The FDA has issued an emergency warning that certain adhesive patches (transdermal patches) that deliver medication through the skin have been found to be a risk to patients safety while they undergo a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). If these problem patches are affixed to the skin while actually undergoing the scan they can cause skin burns.

The FDA has found that some of these patches contain aluminum or other metals in their non-adhesive backing. This metal can conduct electricity, generating heat which can cause burns. Users of the patches reported receiving skin burns at their patch site when wearing the patch during an MRI scan.

It is important that you alert the MRI facility if you are using any patches prior to starting the scan.

To read the alert go to: FDA transdermal patch alert

Joel T Nowak MA, MSW