Some of the patches were found to contain aluminum which can cause overheating and burns during an MRI procedure. Recently, there were five recorded incidents of burns during MRI scanning where patients incurred bad sunburn like insult to the skin.

Only a fraction of the patch burning incidents are alarming but the public is warned that there are 20 drug patches marketed in the United States that contain metal fragments.

Experts suggest that people using the drug patches must read the label or the box prior to getting an MRI. The boxes of these drug patches do not warn patients of their contents. Only a small percentage of patients using them read the small prints prior to use.

The Food and Drug Authority may soon require producers to print the warnings on the patch itself to educate the public. They are also pushing for a “remove before undergoing MRI” reminder on boxes of these drug patches.

Patients on the other hand must consult their doctors if they can still reuse the drug patches or need to replace them after an MRI scan.

The drug patch alert is just one of the updates among other warnings with regard to magnetic resonance imaging. Radiologists now warn patients who have device implants, shrapnel, and tattoos prior to an MRI procedure.