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The Fox Law Firm is Reviewing Potential FENTANYL® Claims - Death
- Coma
- Cardiac Failure
Have you experienced severe health issues – such as cardiac failure and coma - following the use of the chronic-pain relieving drug, Fentanyl? Have your loved ones suffered adversely – or even died - after taking the drug? If so, you should contact us immediately to protect your legal rights. An extremely strong pain-reliever (current estimates suggest it has a level of potency at least 80 times that of morphine), Fentanyl was first approved under the brand-name Duragesic in 1990. It is most frequently used to alleviate pain in cancer-patients and those with other long-term, pain-related conditions, such as migraine and chronic spinal problems. Absorbed via a patch that the patient wears on his or her skin, Fentanyl initially enters the fat-zones of the body. From there, and over a period of time that can extend from approximately 12 to 72 hours, Fentanyl is released into the blood-stream of the patient. Each patch is designed to offer pain-relief for a period of up to approximately three days. Fentanyl has proven to be an effective pain-management drug in many patients; however, in July 2005 – as a specific result of a number of serious, adverse reported reactions to the drug, including at least 120 deaths - the FDA issued a public health advisory concerning the Fentanyl patch. In addition, very severe medical issues, including coma, cardiac-failure, and even death have resulted from faulty, leaking Fentanyl patches that have caused patients to inadvertently overdose. According to current statements from the FDA, those who are pregnant or breast-feeding are strongly advised to consult their doctor before taking Fentanyl, as the drug can be absorbed directly into breast-milk. In addition, the FDA strongly recommends that patients should avoid exposing the Fentanyl patch to excessive heat (including raised temperatures that might be experienced in hot-tubs and saunas, and from electric-blankets) as this has resulted in “fatal overdose.” Significantly, the FDA has also said that adverse reactions to the drug may not be due to patients abusing the product; but as a result of doctors not being fully conversant with the dangers posed by over-usage of Fentanyl. Moreover, the Drug Enforcement Agency states: “The biological effects of the Fentanyls are indistinguishable from those of heroin, with the exception that the Fentanyls may be hundreds of times more potent.” Serious symptoms reported by those patients who have been adversely affected via the use of Fentanyl – or who have experienced faulty, leaking Fentanyl patches - include death, coma, and cardiac-failure. If you have experienced any of these side effects you may have a claim for legal compensation. Contact The Fox Law Firm for superior legal representation. For more information, see: FDA National Institute on Drug Abuse Web MD
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