Patient was educated on the side effects of using Duragesic as follows:
- Constipation
- Duragesic slows down the bowel movements heavily and leads to constipation.
- Constipation is one of the most common and unpleasant side effects with Duragesic use.
- Drowsiness and dizziness
- Duragesic produces an intense feeling of drowsiness and dizziness, as a side effect to modifying the pain perception of brain.
- Patients can also experience hallucinations and mood changes due to Duragesic use.
- Anaphylaxis
- A rare, but serious anaphylactic response can occur for Duragesic.
- Patients can present with extreme itching and rash, swelling of the face and throat, dizziness, bronchoconstriction, and difficulty breathing.
- This is an emergency and medical attention should be sought immediately, without any delay.
- Respiratory depression
- Duragesic affects the respiratory center in the brain through action on the opioid receptors in the brain.
- This induces slowing down of respirations and the breathing pattern can become irregular.
- This can result in reduced gas exchange with elevated carbon dioxide and reduced oxygen levels in the body.
- Overdose of Duragesic can also cause respiratory arrest.
