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[Overdose from a patch]
Mathias Friebe1, Johanna Coenen2
1Zentrale Interdisziplinäre Notaufnahme, Allgemeines Krankenhaus Viersen.
History And Clinical Findings:
We present the case of an 89-year-old patient with impaired consciousness for whom the emergency services were called. She was soporose and showed a pronounced generalized muscle rigidity. Due to a third-party history the incorrect use of a fentanyl patch was found out to be at cause.
Treatment And Clinical Course:
The antidote administration of naloxone led to restoration. The need for repetitive administration confirmed the clinical hypothesis.
Conclusion:
The application of fentanyl via the skin in the form of transdermal therapeutic systems (TTS) has become more popular over the years. Incorrect administration causes intoxication with the leading symptoms of loss of consciousness and respiratory depression. This case report extends the spectrum of symptoms to include skeletal muscle rigidity otherwise only described in connection with intravenous administration, especially in anaesthetic settings.