toxicologist Bruce Goldberger found that in 2004 there were 115 fentanyl deaths in Florida alone. According to statistics from the federal government, there were more than 1,500 fentanyl overdoses reported in 2002 alone.
The most serious condition linked to the Duragesic patch is respiratory distress, or hypoventilation. An overdose of fentanyl can decrease the rate of breathing, which can increase the concentration of carbon dioxide in the bloodstream. Duragesic patch overdoses leading to respiratory distress are extremely serious and can lead to death.
In April 2004, Janssen Pharmaceuticals recalled more than 2.2 million patches after it was learned that some could leak dangerous amounts of fentanyl and potentially lead to an overdose. Several more fentanyl or Duragesic recalls have been issued in subsequent years because of problems with the patch that could lead to an overdose. As numerous medical and legal documents have shown, he serious consequences of exposure to these broken patches underscores the danger posed by the fentanyl patch.