Watson Pharmaceuticals Recalls Fentanyl Pain Patches Due to Potential Leaks

By Danielle Briones

Published on August 11, 2009

Watson Pharmaceuticals announced a product recall of their Fentanyl Transdermal System patches on Friday due to potential leaks, which could expose patients and caregivers to unsafe doses of the powerful painkiller.

Fentanyl is a powerful opioid that is prescribed to control chronic pain, and is available in the skin patch form. The skin patches are designed to release safe amounts of the drug into the body over a set period of time. However, manufacturing defects can allow Fentanyl to leak in an uncontrolled manner.

Watson has recalled one lot, lot number 145287A, of its 100 mcg/hr Fentanyl pain patches. These patches were sent to patients between April 2 and May 20 and have an expiration date of February 2011.

Watson Pharmaceuticals is not the first company to recall Fentanyl pain patches due to potential leaks in the product; Johnson & Johnson and manufacturers of generic versions of the patches have issued past recalls due to manufacturing defects that may have resulted in leaks.

While the drug is an effective painkiller, patch defects and misuse of the medication have allegedly resulted in Fentanyl overdose deaths. Several lawsuits against the makers of fentanyl pain patches are pending.

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