Description

• Ortho-McNeil, the company that manufactures Duragesic, describes the patch as a rectangular transparent product with three layers: a protective liner, a drug-containing layer and a backing.
  
  

Features

• The clear plastic protective liner is discarded just before applying the patch to the skin. The middle layer holds a designated amount of fentanyl within an adhesive. The backing is a polyethylene/ethyl vinyl acetate film.
  
  

Function

• The protective liner is designed to keep the fentanyl from touching any exposed skin surfaces until it's time to apply the patch. The drug-containing layer adheres to the skin to allow gradual absorption of fentanyl. The backing keeps the drug away from clothing and other skin surfaces.
  
  

Pharmacology

• Fentanyl is absorbed from the drug-containing layer through the skin into the underlying tissue. Blood vessels pick up the drug and carry it to the central nervous system.
  
  

Warning

• Fentanyl is a powerful drug that can cause respiratory distress and even death. Fentanyl patch therapy should not be used by people who have not previously developed a tolerance to opioids. To avoid serious problems, caregivers should never touch the drug/adhesive layer of the patch.