Fentanyl



Actiq®; Duragesic®; Ionsys™; Sublimaze®







Fentanyl

(FEN ta nil)

U.S. Brand Names
Actiq®; Duragesic®; Ionsys™; Sublimaze®
Canadian Brand Names
Actiq®; Duragesic®; Fentanyl Citrate Injection, USP
Pharmacologic Category
Analgesic, Narcotic; General Anesthetic
What key warnings should I know about before taking this medicine?
  • This warning is for Actiq® only. It is for cancer pain that is poorly treated by other pain medicines. It is not to be used for pain caused by surgery. Keep away from children.
  • This warning is for Duragesic® only. It is only used to treat lasting, chronic pain that cannot be handled by other treatments. It is only for use in patients who already take opioids (such as morphine, oxycodone, or hydromorphone) and are used to them. It is not for mild pain or pain that comes and goes. Duragesic® is not for use in children younger than 2 years of age. Do not use a damaged or cut patch. Patients receiving this medicine should be monitored for misuse, abuse, and addiction. Some drug interactions can be serious. Check with healthcare provider.
Reasons not to take this medicine
  • Not for use in children less than 2 years of age.
  • If you have an allergy to fentanyl or any other part of this medicine.
  • Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.
  • If you have any of the following conditions: Increased pressure in your brain, intestinal blockage, kidney disease, liver disease, or severe lung disease.
  • Ionsys™: If you have an allergy to cetylpiridinum chloride.
What is this medicine used for?
  • This medicine is used to relieve pain.
How does it work?
  • Fentanyl binds to brain receptors, relieving pain. It decreases the feeling of pain and a person's response to pain.
How is it best taken?
  • All forms:
  • Drink plenty of noncaffeine-containing liquid unless told to drink less liquid by healthcare provider.
  • Injection:
  • This medicine is given as a shot into a vein.
  • Skin patch:
  • Do not use patches that are damaged or cut.
  • Wash hands before and after use.
  • You can bathe, shower, or swim after applying.
  • Apply patch to clean, dry, healthy skin on the chest, back, upper leg, or upper arm.
  • Clip hair at site before putting patch on. Do not shave.
  • Move patch site with each patch.
  • If the patch falls off, replace with a new one.
  • If patch loosens, apply tape over it to hold in place.
  • Lollipop:
  • Place lollipop in your mouth between the cheek and lower gum.
  • Suck lollipop. Do not chew, break, or crush.
  • This medicine will be given to you in a healthcare setting.
  • Your healthcare provider will apply, remove, and throw away this medicine.
  • Follow instructions for use carefully.
  • Only you should press the dosing button.
  • Tell healthcare provider right away if the system falls off. Do not touch the system.
What do I do if I miss a dose? (does not apply to patients in the hospital)
  • Use a missed dose as soon as possible.
  • If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.
  • Many times this medicine is taken on an as needed basis.
What are the precautions when taking this medicine?
  • All forms:
  • Do not run out of this medicine.
  • This medicine may be habit-forming with long-term use.
  • If you are 65 or older, use this medicine with caution. You could have more side effects.
  • If you have been taking this medicine for several weeks, talk with healthcare provider before stopping. You may want to gradually withdraw this medicine.
  • If you have kidney disease, talk with healthcare provider.
  • If you have liver disease, talk with healthcare provider.
  • If you have lung disease, talk with healthcare provider.
  • If you have thyroid disease, talk with healthcare provider.
  • You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities until you see how this medicine affects you.
  • Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.
  • Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice.
  • Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) or other medicines and natural products that slow your actions and reactions. These include sedatives, tranquilizers, mood stabilizers, antihistamines, and other pain medicine.
  • You can get sunburned more easily. Avoid sun, sunlamps, and tanning beds. Use sunscreen; wear protective clothing and eyewear.
  • Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.
  • Tell healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding.
  • Skin patch:
  • Avoid use of heat sources (such as sunlamps, tanning beds, heating pads, electric blankets, heat lamps, saunas, hot tubs, heated waterbeds). Avoid long, hot baths or sunbathing. Your temperature may rise and cause too much medicine to be released at once.
  • Fever may cause too much medicine to pass into your body. Call healthcare provider.
  • Ionsys™:
  • Do not touch the sticky side of the system. A serious reaction may occur.
  • Contains conducting metal. Remove before MRI.
What are some possible side effects of this medicine?
  • Difficulty breathing. Slow breathing, shallow breathing, or trouble breathing are all signs of this. Call healthcare provider immediately.
  • Feeling lightheaded, sleepy, having blurred vision, or a change in thinking clearly. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that require you to be alert or have clear vision until you see how this medicine affects you.
  • Feeling dizzy. Rise slowly over several minutes from sitting or lying position. Be careful climbing.
  • Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.
  • Constipation. More liquids, regular exercise, or a fiber-containing diet may help. Talk with healthcare provider about a stool softener or laxative.
What should I monitor?
  • Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?
  • Keep a diary of pain control.
  • Bowel movements.
  • Take good care of your teeth. See a dentist regularly.
Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately
  • If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center immediately or dial 911.
  • Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
  • If anyone else takes your Actiq® by mistake.
  • If anyone else comes in contact with your patch by mistake.
  • If you have a fever higher than 102 °F. Your healthcare provider may tell you to use a lower dose while you have the fever.
  • If your Ionsys™ system falls off or if you touch the sticky side of the system.
  • Severe dizziness or passing out.
  • Difficulty breathing, slow breathing, or shallow breathing.
  • Significant change in thinking clearly and logically.
  • Poor pain control.
  • Severe nausea or vomiting.
  • Severe constipation.
  • Feeling extremely tired or weak.
  • Any rash.
  • No improvement in condition or feeling worse.
How should I store this medicine?
  • Store at room temperature. Do not freeze.
  • After you remove a skin patch, be sure to fold the sticky sides of the patch together.
  • Throw away unused patches and lollipops in a sealed container away from children and pets.
  • Throw away unused patches when they are no longer needed. Remove them from pouch, remove liner, and fold in half.
  • Ionsys™: This medicine will be given to you in a healthcare setting. You will not store it at home.
General statements
  • If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.
  • Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.
  • Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
  • Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).
  • Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.
Brand Names: