Fentanyl News and Research

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Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opiate analgesic similar to but more potent than morphine. It is typically used to treat patients with severe pain, or to manage pain after surgery. It is also sometimes used to treat people with chronic pain who are physically tolerant to opiates. It is a schedule II prescription drug.

Review of drug delivery market

Combating losses due to patent expiries has become a high priority for pharmaceutical companies. Investing in new drug delivery technologies is becoming a critical strategy for them to maintain a strong presence in this cut-throat market as they offer the potential to enhance the life cycle of established drugs.

18 Sep 2008

Watson Pharmaceuticals announces limited recall of Fentanyl transdermal patches

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has announced that one lot of 75 mcg/hr Fentanyl Transdermal System patches sold in the United States is being voluntarily recalled from wholesalers and pharmacies.

10 Aug 2008

Barr confirms Fentora tablet patent challenge

Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has confirmed that its subsidiary, Barr Laboratories, Inc., has initiated a challenge of the patents listed by Cephalon, Inc. in connection with its Fentora(R) Tablets (fentanyl citrate buccal tablets), equivalent to fentanyl base 100 mcg, 400 mcg, 600 mcg and 800 mcg.

24 Jul 2008

Cephalon files patent infringement case against Watson Pharmaceuticals

Cephalon, Inc. today announced that it and its wholly-owned subsidiary CIMA LABS INC. have filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Delaware against Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Watson Laboratories, Inc., for infringement of U.S. Patent Nos. 6,200,604 and 6,974,590, which cover methods of use for the Cephalon product FENTORA(R) (fentanyl buccal tablet) [C-II].

3 Jun 2008

A road map to safer pain control, cost savings during colonoscopies

At a time when several U.S. health insurers have discontinued payment for use of the sedative propofol during most screening colonoscopies, physicians at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have discovered that an alternative way to administer the drug could both save millions of health care dollars and provide a safer way to deliver optimal pain relief.

12 Mar 2008

FDA warning on use of Fentora (fentanyl buccal)

The Food and Drug Administration is alerting health care professionals and consumers to concerns over the use of Fentora (fentanyl buccal) tablets after recent reports of deaths and other adverse events.

27 Sep 2007

Warning about dangerous potential of pain drug Fentora

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States has warned doctors about the dangers of a drug used to treat pain in cancer sufferers.

26 Sep 2007

Watson Pharmaceuticals receives FDA approval for generic Duragesic

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it has received final approval from the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for fentanyl transdermal system in the 25, 50, 75 & 100 mcg/hour strengths.

21 Aug 2007

Breakthrough pain medication

Cancer patients frequently experience two types of pain: persistent and breakthrough.

17 Aug 2007

AMPAKINE drugs may provide protection from drug-induced respiratory depression

Drug-induced respiratory depression is a life-threatening condition caused by analgesic, hypnotic, and anesthesia medications.

5 Jun 2007

All pain medications may raise risk of heart attack or stroke

Not long ago, choosing a pain reliever meant finding one that eased your pain without being too hard on the stomach.

1 Jun 2007

BEMA Fentanyl demonstrates substantial transmucosal delivery

BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc. (Nasdaq:BDSI) announced the results of a 12 subject, crossover study comparing the absorption of fentanyl from both single and multiple BEMA? Fentanyl discs, as well as oral and intravenous doses of fentanyl.

8 May 2007

Warning about the indiscriminate use of diet drugs

The United Nations (UN) has issued a warning about the rise in a number of countries of the use of diet drugs to lose weight.

1 Mar 2007

Epidurals affect how successful breastfeeding will be

According to researchers in Australia having an epidural to relieve labour pains may affect how successful breastfeeding will be.

12 Dec 2006

Increasing deaths from opioid analgesics in the United States

Trends analysis of drug poisoning deaths has helped explain a national epidemic of overdose deaths in the USA that began in the 1990s, concludes Leonard Paulozzi and colleagues at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

24 Jul 2006

Increasing deaths from opioid analgesics in the United States

24 Jul 2006

Heroin plus pain killer proves to be a lethal combo

According to health officials and the Chicago police a deadly combination of heroin and a prescription pain killer has resulted in one death and 21 others becoming ill.

15 May 2006

Fentanyl transdermal patch is an effective way to control pain in children

A new study says using a transdermal patch to deliver the opioid fentanyl is an effective way to control pain in children

14 Nov 2005

People living in predominantly minority areas face significant barriers to accessing pain medication

Chronic pain is a condition that affects one in five Americans without regard for their race or finances. But a new study finds that minorities and people with low incomes have less access than high-income white people to the medications that will help them endure their pain.

10 Oct 2005