Fentanyl
Bits & Pieces
The "Bits & Pieces" section is intended for random snippets of information which don't fit
easily elsewhere and/or which have been newly added, but not yet carefully categorized.
easily elsewhere and/or which have been newly added, but not yet carefully categorized.
- Fentanyl PatchThe Fentanyl Patch (Duragesic) is a time-release patch. It contains relatively high quantities of fentanyl which are slowly released through the skin over a 72 hour period. If the full quantity of fentanyl contained in a patch is taken all at once, it can be potentially deadly in those not heavily tolerated to high doses of opiates.
- Fentora, Fentanyl Buccal (dissolves in mouth)Fentora, a buccal form of fentanyl, approved by the FDA for breakthrough cancer pain in opioid-tolerant patients. Each OraVescent effervescent tablet contains 100-800 mics of fentanyl. It fizzes when placed in the mouth. Fentora represents the first immediate-release oral fentanyl product. By comparison, there are three other FDA-approved fentanyl-containing drug products:
- the Actiq oral transmucosal device (sometimes called a 'lollipop'), which contains up to 1600 mics of fentanyl
- the Duragesic patch for transdermal administration of fentanyl, which can contain up to a 10 mg of fentanyl in each patch (enough to cause severe overdoses in non-tolerant users if taken all at once)
- A generic fentanyl patch, made by Mylan (no trade name), which is equivalent to Duragesic -- except that the fentanyl in the patch is in a matrix (making it harder to extract for abuse purposes), rather than in a reservoir like Duragesic.
- Abstral transmucosal tablets were approved by the FDA in Jan 2011.
- Sep 2007 : Cephalon Announces Death from Fentora Buccal PatchFDA Published Letter to Doctors by Cephalon. "We are writing to inform you about key safety information regarding the use of FENTORA (fentanyl buccal tablet) [C-II]. We have recently learned of serious adverse events, including deaths in patients treated with FENTORA." Their buccal tablet contains 100-800micrograms of fentanyl, a dose that can be dangerous to those who are not already opiate-tolerant.