Quote:
quote:Originally posted by moodstar53
Hello,
I'm new to this site. I ran across it because I am researching all I can to find out about how people feel about these "patches." I am glad for those who say they like the fentanyl patches, but please take note of what I have found. First, the patch is what caused the DEATH of my father last year, who was elderly. Second, fentanyl is almost a hundred times more powerful than morphine, and as far as cutting the patches--this only INCREASES the chances that you will overdose on these things. The sandoz patches, are the SAME AS DURAGESIC--they only have a different name, they are Janssen's generic, the maker of Duragesic. I found this out from the Janssen topic on another message board called cafepharma.com This was stated by the sales reps. who market and sell them to doctors and hospitals. The sales reps are aware of the dangers, but they have to make a living off of something that is killing a lot of people. Next, the Mylan patches uses a matrix form of delivery instead of the "gel" that is enclosed in the original Duragesic patches. There was a Citizen's Petition originated by a Doctor D. Brookoff to get the FDA to NOT approve the generic matrix patch earlier this year because "the delivery system in the new generic is even more dangerous that the gel patches." Well, the FDA approved it anyway. The FDA have their hands stuck in the pockets of the big pharma companies anyway. All that I found out about fentanyl and these patches is that TO ME, THEY ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. Of course, if I had my way, I would have them ALL removed from the market. Not only are people abusing them, thinking they can cut them open, snort or eat the fentanyl inside, to get high, only to overdose almost instantly. (I have folders filled with printed info from these cases). Also, everyone do not metabolize the fentanyl the same, especially the elderly. The fentanyl is SUPPOSED to be time release to SLOWLY be absorbed into the skin, then released into the bloodstream. As with my father, we didn't find out all the risks (the doctor did not tell us or get our informed consent) and before we knew it, my dad was starting to have symptoms which included sweating profusely, coughing, hallucinating, and worst of all, difficulty breathing, or depressed breathing and hypoventilation. These were warned about in the insert (I found out too late) and also on the Janssen website. It is more dangerous to the elderly, but I have accounts where even 30-40 yr. olds have overdosed from the lowest dosage, 25 mcg which is what my dad was on. I am in the process of reporting this doc to the Med Board for overprescribing, not getting informed consent and several other issues. I tried to get legal help, but no atty. will take the case because they know that it's hard to get justice for a 96 yr old, the economic damages is just non-existent. So, my recourse is the tell as many people as possible of the dangers, and especially those who have elderly family members. Usually, once they succomb to the patch, then they try to say the person had all these "pre-existing conditions" that caused their death. My father had prostate cancer and congestive heart failure, neither of which was anywhere NEAR end stages at the time the patch killed him. His doctor first prescribed it when my dad entered the hospital for DEHYDRATION--So, be careful to ensure that your children, pets, others accidently ingest or allow the patch to accidently get stuck on them, becuase it could be fatal. Every time I read on these boards about the side effects people are experiencing, I cringe in the hopes that no one will die from these things. Again, those who are getting relief, I'm glad for you, but don't take these things lightly. THEY CAN KILL YOU!!!! Do not believe that you can "cut" these things to lower the dosage--that is definitely a no-no. Janssen is soon to market a 12.5 mcg patch which is half of the lowest dosage. The 25 mcg proved fatal to my father, and there was nothing to "wean" down to. Most of all, MY FATHER WAS NOT IN ANY PAIN THAT EVEN JUSTIFIED HIM PRESCRIBING IT IN THE FIRST PLACE! These patches are being used to get high, as a murder weapon, and as a tool to commit suicide. My guess that before it's over, all these patches will be banned. |
For those of us who have genuine chronic non-malignant pain...IT IS A DARN GOOD THING YOU DO NOT HAVE YOUR WAY...............
your unbelievable....  |