An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Voluntary Drug Recall Alert: Fentanyl

  • Published
  • TRICARE Communications
On April 19, 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a voluntary recall of a small number of cartons labeled Fentanyl 12 mcg/h Transdermal System patches. Fentanyl is used to manage pain for patients who can tolerate opioids.

The recalled cartons contained 50 mcg/h patches instead of 12 mcg/h patches.

Using a 50 mcg/h patch instead of a prescribed 12 mcg/h patch could result in serious, life threatening, or fatal respiratory depression. Groups at potential increased risk could include first time recipients of such patches, children, and the elderly. To date, Alvogen, Inc. hasn’t received any reports of adverse events related to this issue.

The affected Fentanyl Transdermal System lots include:

• Lot 180060 of Fentanyl Transdermal System, 12 mcg/h, expiration date 05/2020
• Lot 180073 of Fentanyl Transdermal System, 12 mcg/h, expiration date 06/2020

Express Scripts, Inc. identified some TRICARE beneficiaries who potentially received recalled products through home delivery or retail network pharmacies on or after October 10, 2018. Letters notifying home delivery and retail beneficiaries who may have received currently affected products were mailed from Express Scripts on behalf of DoD.

The DoD has notified all military hospitals and clinics of this recall and asked them to remove all affected products and confirm if any patients received the recalled products. Any patient impacted should be contacted.

Patients and prescribers should check the FDA website for potential changes in the recall status of this medicine.

If you use Fentanyl 12 mcg/h patches, check that the dosages on the packaging of your individual patches are correct and don’t take a wrong dosage. And if you have a wrong dosage, contact your local pharmacy at the number on your prescription label.

You can find the latest information about the recall and affected products on the FDA website.

If you have questions about the recall, contact the pharmacy where you received your medication or the manufacturer Alvogen, Inc. at 866-770-3024 or pharmacovigilance@alvogen.com.