Fentanyl Claim Center

Since fentanyl was first made available to the public, hundreds of thousands of patients suffering from chronic pain have been prescribed Fentanyl. However, many of these patients are still unaware of the risks associated with the drug treatment.

Fentanyl was first developed by chemists in Belgium sometime at the end of the 1950’s. It had the ability to reduce pain 80 times more than Morphine which was the main opiate analgesic at that time. First marketed and used under the name Sublimaze, fentanyl was adopted by the medical community as an intravenous medicine in the 1960’s. For decades thereafter, fentanyl was used for pain management in heart surgery and for localized surgery.

In the following years, drug companies have attempted to harness the potency of fentanyl for a myriad of uses. First, they used the drug to control breakthrough cancer pain. For instances where the pain overwhelms normal cancer pain management drugs, a transmucosal “lolipop” can be administered. Actiq is a popular brand of fentanyl lolipop made from fentanyl citrate.

Fentanyl is also prescribed for chronic pain management. For this treatment, a fentanyl transdermal patch system is used. The fentanyl patch is available in it’s generic form and also under the brand name Duragesic. The Duragesic fentanyl patch is extremely potent, so great care should be used when medicating with the Duragesic pain management system. Currently, the FDA is examining the death of over 120 people who used the Duragesic patch to control chronic pain. We are also investigating several of these deaths and offer free evaluations to families who have lost loved ones to fentanyl overdose.

The Johnson and Johnson pain patch is at the center of the controversy. We have developed extensive evidence regarding the defect involved in the Duragesic pain patch. When finally brought to light at trial, we have consistently achieved large jury verdicts affirming the existence of the defect. In addition, the evidence clearly proves a knowledge of the defect on the part of the manufacturer that did not stop them from continuing sales of the product. We will fight for every individual who has lost a loved one due to use of the Duragesic pain patch until the last family due compensation for their loss is made whole. Please send us an e-mail if you believe you have an overdose claim and we will provide a complimentary evaluation of your case.

The mother of a man who authorities say died of a painkiller overdose is suing his father for allegedly supplying a potent patch.

Court records say 34-year-old CLinton Bitz of Sioux Falls, S.D., died in April 2007 from what authorities called an acute Fentanyl overdose. The painkiller patches allegedly were prescribed to his father, Francis Bitz, of Edgeley.

Clinton Bitz’s mother, Wanda Cyr, of Monticello, Minn., has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in federal court against Francis Bitz. Cyr is seeking more than $80,000.

Francis Bitz says in court documents that he should not be held responsible for damages.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen Klein has set a trial date of Oct.

12, 2010, but scheduled a conference in January to discuss a possible settlement.

Original Article (APNewsNow.)

Feb. 12 (Bloomberg) — Johnson & Johnson and Novartis AG’s Sandoz unit recalled some patches containing the painkiller fentanyl, saying manufacturing defects may cause leaks that can lead to fatal overdoses.

The Duragesic patches, made by Johnson & Johnson’s Alza Corp., may have a cut along the drug reservoir, exposing users directly to the fentanyl gel inside, the New Brunswick, New Jersey-based company said in a statement. It’s the fifth recall of some version of the patches since 1994.

“Perhaps the time has come for the FDA to order Johnson & Johnson to pull all versions of this product off the shelves,” said Alex MacDonald, a lawyer who represents the families of former patch users. Juries have found defective patches caused the deaths of two users since lawsuits over the products began going to trial in 2006.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Morristown, NJ — February 17, 2008 — Actavis Inc., the United States manufacturing and marketing division of the international generic pharmaceutical company Actavis Group hf, today announced that 14 lots of Fentanyl transdermal system CII patches sold in the United States by Actavis’ subsidiary Actavis South Atlantic LLC are being voluntarily recalled from wholesalers and pharmacies as a precaution.

The recalled patches were manufactured by Corium International Inc., a contract manufacturer for Actavis, and sold nationwide in the United States by Actavis South Atlantic LLC.

Read Full Release At FDA Website