FRIDAY, Mar. 6 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning about the risk of burns as a result of wearing medicated patches, such as those used for smoking cessation or pain relief, during MRI scans.
The warning applies to patches that are available over the counter as well as prescription-only products, and concerns the aluminum backing on some patches, which can generate heat during an MRI, resulting in burns. Not all transdermal medications contain a warning to this effect, the FDA found.
An FDA review of the labeling and composition of medicated patches is under way, but in the meantime patients should check with their health care provider about the safety of wearing a medicated patch during an MRI scan, and should inform staff at the MRI facility if they are receiving transdermal medical treatment, the FDA statement explains.
"The risk of using a metallic patch during an MRI has been well-established, but the FDA recently discovered that not all manufacturers include a safety warning with their patches," Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a statement. "Because the metal in these patches may not be visible and the product labeling may not disclose the presence of metal, patients should tell both their health care professional and their MRI facility that they wear a medicated adhesive patch."
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