Watson Pharmaceuticals has announced a recall of all 75mcg Fentanyl patches from lot number 92461850.  These patches are being recalled for the same reason many of Johnson & Johnson’s Duragesic patches were recalled: Manufacturing defects that could lead to leakage.  Here’s an excerpt from Watson’s press release:

CORONA, CA – August 8, 2008 – Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading specialty pharmaceutical company, announced today that one lot of 75 mcg/hr Fentanyl Transdermal System patches sold in the United States is being voluntarily recalled from wholesalers and pharmacies. The recalled patches are from Lot Number 92461850, have expiration dates of August 31, 2009 and were manufactured by Watson Laboratories, Inc. The affected lot of Fentanyl Transdermal System patches was shipped to customers between January 30, 2008 and March 19, 2008. No other strengths or lots were affected and the Company does not anticipate any product shortages as a result of this recall. The Company has notified the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the recall.

Source: Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | Investor Relations | Press Release

If you have any Fentanyl patches from this lot, you can call 888-667-1508, Mon. through Fri. from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, for instructions on how to return the patches.  Watson recommends flushing any patches down the toilet that have already begun to leak, and strongly cautions against touching leaking patches with your bare hands.  If you accidentally touch a leaking patch, wash your hands with water onlyDO NOT USE SOAP as this increases the likelihood you will be injured by the patch.

Many people have already died as a result of leaking Fentanyl patches, and I hope no one dies or is injured from these patches.  Better still, I wish all the manufacturers of Fentanyl patches would switch over to what’s called a Matrix design like they sell in Europe.  Those patches cost a little bit more to manufacture, but they don’t leak and kill people like these patches do.