The fentanyl tea bag.

Fentanyl patches create unique opportunities for use and abuse. Each patch contains 100-fold more drug than is stated on the label in order to create the gradient required to deliver the stated amount (ie 25-100 microg/h). Several methods of abuse of this analgesic have been reported, ranging from ingestion to inhalation to application of multiple patches to the skin. We report the unique case of a 21-y-old woman who steeped a fentanyl patch in a cup of hot water and then drank the mixture. Coma and hypoventilation resulted. The woman was resuscitated with naloxone i.v. and recovered without sequelae.