What is a Duragesic Pain Patch?

Mankind has struggled with chronic pain throughout history, but an effective reliever for chronic pain has been elusive. However, a breakthrough of sorts in pain relief came about in the 1990s when the Duragesic transdermal patch was developed.

This device was a revolution in therapy for people with long-term and chronic pain, for it provided a specified dose of a powerful drug over an extended period of time, eliminating the need for continued injections or hospital visits. The patch was essentially a small, flat, sticky bag comprised of two plastic sheets, the outer side impermeable and the inner side only drug-permeable.

Fentanyl, a narcotic analgesic 100 times more powerful than morphine, was held in a gel suspension regulated by the patch to release a certain amount of the drug every hour. Depending on the needs of the patient, this amount ranged from 25 micrograms to 100 micrograms per hour.

The patches were first developed in the early 1990s and quickly became the standard for chronic pain treatment. In fact, sales of Duragesic earned Janssen Pharmaceutica over a billion dollars between the year 2002-2003. Unfortunately a problem in the seal between the linings was discovered in February 2004, prompting Janssen to initially recall one group of the patches. Unfortunately, an additional four groups of the patch had to be removed from the market later in April after officials discovered similar problems. The seal on these patches could possibly leak, exposing patients to dangerous levels of fentanyl.

If you or someone you love uses a Duragesic patch to manage chronic pain, consult your healthcare provider immediately. Fentanyl overdose strikes quickly and without warning, so it is wise to act before it is too late.