Please click on the button below to fill out a short form and someone will contact your regarding your case.
Office Address:
11200 Westheimer
Suite #620
Houston, TX 77042
Phone Numbers:
Office:713-800-1151
Fax: 281-602-7735
Principal office is located in Houston, Tx
Duragesic-Fentanyl Medication Error Lawsuit
In July of 2005, the FDA issued a health advisory informing health professionals that it was investigating reports of death and other serious side effects from overdoses of fentanyl in patients using fentanyl transdermal (skin) patches for pain control. The advisory was prompted by deaths and overdoses that had occurred in patients using both the brand name product Duragesic and the generic product (there was only one generic product at the time, but there are now several, including one approved in August of 2007).
The FDA advisory informed health professionals that the directions for using the fentanyl skin patch should be followed exactly to prevent death or other serious side effects from overdosing with fentanyl. These directions were made available to health professionals.
Although it has been 2 years since the FDA advisory, some incidences of medication error involving the Duragesic skin patch and generic fentanyl skin patches are still occurring.
If any of the following applies to your use or a family member's use of Duragesic or a generic product, please contact a lawyer at Richard J. Plezia & Associates:
Prescription of the Duragesic pain patch or generic pain patch for short-term pain, pain that was not constant, or pain after an operation. According to the FDA advisory, fentanyl skin patches should only be used by patients who are already taking other narcotic painkillers (opioid tolerant), and who have chronic pain that is not well controlled with shorter-acting painkillers.
Prescription of the Duragesic patch or a generic pain patch without consideration of other medications the patient may have been on. The Duragesic and generic pain patches should not be used with other medicines that affect brain function or that affect how fentanyl is broken down in the body.
Prescription of the Duragesic patch or a generic fentanyl skin patch without warning the patient of the dangerous nature of the medication. According to the FDA advisory, "Patients who are using the fentanyl skin patch and their caregivers should be told about the directions for safe use of the patch and should follow the directions exactly." for example, patients should know that heat can adversly react with the fentanyl, and sunbathing, exercise, hot tubs, even a hot shower can trigger an overdose.
If you or a loved one have experienced any side effects from the defective drugs Duragesic-Fentanyl, please call us at 1.888.469.8952 or click here to fill out the form for immediate attention to your case.
Copyright ® 2008 Richard J. Plezia & Associates
Designed by Graphiks Ink
