Fentanyl
About Fentanyl
Fentanyl belongs to a class of drugs known as 'opioid analgesics,' primarily used to relieve pain. It is used to reduce pain before and after surgery. Pain can be temporary (acute) or long-lasting (chronic) in nature. Acute pain is caused by damage to the tissues of the muscle, bone, or other organs for a short time. Chronic pain lasts for a long duration and is caused due to pathologies like nerve damage and osteoarthritis.
Fentanyl contains Fentanyl, which is primarily used to treat pain. It works by blocking a chemical messenger in the brain responsible for causing pain. Hence, changing the way the brain and nervous system respond to pain.
Fentanyl will be administered to your vein by a trained healthcare professional; hence, do not self-administer. This medicine may cause certain common side effects such as dizziness, sleepiness, increased or decreased blood pressure, and irregular heartbeat in some cases. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and will resolve gradually over time. However, you are advised to talk to your doctor if you experience these side effects persistently.
Avoid receiving Fentanyl if you are allergic to it or opioids or any ingredients of Fentanyl. Inform your doctor if you have respiratory disorders, heart diseases, high blood pressure, and liver or kidney disease before starting treatment with Fentanyl. Avoid consuming alcohol along with Fentanyl as it could lead to increased dizziness. Fentanyl should not be used for a prolonged time, as it may lead to mental or physical dependence on Fentanyl. Using MAO inhibitor medicine along with Fentanyl may lead to serious side effects. Hence inform your doctor if you are using any such medicine. Blood pressure and cardiovascular (heart) status should be monitored closely during the treatment with Fentanyl, especially in people affected with high blood pressure and a history of heart failure. Fentanyl is not recommended for children below 18 years of age.
Uses of Fentanyl
Medicinal Benefits
Fentanyl belongs to a class of drugs known as 'opioid analgesics,' containing Fentanyl, primarily used to relieve pain. It is used to treat breakthrough pain (sudden episodes of pain occurring despite treatment with pain medication) in cancer patients. It is also used as an anaesthetic agent for short operations and relieves pain in conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis and pain affecting the joints and muscles. It works by blocking a chemical messenger in the brain responsible for causing pain. Hence, changing the way the brain and nervous system respond to pain.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Fentanyl
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Muscle stiffness (which may involve your chest muscles)
- Agitation
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Problems with vision
- Difficulty in breathing or wheezing
- Irregular heartbeat (slow or fast)
- Pain in your veins
- Difficulty with body movements
- Confusion
- Injection site reactions
Drug Warnings
Do not receive Fentanyl if you are allergic to opioids or any ingredients of Fentanyl.Inform your doctor if you have respiratory disorders, heart diseases, high blood pressure, liver/kidney disease or hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) before starting treatment with Fentanyl. Do not take Fentanyl for a prolonged time, Fentanyl contains fentanyl that may lead to mental or physical dependence on Fentanyl. Do not take Fentanyl if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, as it may cause adverse effects on the baby. Fentanyl is not recommended for children below 18 years of age. Using MAO inhibitor medicine along with Fentanyl may lead to serious side effects. Hence inform your doctor if you are using any such medicine. Fentanyl should be taken with extreme caution in patients who have a history of alcoholism or drug abuse. Avoid consuming alcohol while on this medication, as it can lead to excessive sleepiness. Blood pressure and cardiovascular (heart) status should be monitored closely during the treatment with Fentanyl, especially in people affected with high blood pressure and a history of heart failure.
Drug Interactions
-
Drug-Drug Interaction: Fentanyl is known to interact with antihistamines (cetirizine, phenylephrine), anti-HIV medicines (ritonavir, indinavir, saquinavir), anti-anxiety medicines (droperidol), anti-fungal medicines (fluconazole, voriconazole), anti-depressants (citalopram, duloxetine, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, venlafaxine), MAO Inhibitors (Isocarboxazid, Selegiline).
-
Drug-Food Interaction: Fentanyl is known to interact with alcohol and grapefruit juice.
-
Drug-Disease Interaction: Fentanyl is known to interact in patients who have or had an underactive thyroid gland, lung disease, myasthenia gravis (a muscle disorder), liver or kidney disease, alcoholism, severe undiagnosed headaches, or recently suffered a head injury, low blood volume, pain in the right upper side of your abdomen (bile duct).
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeFentanyl with alcohol may cause dizziness or drowsiness. Besides this, it can also damage your liver if taken for a longer duration. So, avoid or limit intake of alcoholic beverages with Fentanyl.
Pregnancy
unsafeFentanyl is a pregnancy category C drug. Generally, it is not recommended for use in pregnancy as it may harm your foetus. Hence, if you are pregnant or planning pregnancy, inform your doctor before receiving Fentanyl. Your doctor may prescribe this medicine if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breast Feeding
unsafeIt may be unsafe to use during breastfeeding as it may cause sleepiness and decreased heart rate in your infant. It is not recommended for use in breastfeeding. Hence, if you are breastfeeding, inform your doctor before receiving Fentanyl. Your doctor may suggest you to stop feeding while on treatment with this medicine.
Driving
unsafeFentanyl causes dizziness, sleepiness, and drowsiness. So, do not drive or operate any machinery after taking this medicine until you are alert.
Liver
cautionIf you have a pre-existing or a history of liver disease, inform your doctor before receiving Fentanyl. Your doctor may adjust the dose of this medicine or prescribe a suitable alternative based on your condition.
Kidney
cautionIf you have a pre-existing or a history of kidney disease, inform your doctor before receiving Fentanyl. Your doctor may adjust the dose of this medicine or prescribe a suitable alternative based on your condition.
Children
cautionFentanyl is not recommended for children below the age of 18 years.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Do not go for heavy exercise as it may increase your joint pain in arthritis. Instead, you can do stretching and low-impact aerobic exercises like walking on a treadmill, bike riding, and swimming. You can also strengthen your muscles by lifting light weights.
- In the chronic condition of arthritis or joint pain, including fish like salmon, trout, tuna, and sardines. These fishes are enriched with omega-3 fatty acids that have a minimum level of chemicals called cytokines, which ramp up inflammation.
- Your sitting posture is important, especially when you have pain and inflammation. Try to sit as little as possible, and only for a short duration of time. Long-term immobility is harmful in conditions like arthritis. Use back support like a rolled-up towel to minimise pain at the back of your spine curve. Keep your knees and hips at a right angle. Besides this, you can also use a footrest if required.
- Include a diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. This is a healthier option than eating many simple carbohydrates in processed foods.
Special Advise
- Regular monitoring of blood pressure and heart rate is required while on treatment with Fentanyl.
- Fentanyl causes drowsiness. Avoid doing activities that require your complete focus and attention, like driving when on this drug.
- An abrupt stoppage of Fentanyl can lead to significant withdrawal symptoms. Always discuss with your doctor about decreasing the dosage before completely stopping its usage.
- Avoid consuming alcohol while on this medication, as it can lead to dangerous side effects.
- Fentanyl is unsafe for usage if you're pregnant or are planning to get pregnant. Discuss with your doctor in such situations about changing/replacing the medicine with safer alternatives.
- To avoid getting addicted to this drug, take it in prescribed quantities and as directed by your doctor. Do not self-medicate.
- Fentanyl should not be administered during labour as it may affect the baby’s breathing.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Pain: Pain is an unpleasant emotion brought on by an illness or injury. Acute (short-term) or chronic pain both exist (long-term). It may be widespread (body-wide aches) or localised (pain in a specific body area). Since different people have varying pain tolerance levels, pain is highly subjective. Even though pain is uncomfortable and inconvenient, it can provide clues as to what is wrong with the body. Cramps, headaches, bone fractures, stomach pain, arthritis (swelling of one or more joints), muscle strain or overuse, cuts, the flu, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome are a few conditions that can cause pain (muscle pain with stiffness and tenderness).
FAQs
Fentanyl is used to relieve pain.
Fentanyl contains Fentanyl which works by blocking a chemical messenger in the brain responsible for causing pain. Hence, changing the way the brain and nervous system respond to pain.
Yes, Fentanyl sometimes may make you breathe more slowly than usual or can cause shortness of breath. If you feel so, please inform your doctor immediately. Also, people with any breathing problems should inform their doctor before starting Fentanyl.
Elderly patients (aged more than 65 years) are more likely to have confusion and sleepiness or age-related health issues, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving Fentanyl. So, it is better to consult a doctor before receiving this medicine.
Fentanyl is a habit-forming drug. It is not likely to be addictive if you take it for 2-4 weeks. However, if the doctor has prescribed you for more than 2-4 weeks, your doctor may reduce your dose before completely stopping it.
Do not stop receiving Fentanyl until instructed by your doctor. You may get side effects like confusion, depression, nervousness, sweating, and diarrhea. Your doctor may lower the dose of Fentanyl if using it for more than 2-4 weeks of treatment to reduce side effects.
Be careful while receiving Fentanyl as it may cause dizziness, light-headedness, and fainting when you get up too quickly from a lying position. This is more common when you first start receiving Fentanyl. To overcome this problem, get out of bed slowly, resting your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up. Avoid consumption of alcohol while treatment with Fentanyl as it may lead to dangerous side effects.
The side effects of Fentanyl include sleepiness, dizziness, increased or decreased blood pressure, and irregular heartbeat in some cases. Most of these side effects resolve on their own over time. However, consult the doctor if any of these side effects persist or worsen.
