Skin Patches: New Warning Issued
Skin Patches: New Warning Issued
There are a number of precautions that should be observed when
taking prescription drugs. Some of these, including side effects, drug
interactions, and general precautions are listed in the drug’s package
insert and often on the internet. A new precaution that has not had a lot
of attention has to do with drugs that are applied to the body by way of
a skin patch. Last month, federal officials issued a warning to persons
who wear nicotine and other drug patches. The warning indicates that
some patches contain tiny amounts of metal, such as aluminum, that can
be heated during an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) body scan. According
to one report from the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), as
many as 5 individuals who wore a skin patch during an MRI procedure
received burns that were similar to a bad sunburn.
There are approximately 60 different types of drug patches sold in the
United States. The patch delivers a specific amount of drug through the
skin and into the blood stream. Other drugs available in a skin patch
include nitroglycerin (for angina) and lidocaine (for the pain of shingles).