Fentanyl Citrate (oral Transmucosal): What Should I Discuss With My Health Care Provider Before Taking Fentanyl Citrate

Content provided by Cerner Multum, Inc.

What should I discuss with my health care provider before taking fentanyl citrate?

You should not use this medication unless you are already being treated with a similar opioid pain medicine and your body is tolerant to it. Opioid medicines include fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic), hydrocodone (Lortab, Vicodin), hydromorphone (Dilaudid, Palladone), morphine (Kadian, MS Contin, Oramorph, and others), oxycodone (Oxycontin), oxymorphone (Numorphan, Opana), and others. Talk with your doctor if you are not sure you are opioid-tolerant.

Do not use fentanyl citrate if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you use fentanyl before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.

You should not use fentanyl citrate if you have had an allergic reaction or severe side effects when using any narcotic pain medicine.

Before using fentanyl citrate, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• a breathing disorder such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD);
• a seizure disorder;
• a history of head injury or brain tumor;
• liver or kidney disease;
• low blood pressure, heart disease;
• a history of depression or other mental illness; or
• a history of drug or alcohol addiction.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use this medication.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. It could also cause addiction or withdrawal symptoms in a newborn if the mother uses fentanyl citrate during pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Fentanyl citrate can pass into breast milk and may cause sleepiness or breathing problems in a nursing baby. Fentanyl citrate may also cause addiction and withdrawal symptoms in a nursing infant. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Older adults may be more sensitive to the effects of this medicine.

If you are diabetic, you should know that each fentanyl citrate lozenge contains 2 grams (one-half teaspoon) of sugar.

Last updated:	November 30, 2007