New Fentanyl-like Patch gets FDA approval, Potentially as Lethal as Original Dangerous Drug

The FDA recently approved a new "transmucosal patch" called Onsolis. It is eerily similar to the deadly Fentanyl pain patch, which has caused the deaths of at least 1,000 people, according to the CDC.

How did this drug get FDA approval? It's a good question considering Onsolis appears to be a copycat of Fentanyl in terms of potency and delivery method.

"This could be very abuseable -- quick effects, easy to take," said Dr. Andrew Mannes of the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

The tepid response to a new Fentanyl-esque pain patch was echoed by Dr. Elliot Krane of Stanford University who said Onsolis probably won't provide "any unique or new therapeutic benefits over existing products."

To give you some background information, Fentanyl hit the market as a powerful pain reliever; so powerful that it's estimated to be 80 times stronger than morphine and hundreds of times more potent than heroin. It's so potent that the Russian military apparently used "a fentanyl derivative" against terrorists! Talk about a dangerous drug.

Numerous lawsuits were filed against the manufacturers of Fentanyl and we represented two families who tragically lost a spouse after a sudden overdose while wearing the prescribed Fentanyl pain patches.

Given the checkered past of this pain medication and delivery method, I have very little faith that Onsolis will be a good alternative. In fact, I'm extremely concerned we could see thousands more people seriously injured or even die after using these shoddy pain patches.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a law firm whose attorneys focus on injury and accident law and have experience handling dangerous drugs cases and prescription drug errors. Check out our dangerous drug information page to learn more about side effects and recalls. We serve every area of North Carolina, including the Outer Banks, Nags Head and the western mountains, as well as all the cities and counties in between.  In South Carolina, we cover the state from Myrtle Beach and Charleston to Orangeburg, Columbia, Florence, Rock Hill, Darlington, Aiken, Anderson, Greenville and Spartanburg.

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