Different manufacturer, same problem. Another company is recalling painkiller patches because of a flaw that could cause patients or caregivers to overdose on the fentanyl drug inside.
The new recall covers 14 lots of patches sold by Actavis; they have that company's name and its former name, Abrika Pharmaceuticals, on their packaging. Actavis said its patches have a "foldover defect" that might cause leaks. Last week, PriCara, a division of Johnson & Johnson withdrew batches of its Duragesic fentanyl patches. In the latter case, some of the patches had slits in the drug reservoir, leaking fentanyl into the packaging.
Quite a coincidence. Or did the news of J&J's recall alert Actavis to the possibility of a design flaw in its own product?
- see Actavis' release
- see the news in the Washington Post