Fentanyl is a potent drug prescribed to control severe pain. The drug is used in several pharmaceuticals that have been subject to warnings from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for their dangerous and deadly side effects.

If you or a loved has been injured as a result of using a drug that contains fentanyl, you have important legal rights and may be eligible for financial compensation. The fentanyl lawyers at Brown & Crouppen have the experience necessary to help you understand your rights and provide unsurpassed legal representation. Call Brown & Crouppen toll-free at 866-991-4700 for your free legal consultation or save time with our online Contact Form .

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is a painkiller approximately 100 times stronger than morphine. Its potency makes it useful in controlling pain in extreme situations, such as operating rooms and intensive care units. The drug is often prescribed to cancer patients and to patients who have recently undergone serious surgery. Unfortunately, the drug's potency also makes it very dangerous. Indeed, fentanyl is a schedule II controlled substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act of 1970. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has also issued multiple warnings about the risk for serious injury and death from the use of pharmaceuticals that contain fentanyl.

The Duragesic Pain Patch, manufactured by a unit of Johnson and Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development LLC, is a small patch applied to the skin that releases fentanyl for up to 72 hours. A generic version of the product is also available. Though they are useful in certain medical situations, the dangers of Duragesic Pain Patches are well-documented. In 2005, the Food and Drug Administration issued a public health advisory warning of the potentially deadly risks associated with the pain management product. According to the FDA, doctors should only prescribe the Duragesic Pain Patch, and other fentanyl transdermal systems, to a select set of patients who are have already become tolerant to opioid medication. Unfortunately, federal drug officials have reported deaths and life-threatening adverse events resulting from inappropriate prescription and use of the patches. Duragesic Pain Patches have also been the subject of several recalls. As recently as 2008, manufacturers recalled certain versions of Duragesic Pain Patches because of a manufacturing flaw that caused patches to leak fentanyl too quickly, increasing the chances of a lethal overdose.

Fentanyl is also used in Actiq, an oral transmucosal lozenge, or fentanyl "lollipop," manufactured by Cephalon Inc. A generic version is manufactured by Barr Pharmaceuticals. According to the FDA, doctors should only prescribe Actiq to treat pain in cancer patients. Nonetheless, Actiq has apparently been prescribed to treat a variety of patients, including those with sports injuries and migraines. At least 127 deaths have been linked to Actiq, and a Pennsylvania paper reported in 2006 that federal prosecutors in Philadelphia were investigating Cephalon for inappropriately marketing the drug for purposes other than cancer treatment.

Fentora tablets are fentanyl lozenges, also manufactured by Cephalon, that are used for the treatment of intense bouts of pain in cancer patients. As it has with other fentanyl products, the U.S. Food ad Drug Administration has issued warning about reports of death and life-threatening adverse events resulting from Fentora use. Cephalon has also issued letters to doctors and health professionals, warning them of the deaths resulting from Fentora use.

The effects of a fentanyl overdose can be devastating and can include brain damage and death. Patients should not discontinue fentanyl use without consulting their physician. However, if you believe you or a family member has been injured as a result of using a fentanyl product, you have important legal rights and may be entitled to financial compensation.

Brown & Crouppen has spent more than a quarter century building a legal team with a reputation for compassion and success. Our experienced team of defective drug lawyers provides tough, aggressive representation for fentanyl victims and their families. We have the knowledge and experience necessary to conduct a thorough investigation of your case, build a successful claim and bring you the justice and compensation you deserve. Contact Brown & Crouppen today. Call toll-free at 866-991-4700 for your free legal consultation or save time with our online Contact Form .