More fentanyl patch overdoses spur new warning

Source | RNWEB

Fentanyl (Duragesic) patches are still being prescribed to opiate-naive patients with insufficient oversight or patient education.

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices has issued a warning regarding ongoing inappropriate prescription of fentanyl (Duragesic) transdermal patches with adverse, sometimes fatal, outcomes. Despite Ortho-McNeil adding a boxed label warning, an FDA advisory, and Institute alerts going back to 2001, fentanyl patches are still being prescribed to opiate-naive patients in excessive doses, in conjunction with other opiates, or without sufficient oversight of titration or patient education. The Institute offers several recommendations to practitioners, including setting up dispensing guidelines and dosing limits, patient education, taking a history of other concurrent opiate use, and teaching users and caregivers the signs of fentanyl overdose.

Institute for Safe Medication Practices. “Ongoing, preventable fatal events with fentanyl transdermal patches are alarming!” 2007. www.ismp.org/newsletters/acutecare/articles/20070628.asp (13 July 2007).