Friday 21 April 2017

What Is A Fentanyl Patch?

Fentanyl, as one of the strongest opiate drugs in the market, is a type of medication that offers a long-lasting effect. The regular use of Fentanyl is often prescribed for the recovery of a patient post-surgery and when suffering from temporary pain while taking sedatives.

  • While medicating with the opiate pain medication, Fentanyl Patch may become a habit.
  • Misuse of the drug by using it orally through chewing and swallowing or by injecting and snorting can lead to instances of overdose and even death.
  • Do NOT use beyond the prescribed dose, use for longer periods than what was prescribed, or in more frequency than without consulting a doctor.

What Are The Popular Fentanyl Preparations?

The fentanyl time-release formulations give strong pain relief. They come in two forms,  lollipop and patch. It also has a small bit of film that can be melted under the tongue and a pill intended to be held up inside the cheek.

Hospitals allow injection of fentanyl. However, for the drug abusers who are outside the hospital settings, this is very hazardous since the contrast between a therapeutic dose and lethal dosage is very thin.

Fentanyl patch may bring about serious and fatal breathing problems at times. The hazard may be greater when you first begin this medication or you increase the dosage. Also, the fentanyl patch should be avoided directly after surgery if you have not been using opiate pain prescriptions for temporary relief of mild pain.

What Are The Fentanyl Side Effects?

Fentanyl patch has side-effects, which include breathing problems, but could increase in number if you take it with other medications like amiodarone, aprepitant, amprenavir, carbamazepine, diltiazem, clarithromycin, erythromycin, fosamprenavir, fluconazole, itraconazole, nefazodone, ketoconazole, troleandomycin, nelfinavir, rifampin, phenytoin, ritonavir, and verapamil. The side effects can also worsen if you consume grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice.

How To Keep The Medication Properly?

Fatal side effects may arise when you are accidentally exposed to a new or used patch, either by skin contact or oral entry; it may cause lethal reactions, especially in children. Therefore, keep fentanyl patch in a safe place.

Also, follow the directions on how to store the medication properly, as well as the disposal. You can ask questions or concerns with your doctor if you there are matters that are not clear to you.

Remember, don’t take the cover off the application site and never expose to direct sources of heat, such as heating pads, electric blankets, saunas, hot tubs, heat lamps, or heated waterbeds. Abstain from hot showers, sunbathing, and many other different sources of heat.

Further, avoid activities that can increase body temperature. Inform your doctor immediately if you engaged in an activity that increased your body’s temperature or if you have a fever. The heat may release the medicinal components from the skin quickly and may cause fatal symptoms.

Fentanyl patch is only for long-term treatments. It is only prescribed for patients that can no longer handle the pain they are suffering from, after trying all other medications to take away the suffering. Fentanyl patch is recommended to patients who have already been using other opiate drugs on a regular basis and have become dependent on it.



source http://www.rehabnear.me/what-is-a-fentanyl-patch/

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