Fentora: Uses, indications and precautions when using it

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Fentora is used to help relieve sudden pain caused by cancer in people who regularly take large amounts of opioid pain relievers. Fentora belongs to the class of opioid pain relievers. Medicines work in the brain to change the way your body feels and responds to pain. Fentora should not be used for mild or short-term relief of pain (such as from headaches/migraines, dental procedures, surgery).

1. Indications and contraindications of the drug Fentora

Fentora is indicated for:
Breakthrough cancer pain in patients who are tolerant to opioid analgesics. Fentora is contraindicated in the following cases::
Decreased function of the adrenal glands Alcohol abuse Drug abuse Migraine headaches Cor pulmonale Slow heart rate Low blood pressure Asthma Decreased lung function Lung or airway problems Chronic Inflammatory bowel disease Stomach or bowel obstruction Liver disease Bile and gallbladder problems Acute postoperative pain Headache High pressure in the skull Inherited autonomic dysfunction Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Renal disease with possible impairment of renal function History of opioid overdose

2. How to use Fentora

Carefully read the medication instructions provided by your doctor before you start using Fentora and each time you are refilled. If you have any questions about using Fentora, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Use Fentora as directed by your doctor. Just before use, open the medicine as directed. Do not push the Fentora tablet through the foil of the blister, as this may damage the tablet. Place the Fentora tablet in your mouth, above your molars, between your upper cheek and gum, or under your tongue. Let the medicine sit until it dissolves (usually 14 to 25 minutes). Do not break, bite, chew, suck on, or swallow Fentora tablets whole. You may feel a slight bubbling in your mouth while the medicine dissolves. While the Fentora tablet is dissolving in your mouth, you must not eat or drink anything. If there is still some undissolved medicine after 30 minutes, swallow it with a glass of water. If you are placing the tablet between your cheek and gum, be sure to switch sides of your mouth between doses. Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while using Fentora unless your doctor or pharmacist says you can safely do so. Grapefruit may increase your risk of side effects with this medicine. If you start to have side effects (such as dizziness, feeling sick, a lot of drowsiness) before you finish a dose of Fentora, your doctor may need to adjust your dose. Rinse your mouth with water and spit the rest of the tablet into the sink or toilet. Rinse the sink or flush the toilet afterwards to complete the treatment properly. Tell your doctor right away if this happens. The dose of Fentora is calculated based on your medical condition and response to treatment. If you need a second dose, wait 30 minutes after starting the first dose. Do not use more than 2 doses of Fentora per episode of sudden pain. Wait at least 4 hours before using fentanyl buccal tablets again for another breakthrough pain relief. Do not increase your dose, take Fentora more often, or take it for a longer time than prescribed. Pain relievers work best if you take them when the first signs of pain occur. You should also continue to take long-acting opioid pain relievers as directed by your doctor. Other pain relievers (such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen) may also be prescribed. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about using fentanyl safely with other medicines. Stopping Fentora suddenly can cause withdrawal, especially if you have been using it for a long time or in high doses. To prevent withdrawal, your doctor may reduce your dose of Fentora slowly. Tell your doctor right away if you have any withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, mental/mood changes (such as anxiety, trouble sleeping, suicidal thoughts), runny nose, watery eyes, nausea, diarrhea, sweating, muscle pain, or a sudden change in behavior. When Fentora is used for a long time, it may not work. Talk to your doctor if Fentora is no longer working. Although Fentora helps many people, it can sometimes be addictive. Your risk of becoming addicted to Fentora may be higher if you have a stimulant use disorder (such as drug/alcohol abuse or addiction). Use Fentora exactly as prescribed to reduce the risk of addiction. Tell your doctor if your pain does not improve or gets worse, or if you have more than 4 sudden attacks of pain daily, or if you need to take 2 doses of Fentora for each episode. Fentora is prescribed only for your current condition. Do not use it later for another medical condition unless told to by your doctor. Ask your doctor if you should have naloxone on hand to treat an opioid overdose. Educate your family or household members about the signs of an opioid overdose and how to treat it.

3. Side effects of the drug Fentora

While using Fentora, you may experience nausea, vomiting, constipation, lightheadedness, dizziness, drowsiness, or headache. Pain, sores, or irritation in the mouth (where the medicine has been exposed) may also occur. Some of these side effects may decrease after you use Fentora for a while. If any of these side effects persist or get worse, tell your doctor or doctor right away.
To prevent constipation while using Fentora, eat plenty of fiber, drink enough water, and exercise. You may also need to take a laxative to prevent constipation. Ask your doctor which laxative is right for you.
To reduce the risk of dizziness and lightheadedness when using Fentora, get up slowly when getting up from a sitting or lying position.
Remember that your doctor has prescribed Fentora because he or she has judged that the benefit to you outweighs the risk of side effects. Many people use this medication without any serious side effects.
Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects of Fentora, including: interrupted breathing during sleep (sleep apnea), mental/mood changes (such as agitation, confusion, hallucinations), severe stomach/abdominal pain, difficulty urinating, signs of an underactive adrenal gland (such as loss of appetite, unusual tiredness, weight loss) ).
Get medical help right away if you have any very serious side effects of Fentora, including: Fainting, seizures, slow/shallow breathing, severe drowsiness/difficulty waking up.
Fentora can increase serotonin but rarely causes a very serious condition called serotonin syndrome. Your risk of this syndrome increases if you are also taking other medications that increase serotonin, so tell your doctor about all the medicines you take.
Get medical help right away if you have some of these symptoms after using Fentora: Heart palpitations, hallucinations, loss of coordination, severe dizziness, severe nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, muscle twitching, unexplained fever, unusual agitation/restlessness.
A very serious allergic reaction to Fentora is very rare. However, if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction to Fentora, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), trouble breathing, severe dizziness important, get medical help right away.
The following Fentora side effects are listed by likelihood:
Common Fentora side effects include:
Shortness of breath Abnormal nervous system function affecting alertness. Constipation Drowsiness Nausea Vomiting Uncommon side effects of Fentora include:
Bewilderment Unusual feeling of happiness Standing hypotension Low blood pressure Decreased lung function Hallucinations Incontinence Loss of urine water Depression Dry mouth Headache Cough Worry Feeling anxious

Rare side effects of Fentora include:
Decreased adrenal function Drug addiction Myoclonic tremor Serotonin syndrome High blood pressure Blood clots in deep veins in extremities Stomach or bowel obstruction A seizure Tonic-Clonic Sleep apnea Shock Anaphylactic shock High intracranial pressure Abnormal falls Deficiency of a floral masculine promoter. Nightmares Agitation Changes in vision Dilated blood vessels Tooth decay Inability to have an erection Itching Unusual muscle tone Increased feeling of lightheadedness Difficulty sleeping Excessive sweating Muscle tremors Unusual way of walking Weight loss Heart pounding This is not a complete list of the possible side effects of Fentora. If you notice other effects of Fentora medicine not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist right away.

4. Measures to prevent side effects of the drug Fentora

Before taking Fentora, tell your doctor if you are allergic to this medicine and any other allergies you may have. Fentora may contain inactive ingredients, and they may cause allergic reactions or other problems.
Before using Fentora, tell your doctor your medical history, especially of: Brain disorders (such as head injury, tumors, epilepsy), breathing problems (such as asthma, sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), kidney disease, liver disease, mental/mood disorders (such as confusion, depression), personal or family history of use disorders substance use (such as drug/alcohol abuse or addiction), stomach/intestinal problems (such as blockage, constipation, infectious diarrhea, paralytic ileus), causes of difficulty passing urination (eg due to an enlarged prostate), gallbladder disease, pancreatic disease (pancreatitis).
Fentora can make you dizzy or drowsy, and alcohol and marijuana can make you more dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machines, or do anything that requires alertness while using Fentora, until you can do so safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages, absolutely do not use marijuana while being treated with Fentora.
Before surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are using Fentora.
Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of Fentora, especially confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, and slow/shallow breathing.
For women during pregnancy, Fentora should be used only when absolutely necessary, because the drug can harm the unborn baby. Discuss the risks and benefits of Fentora with your doctor.
Fentora passes into breast milk and may have unwanted effects on a newborn baby. Tell your doctor right away if your baby is unusually sleepy, has trouble feeding, or has trouble breathing. Women who are breast-feeding should consult their doctor before using Fentora.

5. Interactions of Fentora

Drug interactions can change the way Fentora works or increase your risk of serious side effects. Make a list of all the medications you take (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine while you are using Fentora, without your doctor's approval. Some drugs that may interact with Fentora include: Certain pain relievers (mixture of opioid agonists such as pentazocine, nalbuphine, butorphanol), naltrexone.
Other drugs may affect the removal of Fentora from your body, which may affect how it works. Such drugs as azole antifungals (such as itraconazole, ketoconazole), calcium channel blockers (such as diltiazem, verapamil), HIV protease inhibitors (such as nelfinavir, ritonavir), macrolide antibiotics (such as erythromycin), nefazodone, mifepristone, rifamycins (eg rifabutin), some medicines used to treat seizures (eg carbamazepine, phenytoin).
Taking an MAO inhibitor with Fentora can cause serious drug interactions that can even be fatal. Therefore, you should avoid taking MAO inhibitors (isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, safinamide, selegiline, tranylcypromine) during treatment with Fentora. Most MAO inhibitors are also not recommended for two weeks prior to treatment with Fentora. Ask your doctor when to start or stop taking Fentora.
The risk of serious side effects (such as slow/shallow breathing, severe drowsiness/dizziness) may be increased if Fentora is used with other products that may also cause drowsiness or other side effects. breathing problems. Tell your doctor if you are taking other products that also cause drowsiness or breathing problems such as other opioid pain relievers or cough suppressants (such as codeine, hydrocodone), alcohol, marijuana, sleeping pills, or anxiety. (such as alprazolam, lorazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants (such as carisoprodol, cyclobenzaprine), or antihistamines (such as cetirizine, diphenhydramine).
Check the labels of all medicines you are taking (such as allergy or cough and cold products) as they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness. Ask your pharmacist about using these products safely together with Fentora.
The risk of serotonin syndrome with Fentora use is increased if you are also taking other medications that increase serotonin. Some drugs that increase serotonin such as street drugs such as MDMA/"ecstasy", St. John's wort, certain antidepressants (such as SSRIs such as fluoxetine/paroxetine, SNRIs such as duloxetine/venlafaxine), and others. This risk may be higher when you start using or increase the dose of these medicines.
Fentora may interfere with certain tests (including amylase/lipase levels), possibly causing false test results. Make sure laboratory staff and all your doctors know you are using Fentora.

6. What to do when using an overdose of Fentora?

If you or someone else has overdosed on Fentora and has severe symptoms such as fainting or difficulty breathing, give them naloxone if available, then call 911. If the person is awake and has no symptoms. danger, call 911 immediately. Fentora overdose symptoms may include: Slow breathing, slow heart beat, coma.

7. How to store Fentora

Store Fentora at room temperature, away from light and moisture. Do not freeze, do not store Fentora in the bathroom, keep it away from children and pets.
Do not flush Fentora down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Dispose of this medication appropriately when it has expired or is no longer needed.

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Reference source: webmd.com