FDA warns: No wearing of medication patches for MRI
WASHINGTON - Need an MRI scan? Tell the doctor if you use a nicotine patch or any other medication patch - or you'll risk a burn during the MRI.
Patches that ooze medication slowly through the skin are becoming more popular, from over-the-counter nicotine patches to prescription patches that deliver estrogen, pain medication, Alzheimer's or Parkinson's drugs, even an antinausea drug for chemotherapy recipients.
But the Food and Drug Administration discovered some are missing a key safety warning about MRI compatibility.
More than a quarter of the 60 different drug patches sold contain traces of aluminum or other metals in their backing, the part that makes them stick to the skin, estimated Dr. Sandra Kweder, FDA deputy drug director.
You can't see the metal; the patch may appear completely clear. But affected patches contain just enough metal to conduct electricity, meaning a patch worn during an MRI scan can overheat and cause a skin burn similar to a bad sunburn.
The FDA recently learned of a few patients who suffered patch burns, none severe. In January, tracking the source of one burn, officials found that Teva Pharmaceuticals' fentanyl painkiller patch lacked the MRI warning. The FDA then found a variety of other drug patches also lacked the warning. Yesterday, the FDA issued a public health advisory: Tell your doctor about any medication patches, so the professional can decide which should be removed before an MRI, how soon before the scan, and when it can be reapplied.
