Get Informed: Actiq
Active Ingredient(s)
Fentanyl
What does it do?
This product is used in the treatment of moderate to severe chronic pain. It is a narcotic and works to bind to opioid receptors, producing an analgesic and sedative effect.
- Last Text Update:
- 2010-Mar-12 10:07 AM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Mar-11 9:06 PM
Other Names
- Fentanyl
- Duragesic
- Actiq
- Fentanyl Citrate
- Durogesic
- Durogesic D-Trans
- Matrifen
- Sublimaze
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- C
Black Box Warning
The transdermal form of this product has a black box warning relating to its risks of abuse and addictive qualities along with the potential to interact with other medications to over sedate.
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 19 Feb 1968
- Est US Patients*
- 508,700
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Actiq or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Recent alerts for Actiq
Actiq Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
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What is Actiq used for?
iGuard is currently tracking more than 3,300 patients that use Actiq (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Back/Neck Pain | 64% | 
|
| Pain-Generalized | 59% |
|
| Neuropathic Pain | 32% | 
|
| Fibromyalgia | 27% |
|
| Migraine/Headache | 9% |
|
How well does Actiq work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 3,300 users taking Actiq (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 95%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Actiq outweigh the bad things.
- 9%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Actiq.
Common Side Effects of Actiq
iGuard regularly polls our more than 3,300 users taking Actiq (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
50% of patients experience side-effects on Actiq
4% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Actiq
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Drowsiness
-
Constipation
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Nausea/Vomiting
Global Patient Feedback for Actiq (Fentanyl) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
I use the 1000 mcg. patches, but my doc wants me to change them every 72 hours. I think that its to long. I feel like the second day is the only time i get real pain relief.
27 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-01-31 23:01:50
iGuard Answer/Reply:
The patches come in 12, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mcg. The medicine is designed to release the same amount of medication every hour for 72 hours, which is why your doctor has you changing the patch every 72 hours. You need to make an appointment with your physician to discuss your lack of consistent pain relief and discuss your options and whether you need to add a medication for break-through pain or change your chronic pain medicine.
Posted: 2010-02-07 10:23:11
Question/Comment:
I have been on fentanyl pain patches for over 10 years now.I wear a 100mg fentanyl patch, changed every 48 hours.I have had failed back surgery, two disc removed, L3-4, L4-5. I have fibromyalgia, both knees replaced, stomach stapling,osteoporosis,and many other illnesses. I take percocets for breakthrough pain. I also take prozac for migrines and it helps my emotional system and take 1,200mg. neurotin a day. I can't say enough great things about fentanyl pain patches.I've never had a problem.
58 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-01-29 21:16:58
Answer/Reply:
i have also been using duragesic for over 6 yrs 400mcg/48hrs. I like how they work I do not get the rush feeling that I did when I was taking oxycontin. For break through I take Ultram which works well, and yes I know the 2 combined have a lot of risks, but it seems to be the only thing for the break through
43 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-02-10 17:37:11
Question/Comment:
I'm in Oregon and have had Oregon Health Care for several years, now there is a gap in my coverage and i'm trying to fix that, but my DR now wants to not refill the Fentanyl Citrate I've been taking for YEARS...I fear the withdrawl will be horrific ..How can he think it would be safe for me to just "stop taking" this medication...HELP
45 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-01-06 16:53:32
iGuard Answer/Reply:
Opioid withdrawal symptoms (such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anxiety, and shivering) are possible in some patients after dose adjustments, switching to a new pain medication, or stopping fentanyl. It is not known at what dose level the fentanyl may be discontinued without producing the signs and symptoms of abrupt withdrawal. Perhaps your doctor feels that your dose is low enough that you may not experience the withdrawal symptoms.
The prescribing information for fentanyl has very specific information about how to switch patients to another pain medication and how to discontinue fentanyl completely. To switch a patient to another pain medication, the fentanyl patch should be removed and the dose of the new pain medication should be gradually increased based upon the patient's report of pain until adequate pain relief has been attained. For patients requiring discontinuation of fentanyl, a gradual downward titration is recommended since it is not known at what dose level the fentanyl may be discontinued without producing the withdrawal symptoms. Try discussing your concerns about abruptly stopping the fentanyl with your doctor. If your doctor has any questions, you can direct your doctor to the prescribing information for the fentanyl (Duragesic) patch: http://www.duragesic.com/duragesic/shared/pi/duragesic.pdf or the fentanyl (Atiq) lozege: http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?id=9434
Posted: 2010-01-07 00:26:07
Question/Comment:
My mom has small cell lung cancer which has traveled to her liver where it is most pronounced. She also has very bad arthritis of the neck & back. SHe is in severe pain; her oncologist believes that it's from arthritis. She is on fentanyl patch. while she still has potential quality time left we want her to enjoy an occasional outing. Would a 50 or 75 combo patch make her too wobbly or dizzy to use her walker or drive a cart? We are not concerned with addiction-- we want her pain free.
88 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-10-28 22:16:17
iGuard Answer/Reply:
Pain management requires a very individualized approach as patient response versus side effect control is a balancing act. You or your mother should discuss her options with her doctor to determine if a dose increase is needed and could also be tolerated. In addition, there are other pain management drugs that could supplement the patch if she is able to take oral medications and needed immediate pain relief.
Posted: 2009-11-03 13:41:21
Question/Comment:
I have been taking Fentynal 50mcg's for about a year before that I was on the 25's for about a year. I never make it the 72 hours. I change every 48 hours and still am taking 2-4 Norco's a day for break through. I have medi-cal and they are such asses about covering that I usually end up paying out the difference for in cash which is something that I can NOT afford, but what other choice do I have. Does anyone know of anything else that they can use for chronic pain. I had back surgery Fusion L5 S1 and they damaged my nerves to my legs. I am in severe pain all of the time and still am trying to figure out exactly what my diagnosis is after 3 years and approx 25-30 different Doctor's trying to figure it out. The latest possibility is that I have "Arachnoiditis" I would love to find others that have this and talk to them. Oh the other meds I take are
Gabapentin 600mg 8 pills a day
Cymbalta 60mg 1 pill a day
Norco 10/325 2-4 a day for breakthru pain
Fentenyal 50mcg every 48 hours
Ambien 10mg 1 pill
If anyone has any suggestions that they are using that will work better than this combanation I would love to talk with you. I have been on all of these for almost 4 years and feel like they just are not as effective as they once were. If I am going to destroy my organs with all this crap I would feel much better if I could use something that worked.
44 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-09-24 08:10:15
Answer/Reply:
I also am taking Fentyl for back and neck disc surgery issues and pinched nerves. I also have RA, Osteoarthritis, just call it chronic pain.
I took higher doses of Fentyl, didn't like the side effects and requested to go down.
I now am taking 37mg.
Ask your Dr about, one 25mg, and one 12mg. if he does not agree...I also take Elavil instead of Ambien at night for nerve pain. Elavil helps relive nerve pain and helps me sleep through the night without waking up.
I've just recently started taking Nabutome for my RA and it is a wonder drug. It is being prescribed for migraines and I've heard others that get a lot of relief from this pill.
Also, this might sound hokey to you but...start trying some relaxation techniques, it works.
52 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-09-25 14:25:30
Answer/Reply:
I have been on the "patch" for a few years - 50's - and I, too, cannot go 3 days before a change. I am now changing every 2 days. I do not like the side effects/addiction of it but it works at times. I, too, am in pain most of the time. It's like it's not strong enough but I don't want to bump up the dosage, either because your body gets used to the new strength and will eventually quit working at that level. I would get a 2nd and 3rd opinion on the "Arachnoiditis". My cousin has this disease and she is debilitated. It is horrible. Read all you can about it and also read what natural remedies you can take for your body to help fight it off. I totally believe in natural remedies now.
42 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-09-26 17:27:29
Answer/Reply:
Perhaps your condition is a hidden possibility, you may want to be tested for R.S.D. (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy) this is a condition I posses, it's very simple, the sympathetic nerve system is over loaded with signals from the brain and your medications, hence the body has no idea what to do when all these signals reach your sympathetic nervous system. These days they call this condition R.P.S. (Regional Pain Syndrome) simply put, the neurologist can't say with absolute certainty that it is the sympathetic nervous system causing the problem. In 1991 I was one of 11 patients diagnosed with this condition, there is hope though, I underwent a simple surgical procedure called a SYMPATHECTOMY and it worked, within 60 to 90 days I was pain free and off the dope, the sympathectomy is the removal of the sympathetic nerve gang loin. I have recently fell down a flight of stairs an another region of my body is effected by R.S.D. and the old injury is again acting up, I too am on the Fentanyl 50 mcg., protocol and Vicodin, diazepam, Ambien, and LIDODERM Patches, I find mild relief with the Lidoderm patch. Perhaps you might want checked for R.P.S. the operation I spoke of will be especially painful for a week or two, but well worth it, if you come out without pain, I also suggest you find a Top Knotch surgeon to perform this proceedure. Dr. Frederick Heinle of Lancaster General Hospital in Lancaster Pennsylvania is the very best, if you have the means I would suggest you seek out his expertise.
44 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-10-08 17:56:47
Answer/Reply:
Why have they not just increased your patch? I am currently on the 50 micro g and also a 12 microgram with low dose morphine (statex) for breakthrough pain. My doctor has said she will even consider going higher, but right now this is working for me. She said the max for me would be 100 micrograms, but still, that would be double what you take now. Plus maybe your other list could going down.
36 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-11-01 23:44:52
Answer/Reply:
I know some here may offended but have you tried some marijuana? My pain doc says it is a very good pain medication. Thus it should be legal.... but all that aside you are the one suffering maybe a little puff here and there (or a toke) may help until you can check some of the other things that have been suggested. Good luck!
52 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-01-31 19:36:10
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Patient Comments about
Actiq