Fentanyl patches (Duragesic, etc) are causing deaths

October 2007

Fentanyl patches (Duragesic, etc) are causing deaths...still.

Many overdoses are due to inappropriate use. Watch for Rxs for acute or post-op pain...or for patients not tolerant of opioids.

In general, patients should be on at least 60 mg/day of oral morphine or an equivalent for a week or longer before starting a fentanyl patch.

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Table of Contents

whether it's legal to dispense or prescribe against a contraindication or a bold or black box warning
Diabetes Exubera will be the first inhaled insulin to hit the Canadian market
Antithrombotics whether patients should undergo genetic testing to determine their warfarin dose
Cardiology blood pressure should be controlled before starting daily aspirin
Asthma New National Institutes of Health guidelines will improve asthma treatment
Infectious Diseases Health Canada will limit use of Ketek (telithromycin)
Infectious Diseases combining ceftriaxone (Rocephin) with calcium may cause death
Psychiatry whether it makes sense to use pregabalin and gabapentin TOGETHER for pain or seizures
Psychiatry Some people are abusing Seroquel (quetiapine)
Vaccines when to avoid live vaccines
Neurology & Pain Fentanyl patches (Duragesic, etc) are causing deaths
Dermatology whether a rash could be caused by a drug and what to do about it
Pediatrics about the best way to check for fever