Get Informed: Fentanyl
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-20 7:31 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Mar-19 9:03 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*
- 508,300
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Fentanyl or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Recent alerts for Fentanyl
Fentanyl Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
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What is Fentanyl used for?
iGuard is currently tracking more than 3,300 patients that use Fentanyl (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 Fentanyl work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 3,300 users taking Fentanyl (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 Fentanyl outweigh the bad things.
- 9%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Fentanyl.
Common Side Effects of Fentanyl
iGuard regularly polls our more than 3,300 users taking Fentanyl (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 Fentanyl
4% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Fentanyl
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Drowsiness
-
Constipation
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Nausea/Vomiting
Global Patient Feedback for Fentanyl ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
hi,i agree wit most of these ppl,bout the fentynal patches they do not last 72.hr's,i am on the 50mg.also&mine also die down after the second day,i 2 change mine every 2days,but theres is also the problem of running out of em,i only get 10.a month,so they dnt last&then im lil screwed my insurence will fill em on like the 27th day,but my doc.insist on 30 days,he's a real butthead but i survive i also take vicoden evey 2days so it sorta helps,goodluck 2 u all wit this problem.
45 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-03-15 01:47:10
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
You may post comments for the benefit of other patients or post questions other patients might be able to answer. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Only your age and gender will be published with your comment, although your other user details will be securely recorded for verification purposes.
Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
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Patient Comments about
Fentanyl