Duragesic, Its Proper Use and Potential Abuse
Background:
Pain is the most stressful and unpleasant sensation that a person can feel. Pain could limit a person’s day to day function and may also affect his or her behavior. It is for this reason that drugs called analgesics are developed.
Duragesic is a fentanyl transdermal patch designed and made by ALZA Corporation and is released in the market by Jansen Pharmaceutica. Duragesic is a strong analgesic used to manage chronic, moderate to severe pain. It is often prescribed for pain related to cancer. Duragesic’s active ingredient is fentanyl, an opioid with a pain relieving potency 80 times more than morphine’s. Duragesic is considered only as a last resort, when less potent analgesics failed to adequately manage pain.
Proper Dosage and Use:
Duragesic is marketed in four formulations. It is available in patches designed to deliver 25 micrograms per hour, 50 micrograms per hour, 75 micrograms per hour, and 100 micrograms of fentanyl per hour. Duragesic is prescribed only to patients who are currently under opioid therapy and has exhibited tolerance. It is important to check and double check the patient’s daily dose to compare if it is at least equal to the initial Duragesic dose of 25mcg/h. The initial dose could be increased only after 3 days and only if the initial dose proves to be ineffective.
Duragesic is never used on patients who are not opioid tolerant. The patch is also not to be used to manage acute pain, post-op or out-patient pain, and pain that is managed on a needed basis. Duragesic is never used to manage mild pain. Do not wear more Duragesic patches than the doctor’s order. Duragesic should not be prescribed to patients with a history of respiratory disease, cardiac disease, liver disease, kidney disease, head injury or brain tumor; and with a personal and/or family history of substance abuse. Also, the use of Duragesic patches is discouraged within 14 days after using MAOIs.
The Duragesic patch is applied on a flat surface of the skin like the chest, back, side, or upper arm. The patch should be immediately applied as soon as the package is opened. Do not apply if the patch is damaged in any manner. Do not cut or tear the patch. Secure the patch by pressing firmly using the palm of your hand for 20 to 30 seconds. The patch should be in complete contact with the skin up to the edges.
While wearing the Duragesic patch, avoid exposing the site directly to any external heat source as it may affect the transmission of its active agents to the blood stream. Never use Duragesic in conjunction with other CNS depressants such as sedatives, tranquilizers, and anesthetics. Do not drink alcohol when using Duragesic.
The Duragesic patch should be removed after 3 days (72 hours). Dispose the used patch by folding the adhesive side together then flushing it down the toilet. It is imperative that used and unused Duragesic patches be kept away from the reach of children.
Common Side Effects:
The following side effects are typically exhibited when using Duragesic. Nonetheless, patients should be monitored for these signs and symptoms:
- Confusion, depression, euphoria, anxiety, headache, sleepiness, hallucinations
- Impaired breathing, shortness of breath
- Nausea, xerostamia, vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, indigestion
- Sweating, itchiness
- Urinary retention
Duragesic Abuse:
The active agent of Duragesic is an opioid called fentanyl, which is a Schedule II drug in the United States. This means that Duragesic has a high potential for abuse. Duragesic patches are used by substance abusers by administering the drug in other routes. This is severely detrimental for their health as the Duragesic has a respiratory depressing side effect. Even more disturbing, is that substance abusers tend to use multiple drugs and or with alcohol which may raise Duragesic’s potency exponentially, which may lead to very hazardous and even lethal side effects.
Rehabilitation:
The process of rehabilitation is a multi-phased, case to case approach to ensure that interventions formulated in this manner will endure in the long run. The initial phase of rehabilitation is detoxification. After detox, addiction is usually addressed with counseling or support groups.
What Rehabilitation Patients say about Malibu Horizon
The identities of the people writing these testimonials have been withheld to protect their inalienable right to privacy. The names that follow are fictional names of the author’s choosing.
"I used to use Duragesic together with my homies to get high. Man were we high. So high in fact, that one day, I almost lost my life because of I had a hard time breathing. I was rushed to the hospital and I was scared. So scared, that I knew I don’t want to do that shit anymore. I came to Malibu Horizon to come clean, and that’s exactly what they did. I owe you my life." –Rasheed
"My son got into the wrong crowd and I thought I’m slowly losing him. He’d come home and I can’t recognize the man that comes into my house. One day, he came home crying, saying how one of his friends died and how he didn’t wanna die. He agreed that he needed help. We came to Malibu Horizon and now, I have my son back. What you guys did for us is priceless. Thank you so much." –Meryl
"I was the one who was taking care of my uncle who had cancer and he used fentanyl patches to cope with pain. I was very foolish when I started using those patches myself out of curiosity. It didn’t take too long before I had to admit to myself that I was hooked. Malibu Horizon was such a big factor for how I am now. If it weren’t for you guys, I might already be in jail, or worse, six feet under." -Ryan
"Malibu Horizon is the reason why my daughter is back to her cheerful, healthy self. I don’t know what I’d do if it weren’t for you." -Rico
"My arthritis was killing me. I tried a lot of medicines to try and cope with it but they didn’t seem to last. I got hold of Duragesic patches and for a time it did help me. Eventually, I knew I was using the patches for all the wrong reasons and I knew that I needed to get through this. That is where Malibu Horizon came in. That’s exactly what they did." -Ben