Female: Duragesic is the brand name for fentanyl, a potent opioid pain reliever approved by the FDA in 1968.
Sandra: Fentanyl is a prescription opioid medication, which is available in a skin patch, both as a generic drug and under the brand names Duragesic and Ionsys. When fentanyl enters the central nervous system, it binds to opioid receptors located on the brain and spinal cord. This relieves discomfort by blocking out the body’s natural response to pain. The fentanyl skin patch is prescribed to treat moderate to severe chronic pain. It is often used pre and post operatively in hospitals. Fentanyl is available as a transdermal patch which means that the medication is absorbed into the body fat from the patch worn on the skin and then released into the bloodstream overtime. Dosages range from 25 to 100 mcg/hour. A fentanyl patch should never be worn for more than 72 hours. Fentanyl is 80 times more potent than morphine and can be highly addictive. Because of this, it is classified by FDA as a Scheduled II drug, which means it is more tightly regulated than most medications. The most common side effects of fentanyl are nausea, constipation and itching or redness at the patch site. But you should ask your doctor for a complete list. Also be sure to tell your physician immediately if you experience labored breathing, severe weakness, clammy skin or any other significant changes.
Fentanyl should not be taken by people with breathing disorders, or in conjunction with any medication that induces sleep. Ask your doctor for a full list of medications and conditions that should not be combined with fentanyl. The Duragesic skin patch can be very effective at treating severe chronic pain. However, the drug should always be used under the direct care of a physician. Please ask for it and review all the patient information provided by your doctor before taking fentanyl.
Female: The information on this video is intended to supplement not substitute for the prescribing instructions and the expertise of your physician. Always consult your doctor before using this drug.
Transcription by:
Scribe4you Transcription Services