With Palladone pulled, FDA eyes other opioids: concern that other extended-relief products may interact fatally with alcohol triggers scrutiny.(News)

Publication: Skin & Allergy News

Publication Date: 01-SEP-05

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COPYRIGHT 2005 International Medical News Group

Shortly after Purdue Pharma announced in July that it was taking its 24-hour opioid Palladone off the market due to a potentially fatal interaction with alcohol, the Food and Drug Administration said it was looking into the possibility that other sustained release narcotics could pose the same danger.

The Palladone withdrawal (hydromorphone hydrochloride extended release) came at the same time the FDA announced it was investigating whether the transdermal fentanyl patch marketed as Duragesic might be linked to a number of deaths.

"We are investigating 120 deaths that seemingly are related to overdose," Robert Meyer, M.D., director of the Office of Drug Evaluation II at the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), said in a statement.

The FDA actions throw...

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