Fentanyl: What You Need To Know Before Taking Fentanyl
Updated May 20, 2014.
What Is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a pain medication frequently used after surgery. Fentanyl is an opioid analgesic, a pain medication similar to Morphine but approximately 100 times stronger. It is a controlled substance and requires a prescription from your doctor.
Fentanyl is also known as Fentanyl Citrate, Sublimaze, Actiq, Duragesic, Fentora and Matrifen.
How Is Fentanyl Given?
Fentanyl is available in a variety of forms.
In the hospital, Fentanyl is most commonly given as an IV injection or an IV drip. The drug can also be given with a PCA (Patient Controlled Analgesia) pump, where the patient presses a button to have a small dose of pain medication delivered through their IV.
For patients taking Fentanyl at home, a transdermal patch can be worn, which delivers the medication through the skin. For patients with cancer, Actiq, a “lollipop” is available to provide medication orally. A buccal pill, a medication that dissolves in the mouth between the cheek and gum, is also available.
Fentanyl Doses
Fentanyl dosages very widely based upon the reason for the pain, the duration of usage and the tolerance the patient may have to pain medications. Fentanyl is a very potent pain medications, therefore, many patients will not qualify for the Fentanyl patch or Actiq lollipops as they only appropriate for patients with a tolerance for Fentanyl or other opioid pain medications.
Risks Of Fentanyl
Fentanyl, like many opioid medications, can cause respiratory depression.
This means the drive to breathe can be seriously diminished. This effect can last longer than the pain relief effects, making it essential to be aware of any breathing issues prior to taking an additional dose. Fentanyl should not be taken with other pain medications without your physician’s knowledge, and should never be taken with alcohol.
There is a risk of addiction when taking Fentanyl for extended periods of time. When used properly, most patients do not experience addiction or symptoms of physical withdrawal when the drug is no longer in use.
Side Effects of Fentanyl
- Respiratory Depression
- Constipation
- Dry Mouth
- Dizziness
- Sleepiness
Fentanyl Dosage Over Time
Fentanyl dosages vary widely based upon the method of delivery and the reason for the medication. Fentanyl is very potent, so initial doses are very small, for example, an adult one time IV dose may be .05 to .1 mg. However, for long term patients, such as cancer patients, doses may exceed .8 mg per day.
.1 mg of Fentanyl is roughly equivalent to 10 mg of Morphine.
Special Concerns: Actiq Fentanyl “Lollipop”
Actiq, the fentanyl dosage system that is sucked on like a lollipop, is designed for use by cancer patients with significant pain. Actiq is not appropriate for everyone, only patients who have a demonstrated tolerance for opioid medications equivalent to 60 mg of morphine per day should use this method of Fentanyl delivery.
Actiq is like a lollipop in appearance, yet it delivers a dose of medication that could be fatal to adults, and especially children, who are not acclimated to opioid medications. For that reason, child safety kits are available to prevent the accidental ingestion of this medication from the makers of Actiq. To obtain your Actiq child safety kit, call 1-888-534-3119 to make your request.
Special Concerns: Duragesic Fentanyl Patch
The Duragesic Fentanyl patch is designed to deliver a specific dose of Fentanyl over the course of 3 days. When used according to directions, and removed according the instructions, the patch still contains significant amounts of Fentanyl. For this reason, it is important that patches are discarded in a place where children and pets cannot find them. The manufacturer of the patch recommends flushing used patches down the toilet.
Cutting or altering the patch can cause an overdose of Fentanyl. Never use a patch that is not intact, or move a patch from one area of the body to another after application, as this may damage the integrity of the patch.
Sources:
Fentanyl. The National Institute On Drug Abuse. Accessed July 2009. http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/fentanyl.html
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