Any person in this world can face painful sensations. There are a large number of drugs that can cope with pain. In this article we will consider the very popular and effective drug "Fentanyl." Instructions for use in ampoules, indications, contraindications, composition, reviews and analogues are very important information that everyone should study before starting to use the medication. Doctors very often prescribe this drug, however, it is highly not recommended to use it without the recommendation of a specialist.
general description
Fentanyl is a synthetic analgesic that has a very good and quick analgesic effect on the human body. According to experts, this product is several times more effective than Morphine, therefore it should be used with extreme caution.
The therapeutic effect occurs a few minutes after the use of the medicine and lasts one to two hours. The tool has a sedative effect and leads to a state of natural physiological sleep.
What is part of the medicine
"Fentanyl" is an injection, the main active ingredient of which is an active substance such as fentanyl. In addition to it, other components that perform an auxiliary function are also included. These include acetate copolymer, hydroxyethyl cellulose and ethylene-vinyl.
A few words about the form of release
The drug “Fentanyl” in ampoules is described by the instructions as an injection for intramuscular and intravenous administration. Available in the form of ampoules, each of which contains one or two milligrams of active liquid. One carton pack contains five ampoules intended for internal administration.
Also, the product is available in the form of a patch intended for a long therapeutic effect. One package contains five such plasters, each of which must be used after three days.
Pharmacological properties
Fentanyl is a narcotic analgesic. Its main purpose is to relieve pain, as well as provide a sedative effect. When using this pharmaceutical agent, it should be borne in mind that the altered respiratory rate against the background of its use may persist even after the pain relief process has already ended.
It is also worth considering that increasing the dosage of the active substance will lead to a decrease in metabolism in the lungs. "Fentanyl" is a medicine that does not often lead to vomiting effects, as happens with the use of Meperidine or Morphine.
What you need to know about pharmacokinetics
"Fentanyl" describes the instruction as a tool that has an instant effect on a person. If the solution was administered intravenously, then its maximum effect will come in a couple of minutes and will last about an hour. If the injection was administered intramuscularly, then the effect of anesthesia can be expected only after thirty to forty minutes. In this case, the effect of such a procedure will remain for a couple of hours.
In what cases can I apply
Analgesic "Fentanyl" in ampoules is most often prescribed after maintaining the optimal condition of the patient after surgery. Also, I use the drug as a method of anesthesia for induction and prediction.
Since the drug has a very strong analgesic effect on the body, it can be used as an additional method of anesthesia.
Very often, doctors recommend combining this medicine with antipsychotics.
You can use the drug when carrying out some painful physical and orthopedic procedures. In this case, Fentanyl will have a very good analgesic effect.
Are there any contraindications for use?
"Fentanyl" instructions for use in ampoules do not recommend use for those patients who have hypersensitivity to any components that make up this pharmaceutical agent. Therefore, before the introduction of the drug, you need to conduct a test for its perception by your body.
It is worth considering that “Fentanyl” is a drug, therefore it is strictly forbidden to introduce it to people suffering from drug addiction.
Also, you can not use the drug for those patients who suffer from serious forms of diseases of the respiratory system. The drug is strictly forbidden to use by pregnant and lactating women, as well as during childbirth.
Is it possible the occurrence of side effects with the use of the drug "Fentanyl"
Be sure to keep in mind that the Fentanyl solution is a very serious and effective drug, so use it with extreme caution. In some cases, the use of the drug leads to adverse events. Everyone should familiarize themselves with this information before using the product.
First of all, it is worth considering that, by its nature, Fentanyl is a drug. Therefore, its excessive use can simply lead to such an effect as drug addiction. It is not uncommon that, against the background of using the drug, problems with the respiratory organs arise, namely: bradycardia, a change in the respiratory process and other pathologies. Also, in some cases, short-term muscle stiffness can be seen. In any case, the unreasonable use of the drug leads to side effects, so it is best to administer it in a hospital.
Application features
The use of "Fentanyl" is always prescribed only by experienced professionals who are versed in the elimination of chronic pain. Each doctor must take into account that the use of such a powerful tool can adversely affect the respiratory system, therefore, a solution can be prescribed only if the patient tolerates similar analgesics well. If, nevertheless, the doctor prescribes the patient “Fentanyl” injection solution, then he must make sure that the patient does not take in large quantities other drugs that have anesthetic effect.
We can assume that the patient is resistant to the effects of “Fentanyl” if he had previously taken such drugs as “Morphine”, “Hydromorphine” or other opioids for at least a week, and they did not cause significant harm to the respiratory system.
In each case, the dosage will be selected individually. The doctor will determine how much active substance is suitable for the patient, depending on the disease and purpose, and also considering what drugs the patient has taken before. It is very important at the initial stage of treatment to monitor the patient's condition, since the concentration of the active substance in the blood will increase sharply, which means that negative effects can occur.
Most often, the drug “Fentanyl” is prescribed to patients in the form of injections. A patch is a form of release that is much less common, but is still sometimes used in treatment. Typically, the patch is applied to the skin for three days. It is very important to apply it in the place where the hairline will be minimal. Also, the skin area must be absolutely clean and without visible mechanical damage.
Important Tips
If the drug “Fentanyl” is used in the form of a patch, then it is best to apply it to surfaces such as the chest, back or the area of the forearm. Also, when using the patch, you need to completely remove the hairline. The skin needs to be cleaned. The instruction recommends doing this with warm water without using any detergent chemicals.
Each patch should be used immediately after it has been removed from the protective bag. Moreover, if you notice that the package has any damage, or very poor quality, then such a medicine is better not to use at all.
One patch is able to have an analgesic effect for three days. Therefore, you need to change it after this time. In addition, each new patch must be applied to a different place on your body. It is recommended to fix it with a patch so that the medication has constant contact with the skin.
Pay attention to an important warning. In no case do not heat the skin in the place where the patch was applied. Do not use various heating devices, and do not take a hot bath or lie in a heated bed.
What will happen in case of an overdose
Use the drug “Fentanyl” with extreme caution, observing the dosage. If the remedy is used for a long period of time in large doses, this can lead to such phenomena as: coma, stupor, respiratory system diseases, including respiratory depression, muscle cramps, and also hypotension. In very rare cases, an overdose can cause death.
About interacting with other medicines
Very carefully, you need to combine the drug "Fentanyl" with other medicines. The effect that it has on the body is to anesthetize, as well as to calm.
If you are forced to take this pharmaceutical with antidepressants of various etymologies, then combine these drugs very carefully. Such a tandem can be very dangerous for your health and can cause serious side effects. To prevent this from happening, with combination therapy, reduce the dosage of one of the drugs. In some cases, a dose adjustment will be required for both drugs.
The use of certain inhibitors enhances the effect of the drug "Fentanyl". Therefore, doctors can specifically prescribe such a tandem to increase the effectiveness of treatment.
But to use some inductors, on the contrary, is not recommended. Since they are able to reduce the amount of Fentanyl active substances in the blood, which reduces the effectiveness of this medication, and can also cause drug dependence.
Are there any analogues
To date, the pharmaceutical market offers a large number of different analogues of the Fentanyl medication. All of them have a similar active substance, which means that they have a similar effect on the human body. Most often, doctors recommend Fentanyl substitutes, such as: Dolforin, Fentadol, Lunaldin, Fendivia, and many others to their patients.
You can buy any of the above drugs only if you have a prescription from your doctor. After all, they are all very strong and have a significant effect on the human body.
Reviews of patients and doctors
Of course, such a powerful drug as Fentanyl is rarely prescribed by doctors. After all, the remedy can lead to drug addiction, as well as to the development of many other side effects. Typically, this medication is prescribed in the case when lighter analgesics did not have the proper analgesic effect.
Despite a large number of contraindications and side effects, Fentanyl nevertheless does its job well. The drug perfectly relieves severe pain of a chronic nature, and also has a good sedative effect. The active substance contributes to a quick and calm process of falling asleep.
Also, the remedy showed itself well during surgery. Usually, doctors use it as an additional method of anesthesia. Thanks to this, the operation proceeds more successfully, and the patient is not tormented by severe pain during the recovery period.
Interesting information
Of course, fentanyl is a very effective drug often used in medicine. However, it was also used by special services to eliminate terrorists. In this case, fentalin was used in the form of a gas that could cause nausea, disorientation in space, and also led to inhibition of respiratory function. According to experts, this method of catching criminals does not lead to their death, so the technique was very popular.
conclusions
If a drug such as Morphine has not had a therapeutic effect on the human body, Fentanyl may be prescribed. After all, the tool is able to have a very good analgesic effect, which is important when trying to stop the pain syndrome. In any case, only an experienced specialist can prescribe and cancel any medication, so do not self-medicate. And remember, pain is not a sentence. There are a large number of drugs that can cope with this problem. But it is also very important to deal with the causes of pain. Only in this case can we hope for a positive effect. Your health is in your hands, so take care of yourself and take care of yourself, and then you will not need any drugs.