Actiq
Lollipop (Fentanyl Citrate)Actiq is a powerful
painkiller in the form
of a lollipop. The drug is absorbed through the cheek, which makes the drug
work faster than swallowing a pill. The active ingredient in Actiq is fentanyl
citrate, a highly addictive opioid painkiller 80 to 100 times more
powerful than morphine. The lollipop has a berry flavor and comes in five
different color plastic handles to indicate the dosage.
The
FDA approved the
drug in 1998 for opioid-tolerant cancer patients whose pain could not be
managed by other narcotic analgesics. But recently, Actiq
lozenges are being used for many other types of pain not initially
indicated by the manufacturer, mainly head and back aches. In fact, very few of
the prescriptions written for the drug are for cancer patients. The
company who manufactures Actiq lozenges, Cephalon, Inc., pitches the drug to a
variety of doctors, not just oncologists. Off-label prescription of
Actiq is neither uncommon nor illegal, but it can have dangerous
consequences. Actiq lollipops have been associated with 127 deaths and
there have been 91 FDA reported incidents of severe side effects.
Abuse of Actiq has
become a problem as well. On the street the drug is called perc-o-pops. There
have been 47 deaths linked to overdose and misuse of the Actiq lozenge. Two of
the deaths involved children who mistook the drug for candy. The drug has a
high potential for addiction, abuse and fatal overdose, so patients must
exercise extreme caution when taking this painkiller.
More recent and serious evidence of fentanyl's potency has been proven. In 2007, the
Institute for Safe Medication Practices and the Division of Public Health
Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, conducted a longitudinal
Adverse Events Reporting System Review of the U.S. FDA's
most dangerous drugs.
The study found fentanyl to be one of the most dangerous drugs on the market
with the second highest number of suspect drug deaths. Over the eight years
of the study, fentanyl was by far one of the most lethal drugs on the market responsible for over 3,500 deaths in an 8-year period.
See your
doctor if you have experienced serious side effects associated with use of
Actiq lozenges. In addition, it may be important to contact an attorney who can
help you protect your legal rights. Please keep in mind that there may be
time limits within
which you must commence suit.
Attorneysassociated with InjuryBoard.com will evaluate your case
free of charge.
See Also
- Painkillers: Overview