Fentanyl (Systemic)
Brand Names : Actiq
Before Using This MedicineIn deciding to use a medicine,
the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do.
This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For transmucosal fentanyl,
the following should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or
allergic reaction to fentanyl, including the stick-on patch. Also tell your
health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such
as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy - Although studies on birth defects with fentanyl have
not been done in pregnant women, it has not been reported to cause birth defects.
Breast-feeding - Fentanyl passes into breast milk. Nursing babies
whose mothers are using this medicine regularly may receive enough of it to
cause unwanted effects such as drowsiness or breathing problems. A mother
who wishes to breast-feed and who needs treatment for continuing pain should
discuss the risks and benefits of different pain treatments with her health
care professional.
Children - Studies with transmucosal fentanyl have been done
only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use
of transmucosal fentanyl in children with use in other age groups. It contains a medicine in an amount which can be fatal to a
child
. Patients and their caregivers should keep transmucosal fentanyl
out of the reach of children and discard open units properly.
Older adults - Elderly people may be especially sensitive to the
effects of narcotic analgesics. This may increase the chance of side effects
during treatment. Your health care professional will take this into consideration
when deciding on the amount of transmucosal fentanyl you should receive.
Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used
together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together
even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to
change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are using
transmucosal fentanyl, it is especially important that your health care professional
know if you are taking any other dosage form of fentanyl (e.g., injection,
patch) or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC] medicine) or any of the
following:
-
Alcohol or
-
Central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicines that cause drowsiness),
including other narcotics or
-
Erythromycin (e.g., E-Mycin) or
-
Itraconazole (e.g., Diflucan) or
-
Ketoconazole (e.g., Nizoral) or
-
Ritonavir (e.g., Norvir) - These medicines may add
to the effects of transmucosal fentanyl. This may increase the chance of serious
side effects.
-
Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor activity (isocarboxazid [e.g.,
Marplan], phenelzine [e.g., Nardil], procarbazine [e.g., Matulane], selegiline
[e.g., Eldepryl], tranylcypromine [e.g., Parnate]) - Taking transmucosal
fentanyl while you are taking or within 2 weeks of taking MAO inhibitors may
cause an increased chance of serious side effects
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of transmucosal fentanyl. Make sure you tell your
doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Alcohol abuse or history of or
-
Drug dependence, especially narcotic abuse or dependence, history
of or
-
Kidney disease or
-
Liver disease - The chance of side effects may be increased
-
Emphysema or other chronic lung disease or
-
Head injuries - Some of the side effects of transmucosal fentanyl
can cause serious problems in people who have these medical problems
-
Slow heartbeat - Transmucosal fentanyl can make this condition
worse
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