Fentanyl Patches Improve Pain and Function in Osteoarthritis

Sunday February 3, 2008

Fentanyl patches may be a treatment option for some osteoarthritis patients who still experience pain even after using other pain medications. In a study published in the November 23, 2007 issue of Clinical Rheumatology, 81 patients with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee were assessed for improvement while using the fentanyl patch. At the end of 8 weeks, 65% of patients experienced improvement in pain management and about 50% were able to stick with the strength of the patch they first tried (25 mcg/hr). There was also improvement in joint mobility and the ability to perform usual daily activities. Side effects were mild to moderate and included nausea, dizziness, and headache.

Be aware, a report in the July 23/30, 2007 American Medical News warned that fentanyl patches were linked to overdoses, some even fatal. The overdoses mostly occurred when the fentanyl patch was prescribed off-label for acute pain or when more than one patch was mistakenly applied to the skin. Several years ago the FDA issued a public health advisory and added a black-box warning to the product's packaging that stated fentanyl patches should be used to treat moderate to severe chronic pain in patients who already have had some tolerance for opioids. It should not be used for acute, postop, intermittent, or mild pain.

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