Fentanyl (Injection Route) Description and Brand Names

Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

US Brand Name

Sublimaze

Descriptions

Fentanyl injection is used to relieve severe pain during and after surgery. It is also used with other medicines just before or during an operation to help the anesthetic (numbing medicine) work better.

Fentanyl belongs to the group of medicines called narcotic analgesics (pain medicines). It acts in the central nervous system (CNS) or brain to relieve pain. Some of its side effects are also caused by actions in the CNS such as drowsiness or dizziness.

This medicine is to be given only by or under the immediate supervision of your doctor.

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

Solution

Before Using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of fentanyl injection in children younger than 2 years of age. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of fentanyl injection in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related lung, kidney, liver, or heart problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving fentanyl injection.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

Levoketoconazole
Mifepristone
Nalmefene
Naltrexone
Safinamide
Samidorphan

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Abametapir
Acepromazine
Adagrasib
Alefacept
Alfentanil
Almotriptan
Alprazolam
Amifampridine
Amineptine
Amiodarone
Amitriptyline
Amitriptylinoxide
Amobarbital
Amoxapine
Amphetamine
Amprenavir
Anileridine
Aprepitant
Aripiprazole
Armodafinil
Asciminib
Asenapine
Atazanavir
Avacopan
Baclofen
Benperidol
Benzhydrocodone
Benzphetamine
Berotralstat
Boceprevir
Bosentan
Bromazepam
Bromopride
Brompheniramine
Buprenorphine
Bupropion
Buspirone
Butabarbital
Butorphanol
Calcium Oxybate
Cannabidiol
Cannabis
Carbamazepine
Carbinoxamine
Cariprazine
Carisoprodol
Carphenazine
Ceritinib
Cetirizine
Chloral Hydrate
Chlordiazepoxide
Chlorpheniramine
Chlorpromazine
Chlorzoxazone
Ciprofloxacin
Citalopram
Clarithromycin
Clobazam
Clomipramine
Clonazepam
Clopidogrel
Clorazepate
Clozapine
Cobicistat
Cocaine
Codeine
Conivaptan
Crizotinib
Cyclobenzaprine
Cyclosporine
Dabrafenib
Daridorexant
Darunavir
Delavirdine
Desipramine
Desmopressin
Desvenlafaxine
Dexamethasone
Dexmedetomidine
Dextroamphetamine
Dextromethorphan
Dezocine
Diazepam
Dibenzepin
Dichloralphenazone
Difenoxin
Dihydrocodeine
Diltiazem
Diphenhydramine
Diphenoxylate
Dolasetron
Donepezil
Doxepin
Dronedarone
Droperidol
Duloxetine
Efavirenz
Eletriptan
Enasidenib
Enflurane
Enzalutamide
Erythromycin
Escitalopram
Esketamine
Eslicarbazepine Acetate
Estazolam
Eszopiclone
Ethchlorvynol
Ethopropazine
Ethylmorphine
Etravirine
Fedratinib
Fenfluramine
Fexinidazole
Flibanserin
Fluconazole
Fluoxetine
Fluphenazine
Flurazepam
Fluspirilene
Fluvoxamine
Fosamprenavir
Fosaprepitant
Fosnetupitant
Fosphenytoin
Fospropofol
Frovatriptan
Furazolidone
Gabapentin
Gabapentin Enacarbil
Gepirone
Granisetron
Halazepam
Haloperidol
Halothane
Hexobarbital
Hydrocodone
Hydromorphone
Hydroxyamphetamine
Hydroxytryptophan
Hydroxyzine
Idelalisib
Imatinib
Imipramine
Indinavir
Iproniazid
Isocarboxazid
Isoflurane
Itraconazole
Ivacaftor
Ketamine
Ketobemidone
Ketoconazole
Lacosamide
Lanreotide
Lasmiditan
Lefamulin
Lemborexant
Lenacapavir
Levocetirizine
Levomilnacipran
Levorphanol
Linezolid
Lisdexamfetamine
Lithium
Lofepramine
Lofexidine
Lomitapide
Lopinavir
Lorazepam
Lorcaserin
Lorlatinib
Loxapine
Lumacaftor
Magnesium Oxybate
Mavacamten
Meclizine
Melitracen
Melperone
Meperidine
Mephobarbital
Meprobamate
Meptazinol
Mesoridazine
Metaxalone
Methadone
Methamphetamine
Methdilazine
Methocarbamol
Methohexital
Methotrimeprazine
Methylene Blue
Metoclopramide
Mibefradil
Midazolam
Milnacipran
Mirtazapine
Mitotane
Mobocertinib
Moclobemide
Modafinil
Molindone
Moricizine
Morphine
Morphine Sulfate Liposome
Nafcillin
Nalbuphine
Naratriptan
Nefazodone
Nelfinavir
Netupitant
Nevirapine
Nialamide
Nicardipine
Nicomorphine
Nifedipine
Nilotinib
Nirmatrelvir
Nirogacestat
Nitrazepam
Nitrous Oxide
Nortriptyline
Octreotide
Olanzapine
Oliceridine
Omaveloxolone
Ondansetron
Opipramol
Opium
Opium Alkaloids
Orphenadrine
Oxazepam
Oxcarbazepine
Oxycodone
Oxymorphone
Ozanimod
Palbociclib
Palonosetron
Papaveretum
Paregoric
Paroxetine
Pazopanib
Pentazocine
Pentobarbital
Perampanel
Perazine
Periciazine
Perphenazine
Phenelzine
Phenobarbital
Phenytoin
Pimozide
Piperacetazine
Pipotiazine
Piritramide
Pirtobrutinib
Posaconazole
Potassium Oxybate
Prazepam
Prednisone
Pregabalin
Primidone
Procarbazine
Prochlorperazine
Promazine
Promethazine
Propofol
Protriptyline
Quazepam
Quetiapine
Ramelteon
Ranitidine
Ranolazine
Rasagiline
Remifentanil
Remimazolam
Remoxipride
Repotrectinib
Ribociclib
Rifabutin
Rifampin
Rifapentine
Ritlecitinib
Ritonavir
Rizatriptan
Ropeginterferon Alfa-2b-njft
Saquinavir
Scopolamine
Secobarbital
Selegiline
Selpercatinib
Sertindole
Sertraline
Sibutramine
Sodium Oxybate
Sotorasib
St John's Wort
Sufentanil
Sulpiride
Sumatriptan
Suvorexant
Tacrolimus
Tapentadol
Taurursodiol
Telaprevir
Telithromycin
Temazepam
Thiethylperazine
Thiopental
Thiopropazate
Thioridazine
Tianeptine
Tilidine
Tizanidine
Tocilizumab
Tolonium Chloride
Topiramate
Tramadol
Tranylcypromine
Trazodone
Triazolam
Trifluoperazine
Trifluperidol
Triflupromazine
Trimeprazine
Trimipramine
Trofinetide
Tryptophan
Tucatinib
Venlafaxine
Verapamil
Vilazodone
Vonoprazan
Voriconazole
Vortioxetine
Zaleplon
Ziprasidone
Zolmitriptan
Zolpidem
Zopiclone
Zotepine
Zuranolone

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Ethanol
Grapefruit Juice

Proper Use

A doctor or other trained health professional will give you or your child this medicine in a hospital. This medicine is given as a shot into a muscle or vein.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check you closely while you or your child are receiving this medicine. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to receive it.

This medicine may cause a serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you or your child have a rash, itching, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth while you are using this medicine.

Do not use too much of this medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to. This can be life-threatening. Signs of an overdose include: change or loss of consciousness, cold, clammy skin, coughing that sometimes produces a pink frothy sputum, decreased awareness or responsiveness, extreme dizziness or weakness, increased sweating, irregular, fast, or slow, or shallow breathing, pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin, sleepiness or unusual drowsiness, slow heartbeat, seizures, swelling in legs and ankles, or trouble breathing. Call your doctor right away if you notice these symptoms.

Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting may occur with this medicine, especially when you get up suddenly from a lying or sitting position. Getting up slowly may help lessen this problem. Also, lying down for a while may relieve the dizziness or lightheadedness.

This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other central nervous system (CNS) depressants. CNS depressants are medicines that slow down the nervous system, which may cause drowsiness or make you less alert. Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for hay fever, allergies, or colds, sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping pills, prescription pain medicine or narcotics, barbiturates or seizure medicines, muscle relaxants, or anesthetics (numbing medicines), including some dental anesthetics. This effect may last for a few days after you stop using this medicine. Check with your medical doctor or dentist before taking any of the above while you or your child are receiving this medicine.

This medicine may cause sleep-related breathing problems (eg, sleep apnea, sleep-related hypoxemia). Your doctor may decrease your dose if you have sleep apnea (stop breathing for short periods during sleep) while using this medicine.

This medicine may make you dizzy, drowsy, confused, or disoriented. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or not alert.

This medicine may be habit-forming. If you feel that the medicine is not working as well, do not use more than your prescribed dose. Call your doctor for instructions.

Using narcotics for a long time can cause severe constipation. To prevent this, your doctor may direct you to take laxatives, drink a lot of fluids, or increase the amount of fiber in your diet. Be sure to follow the directions carefully, because continuing constipation can lead to more serious problems.

If you have been using this medicine regularly for several weeks or longer, do not change your dose or suddenly stop using it without checking with your doctor. Your doctor may want you to gradually reduce the amount you are using before stopping it completely. This may help prevent worsening of your condition and reduce the possibility of withdrawal symptoms, such as abdominal or stomach cramps, anxiety, fever, nausea, runny nose, sweating, tremors, or trouble sleeping.

This medicine may increase risk for muscle rigidity and movement. Tell your doctor if you or your child have stiff or rigid muscles after using this medicine.

Call your doctor right away if you have worsening of pain, increased sensitivity to pain, or new pain after taking this medicine. These may be symptoms of opioid-induced hyperalgesia and allodynia.

Check with your doctor right away if you have anxiety, restlessness, a fast heartbeat, fever, sweating, muscle spasms, twitching, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or see or hear things that are not there. These may be symptoms of a serious condition called serotonin syndrome. Your risk may be higher if you also take certain other medicines that affect serotonin levels in your body.

This medicine may cause adrenal gland problems. Check with your doctor right away if you have darkening of the skin, diarrhea, dizziness, fainting, loss of appetite, mental depression, nausea, skin rash, unusual tiredness or weakness, or vomiting.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant may cause neonatal withdrawal syndrome in your newborn babies. Tell your doctor right away if your baby has an abnormal sleep pattern, diarrhea, a high-pitched cry, irritability, shakiness or tremors, weight loss, vomiting, or fails to gain weight.

Using too much of this medicine may cause infertility (unable to have children). Talk with your doctor before using this medicine if you plan to have children.

Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are using this medicine.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Chest pain or discomfort
difficult or troubled breathing
irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing
lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin
severe muscle stiffness
slow or irregular heartbeat
unusual tiredness

Incidence not known

Blurred vision
change in consciousness
chest tightness
chills
confusion
cough
difficulty with swallowing
fast heartbeat
feeling cold
headache
hives, itching, or skin rash
inability to move the eyes
inability to sit still
increased blinking or spasms of the eyelid
increased sensitivity to pain
nervousness
pounding in the ears
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
restlessness
seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
sticking out the tongue when not meaning to
sweating
uncontrolled twisting movements of the neck, trunk, arms, or legs
unusual facial expressions
worsening of pain

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Incidence not known

Bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of the skin, feeling of pressure, hives, infection, inflammation, itching, lumps, numbness, pain, rash, redness, scarring, soreness, stinging, swelling, tenderness, tingling, ulceration, or warmth at the injection site
increased sweating
redness of the skin
vomiting
welts

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Portions of this document last updated: April 01, 2024

Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/es-es/drugs-supplements/fentanyl-injection-route/description/drg-20075614

Fentanyl (Injection Route)

Description and Brand Names

US Brand Name

Descriptions

Before Using

Allergies

Pediatric

Geriatric

Breastfeeding

Drug Interactions

Other Interactions

Other Medical Problems

Proper Use

Precautions

Side Effects

More common

Incidence not known

Incidence not known

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