Actiq
A powerful narcotic painkiller made in the form of a lollipop, Actiq is sucked against the inner cheek so that the medicine enters the blood stream quickly — relieving pain in just minutes.
Manufactured by Cephalon, Inc., Actiq’s active ingredient, fentanyl citrate, is a highly addictive narcotic that is about 80 times stronger than morphine.
In 1998, Actiq was approved by the FDA to relieve severe pain in cancer sufferers. However, this drug was being prescribed to thousands of people for off-label treatment of non-cancer related pain. In the first half of 2006, 99% of the 187,076 Actiq prescriptions in the U.S. were not for cancer patients.
The side effects are: dehydration, respiratory problems and withdrawal symptoms associated with highly addictive drugs. Actiq has been associated with the deaths of at least 127 people. Forty-seven deaths have been related to misuse, addiction and overdose. There have been another 91 FDA-reported cases of severe side effects. In addition, two deaths involved children who confused the Actiq lollipop for candy.
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