Burn Risk With Patches During MRI
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a healthcare provider alert for numerous transdermal medication patches due to potential increased risks for burns during magnetic resonance imaging scans. Some, but not all, transdermal patches contain aluminum or other metals in their backing material. While the backing is the layer that doesn’t deliver medicine or touch the skin, metal in the backing can overheat during an MRI scan, causing burns in the immediate area of the patch.
The FDA is currently reviewing the labeling and composition of all medication patches to ensure that those made with materials containing metal provide a warning about the risk of burns to patients who wear them during an MRI scan. The metal-containing patches that have been already identified include: clonidine (Catapres TTS), rotigotine (Neupro), lidocaine HCl and epinephrine (Lidopel), lidocaine/tetracaine (Synera), scopolamine (Transderm-Scop), nicotine transdermal system (Prostep), nicotine transdermal system (Habitrol), nicotine transdermal system (Nicotrol TD), testosterone transdermal system (Androderm), fentanyl (Fentanyl), and methyl salicylate/menthol (Salonpas Power Plus).
The FDA expects this list to grow and also cautions prescribers and consumers that there are many generic versions of transdermal patches that may also pose a risk for burns. Until all have been tested, identified, and labeling adjustments and warnings can be updated, healthcare providers and consumers are encouraged to be especially cautious. The MRI imaging industry has created guidelines and recommendations for safety when patch-wearing individuals require MRI scanning.
Nurses can provide an added layer of safety by screening and educating patients who wear transdermal patches. Stress that patients who use transdermal patches must notify their prescribing healthcare provider when they are scheduled for an MRI. The patch must be removed during the scan and replaced after, as directed by their prescribing healthcare provider. It is especially important to remind patients that this caution applies not only to patches prescribed by their healthcare provider, but also to those purchased over-the-counter and from foreign countries. Encourage them to disclose their medication patch use when scheduling MRIs and also when they arrive for their scan.
Breast Cancer Reduction Seen With Osteoporosis Drug
The recently released findings of one large research trial have revealed that one bisphosphonate, a class of drugs used to treat osteoporosis, is effective in decreasing by 36% the risk of breast cancer recurring or spreading. Zoledronic acid is marketed in the U.S. under two brand names, Zometa and Reclast, each approved by the FDA for different indications. Reclast is currently approved as a once-yearly treatment option for osteoporosis. Zometa is approved as adjunctive treatment for multiple myeloma, bone metastases, and hypercalcemia associated with malignancy.
The researchers randomly assigned 1,803 patients with estrogen-sensitive tumors to receive different courses of therapy over the three years. One option included 4mg of zoledronic acid administered intravenously every six months.
After 47.8 months, the researchers concluded that addition of zoledronic acid, when used in combination with standard endocrine therapy, resulted in a 36% reduction in disease progression, cancer in the opposite breast, or metastases to the bone. These findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Nurses should stress the very early nature of these findings and that no recommendation has been made to use Zometa for treatment or prevention of breast cancer. Caution patients not to adjust or share their osteoporosis medications based on this new information. Warn them that the study only examined the effects of one particular intravenous drug used under specific circumstances and the study findings do not apply to all medications used to treat osteoporosis. Encourage them to consult their prescribing healthcare provider.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a healthcare provider alert for numerous transdermal medication patches due to potential increased risks for burns during magnetic resonance imaging scans. Some, but not all, transdermal patches contain aluminum or other metals in their backing material. While the backing is the layer that doesn’t deliver medicine or touch the skin, metal in the backing can overheat during an MRI scan, causing burns in the immediate area of the patch.
The FDA is currently reviewing the labeling and composition of all medication patches to ensure that those made with materials containing metal provide a warning about the risk of burns to patients who wear them during an MRI scan. The metal-containing patches that have been already identified include: clonidine (Catapres TTS), rotigotine (Neupro), lidocaine HCl and epinephrine (Lidopel), lidocaine/tetracaine (Synera), scopolamine (Transderm-Scop), nicotine transdermal system (Prostep), nicotine transdermal system (Habitrol), nicotine transdermal system (Nicotrol TD), testosterone transdermal system (Androderm), fentanyl (Fentanyl), and methyl salicylate/menthol (Salonpas Power Plus).
The FDA expects this list to grow and also cautions prescribers and consumers that there are many generic versions of transdermal patches that may also pose a risk for burns. Until all have been tested, identified, and labeling adjustments and warnings can be updated, healthcare providers and consumers are encouraged to be especially cautious. The MRI imaging industry has created guidelines and recommendations for safety when patch-wearing individuals require MRI scanning.
Nurses can provide an added layer of safety by screening and educating patients who wear transdermal patches. Stress that patients who use transdermal patches must notify their prescribing healthcare provider when they are scheduled for an MRI. The patch must be removed during the scan and replaced after, as directed by their prescribing healthcare provider. It is especially important to remind patients that this caution applies not only to patches prescribed by their healthcare provider, but also to those purchased over-the-counter and from foreign countries. Encourage them to disclose their medication patch use when scheduling MRIs and also when they arrive for their scan.
Breast Cancer Reduction Seen With Osteoporosis Drug
The recently released findings of one large research trial have revealed that one bisphosphonate, a class of drugs used to treat osteoporosis, is effective in decreasing by 36% the risk of breast cancer recurring or spreading. Zoledronic acid is marketed in the U.S. under two brand names, Zometa and Reclast, each approved by the FDA for different indications. Reclast is currently approved as a once-yearly treatment option for osteoporosis. Zometa is approved as adjunctive treatment for multiple myeloma, bone metastases, and hypercalcemia associated with malignancy.
The researchers randomly assigned 1,803 patients with estrogen-sensitive tumors to receive different courses of therapy over the three years. One option included 4mg of zoledronic acid administered intravenously every six months.
After 47.8 months, the researchers concluded that addition of zoledronic acid, when used in combination with standard endocrine therapy, resulted in a 36% reduction in disease progression, cancer in the opposite breast, or metastases to the bone. These findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Nurses should stress the very early nature of these findings and that no recommendation has been made to use Zometa for treatment or prevention of breast cancer. Caution patients not to adjust or share their osteoporosis medications based on this new information. Warn them that the study only examined the effects of one particular intravenous drug used under specific circumstances and the study findings do not apply to all medications used to treat osteoporosis. Encourage them to consult their prescribing healthcare provider.
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