Introduction
Fentanyl is a very strong pain medication, which belongs to the group of opioids and is therefore a painkiller with morphine-like effects. Just like morphine, it blocks certain pain receptors in the spinal cord and brain (it is therefore centrally active). By blocking these receptors, the perception of pain is inhibited and the pain is no longer perceived as unpleasant.
Compared to morphine, fentanyl is much stronger in its effect. The body gets used to the pain blockade with all drugs of the opioid group over time and the effect decreases, so that a steady increase in active ingredients is necessary. However, the correct use of fentanyl for pain management rarely leads to dependence.
Field of application
- Severe pain
Contraindications
- Acute pain
- Parallel intake of antidepressants from the MAO-Inhibitor group
- Cardiac arrhythmia with pulse deceleration (bradycardia)
- Children < 12 years
- Respiratory dysfunction
- Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding
Side effects
Possible side effects that have been observed in individual cases when taking Fentanyl, but are not necessarily inevitable, are
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Biliary Colic
- Blood pressure drop
- Slowed heartbeat
- Tiredness
- Confusion
- Swindle
- Headaches
- Changes of mood
- Dependency (rare when used correctly)
- Inhibition of the respiratory drive
- Skin reaction at the place of application
- Bladder emptying fault
Interactions
If Fentanyl is taken together with other drugs that also have a dampening effect, such as centrally acting drugs, sleeping pills or tranquilizers, possible side effects of Fentanyl will be exacerbated. Alcohol can also intensify the effect of Fentanyl while taking it and lead to increased side effects.
