Safety advice on particular drugs or classes of drugs
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| Canada: Health Canada reminds the public to safely use and dispose of fentanyl patches to prevent accidental exposure |
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Health Canada is reminding the public about the safe use and disposal of fentanyl patches to prevent accidental exposure. Accidental exposure to fentanyl can be very dangerous and even lead to death.
A fentanyl patch is an adhesive patch that is placed on the skin. It delivers the drug fentanyl, a powerful opioid pain medicine, continuously through the skin and into the blood stream to control pain.
Patches that accidentally fall off a patient, or discarded patches, may still contain significant amounts of strong narcotic medicine that can seriously harm babies, children, caregivers, pets, and others who are inadvertently exposed to it. A patch can also be transferred with close physical contact. Accidental exposure may result in a fentanyl overdose.
Patients should read and follow the product instructions carefully, including these steps for the safe storage, use and disposal of fentanyl patches to reduce the risk of accidental exposure.
Please refer to the following website in Health Canada for details:
http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/../36239a-eng.php
In Hong Kong, there are six fentanyl-containing patches registered and are presctiption-only medicines. Related news had been released by FDA and was posted on the Drug Office website on 20 April 2012 and 24 September 2013. Letter to inform healthcare professionals to draw their attention on the issue and urge them to report any adverse drug reation related to the drug was also issued on 20 April 2012. The Department of Health will keep vigilant on any safey updates of the drug and actions taken by overseas regulatory for consideration of any action deemed necessary.
Ends/ Saturday, October 12, 2013
Issued at HKT 12:00
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