My dearest forum friends,
thank you for all that have provided prayers, support and love for my family and I as we traveled the road of the loss of our dd, dsis and d aunt.
I am in very aggresive litigation currently over the failure of the patch that took our loved ones life. Recently we had depositions.....

I PROMISED the opposing attorney's I will use my voice to share dd's story and stop other families from suffering the avoidable loss.
I am going to figure outhow to do a blog, and You Tube also local media outlets.

I saw where a recent forum post had a warning about the heating pad's; Poster was informed about this deadly hazard from a nurse.
Although this was not the mechinisim in dd's death it was a HUGE!!!!! point made at me during recent depositions.

We did not have a functioning heating pad. BUT, the point I made to their counsel is, THERE IS NO STICKER ON THE FRONT ABOUT HEATING PADS!!!
HOW MANY CHRONIC PAIN PATIENTS USE HEATING PADS!!!!

I think it is a skapegoat, and if that severe of a risk, why is there NOT a sitcker on the front of the box?

How many on the patch DO USE a heating Pad? or even an electric blanket?

An attorney mentioned a warning is in the box. I pulled out the boxes, I saw a folded packet. One that has the chemical structure and break down.

It was stated the warning was in the packet. THIS packet was folded at least ten times, stuck with a glue substance, AND the not anywhere near an acceptable readable font, it was impossible for me to read, it had to be the smallest font useable.I could not find it. How functional is that.

Also, I had no the instructions for the script when picked up. NOTHING about heating pads, nothing about fatalities happening,

If the doctors don't know, the pharmacist do not have a notice to clients, then how in heavens name do they expect any consumer to discover this hidden warning.

In our case the patch leaked a fatal dose....But I was badgerd about heating pads, heating blankets.

Again, there was no heating pad involved in the loss of dd. But had we any knowledge of the potential fatal results, the threat of added heat, the threat of leaking a substance 80 times more potent the MORPHINE, it would NOT have been used.
We were actively seeking a pain pump, the week we loss her........

I showed them the box, There is a cute little smiley that has groogy eyes warning of drozziness, But none that warned of the so called heating pads?
Nor is there anything about Fatal side effectson the boxes.

This is what I learned that I sought help.

Honeyhttp://<br /> http://www.defectivep...FeFM5QodNxPLiQ
[I]The fentanyl transdermal patch is supposed to avoid overdose by delivering the painkiller over an extended period of time. But that’s not always the case.

The pain patch commonly used to deliver fentanyl to victims of severe, unrelenting pain works by introducing the pain medication through fat cells, so that the drug is distributed to the patient’s body over an extended period of time of about 72 hours.

As early as 1995, however, dangerous problems surfaced. The Food and Drug Administration began taking action in connection with the transdermal patches, issuing recalls and demands for labeling changes. Among the potentially-lethal dangers of the fentanyl transdermal patches are that overdoses can occur when patches are cut, damaged, or defective. The fentanyl transdermal patches have been linked to respiratory depression, respiratory arrest, and even death. In 2004, the FDA warned fentanyl pain patch users of the high danger of overdose because of leakage, and initiated the first of what would soon prove be multiple recalls of patches made by Johnson & Johnson subsidiaries. In 2005, the FDA stated in a Public Health Advisory that it had received 120 reports of deaths related to fentanyl patches.

Most recently, in December 2008, PriCara - a division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen under the umbrella of parent company Johnson & Johnson - recalled some lots of defective Duragesic and Sandoz Inc. fentanyl transdermal system patches. PriCara blamed a manufacturing equipment defect that, in some patches, resulted in a slit along one side of the drug reservoir. This created the possibility of fentanyl gel leaking out into the packaging, exposing patients or caregivers directly to the gel and, therefore, to serious overdose consequences - including death.

In addition to the risk of defective patches, health professionals are concerned about the potential for accidental overdoses of fentanyl, which can occur:

In patients sensitive to opiate-based drugs;
In patients who handle the patch and come in contact with the drug delivery side of the patch; and
When patients accidentally damage the patch.
[B]

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/.../ucm048721.htm

In February 2009, the FDA sent letters to manufacturers of the fentanyl patch, requiring them to develop a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) to demonstrate that the drug’s benefits outweigh the potential risks. These patches are manufactured in generic form or name brand by companies that include Johnson & Johnson, Ortho-McNeil, Janssen, Novartis, Mylan Technologies, and Actavis.

Fentanyl Transdermal Patch
Important Information for the Safe Use of Fentanyl Transdermal System (Patch)
FDA is issuing this public health advisory to alert patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals to important information on the safe use of the fentanyl transdermal system, also known as the fentanyl patch (marketed as Duragesic and generics). The fentanyl patch is a narcotic (opioid) pain medicine applied to the skin for treating persistent moderate to severe pain in opioid-tolerant patients who need to be on a narcotic pain medicine around-the-clock for more than a few days.

Despite issuing an advisory in July 2005 that emphasized the safe use of the fentanyl patch, FDA continues to receive reports of death and life-threatening side effects in patients who use the fentanyl patch. The reports indicate that doctors have inappropriately prescribed the fentanyl patch to patients for acute pain following surgery, for headaches, occasional or mild pain, and other indications for which a fentanyl patch should not be prescribed. In addition, the reports indicate that patients are continuing to incorrectly use the fentanyl patch by replacing the patch more frequently than directed in the fentanyl patch instructions, applying more patches than prescribed, or applying a heat source to the patch, all resulting in dangerously high fentanyl levels in the blood.

The fentanyl patch contains fentanyl, a very potent narcotic pain medicine. It is only intended for treating persistent, moderate to severe pain in patients who are opioid-tolerant, meaning those patients who take a regular, daily, around-the-clock narcotic pain medicine. This is extremely important because patients who are opioid-tolerant are more resistant to the dangerous side effects of narcotic pain medicines than patients who only occasionally take these medicines. For patients who are not opioid-tolerant, the amount of fentanyl in one fentanyl patch of the lowest strength is large enough to cause dangerous side effects, such as respiratory depression (severe trouble breathing or very slow or shallow breathing) and death.

FDA is highlighting the following important safety information on the fentanyl skin patch:

The fentanyl patch should only be used by patients who are opioid-tolerant and have chronic pain that is not well controlled with other pain medicines. They are not to be used to treat sudden, occasional, or mild pain or pain after surgery.

Healthcare professionals who prescribe and patients who use the fentanyl patch should be aware of the signs of fentanyl overdose including the following: trouble breathing or slow or shallow breathing; slow heartbeat; severe sleepiness; cold, clammy skin; trouble walking or talking; or feeling faint, dizzy, or confused. If these signs occur, patients or their caregivers should get medical attention right away.

Patients prescribed the fentanyl patch should tell their doctor about all the medicines that they take. Some medicines may interact with fentanyl causing dangerously high fentanyl blood levels and serious, life-threatening breathing problems.

Patients and their caregivers should be told how to use the fentanyl patch. This important information, including instructions on how often to apply the patch, reapplying a patch that has fallen off, replacing a patch, and disposing of the patch, is provided in the patient information that comes with the fentanyl patch [PDF].

Heat may increase the amount of fentanyl that reaches the blood and can cause life-threatening breathing problems and death.
Patients should not use heat sources such as heating pads, electric blankets, saunas, or heated waterbeds or take hot baths or sun bathe while wearing a patch.

A patient or caregiver should call the patient’s doctor right away if the patient has a fever higher than 102ºF while wearing a patch.
FDA is asking the manufacturers of all fentanyl patches to update the information for fentanyl patches and to develop a Medication Guide for patients. FDA will provide updates as new information is available.


I say it is KNOWN The design of the brand is flawed,...

"Fentanyl Side Effects, Symptoms, Overdosages & Deaths

http://www.duragesic-patch-recall-la..._side_effects_

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received reports of deaths and life-threatening side effects associated with the use of the pain medicine called fentanyl. This powerful pain killer is a strong opioid narcotic. One on the major brands of fentanyl patches is trademarked as Duragesic. You should be aware of the following important information contained in the FDA Medication Guide for Duragesic. Some lots of Duragesic / Fentanyl Patches have been recalled due to leaking seals that allow excessive dosage resulting in overdosing, opioid toxcity and deaths to some. Any patch is capable of leaking if the seal is torn or not sealed tightly.


Serious Fentanyl side effects include:

Life-threatening breathing problems
Low blood pressure.
Death from severe overdosage?n
Common side effects associated with fentanyl usage:

Sleepiness,
Confusion,
Weakness,
Sweating, and
Pain and Redness
Constipation (a common side effect of opioid based drugs)
* If you believe that the fentanyl patches (part of any recall or not) that you or a loved one are currently using are leaking or defective, then call you Doctor or a Medical Professional Immediately to have the patches examined. Do Take a Chance with your Life!"