Details

Fentanyl is an opioid medication. An opioid is sometimes called a narcotic. Fentanyl is used as part of anaesthesia to help prevent pain after surgery or other medical procedure. To make sure fentanyl is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have any type of breathing problem or lung disease history of head injury or brain tumour liver or kidney disease slow heartbeats or if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days.

Typical Uses

Fentanyl is used to help relieve severe ongoing pain (such as due to cancer). Fentanyl belongs to a class of drugs known as narcotic (opiate) analgesics. It works in the brain to change how your body feels and responds to pain. Do not use the patch form of fentanyl to relieve pain that is mild or that will go away in a few days. This medication is not for occasional ("as needed") use.

Side Effects

Stop using fentanyl and inform your doctor immediately if you have weak or shallow breathing fast or slow heart rate stiff muscles or severe weakness, feeling light-headed or fainting. Other side effects of fentanyl include slowed breathing slow heart rate muscle stiffness dizziness, vision problems nausea, vomiting itching, sweating or high blood pressure (confusion, anxiety, pounding in your neck or ears).

Drug Interactions

• Fentanyl+propoxyphene- Using propoxyphene together with fentanyl may increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating. Some people, especially the elderly, may also experience impairment in thinking, judgment, and motor coordination. You should take propoxyphene exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

• Fentanyl+amprenavir- Amprenavir may significantly increase the blood levels and effects of fentanyl. You may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to safely use both medications. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.

• Fentanyl+bosentan- Bosentan may reduce the blood levels of fentanyl, which may make the medication less effective in treating your pain. Additionally, if you have been receiving treatment with fentanyl, adding bosentan may cause you to experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms such as watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, yawning, excessive sweating, goose bumps, fever, chills, flushing, restlessness, irritability, anxiety, depression, pupil dilation, tremor, rapid heartbeat, body aches, involuntary twitching and kicking, abdominal cramping, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and weight loss.

• Fentanyl+clotrimazole- Clotrimazole may significantly increase the blood levels and effects of fentanyl. You may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to safely use both medications. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.

Mechanism of action

Fentanyl belongs to a class of drugs called opioid analgesics. It acts by inhibiting certain receptors in the brain associated with perception of pain.

Pregnancy Category : C