FENTANYL

Fentanyl 25mcg/1h, Transdermal Patch - 72 Hour

Alcohol

· Severity: Major

· Notes for Consumers: Avoid alcohol-containing drinks while taking this medicine. Using this drug along with alcohol can lead to serious side effects. You may feel drowsy or more tired when taking these drugs together. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this drug affects you, and especially if you are drinking alcohol-containing beverages. If you notice slurred speech, confusion, severe weakness, or difficulty breathing, contact your health care provider immediately.

· Notes for Professionals: Alcohol is associated with CNS depression. The combined use of alcohol and CNS depressants can lead to additive CNS depression, which could be dangerous in tasks requiring mental alertness and fatal in overdose. Alcohol taken with other CNS depressants can lead to additive respiratory depression, hypotension, profound sedation, or coma. Consider the patient's use of alcohol or illicit drugs when prescribing CNS depressant medications. In many cases, the patient should receive a lower dose of the CNS depressant initially if the patient is not likely to be compliant with avoiding alcohol.

Fentanyl 25mcg/1h, Transdermal Patch - 72 Hour

Grapefruit juice

· Severity: Moderate

· Notes for Consumers: Grapefruit juice and grapefruit-containing foods may increase the side effects of Fentanyl. Do not significantly increase grapefruit or grapefruit juice intake while taking Fentanyl. Avoid use if possible, as grapefruit and grapefruit juice can increase the levels of fentanyl in your blood, and increase the risk for serious side effects. If you notice you have difficulty staying awake, slurred speech, confusion, severe weakness, or difficulty breathing, immediately contact your health care provider.

· Notes for Professionals: Patients should avoid or limit their intake of grapefruit juice during fentanyl treatment. Fentanyl is metabolized by CYP3A4. Grapefruit juice may increase fentanyl concentrations and/or decrease systemic clearance by inhibiting CYP3A4, leading to increased or prolonged effects, including a risk for significant respiratory depression. If concomitant use is necessary, consider dosage reduction of fentanyl until stable drug effects are achieved. Monitor patients for respiratory depression and sedation at frequent intervals. Sudden discontinuation of a CYP3A4 inhibitor could decrease fentanyl plasma concentrations, decrease opioid efficacy or, possibly, lead to a withdrawal syndrome in a patient who had developed physical dependence to fentanyl

<b>DISCLAIMER:</b><em> This drug information content is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Patients should always consult their physician with any questions regarding a medical condition and to obtain medical advice and treatment. Drug information is sourced from GSDD (Gold Standard Drug Database ) provided by Elsevier.</em>