Initially, Fentanyl was a labeled and unaware toxin. It was first developed in 1959 and was largely used as a medical sedative and pain reliever without the negative effect of nausea. It has a 100-fold higher toxicity than morphine and a 50-fold higher toxicity than heroin.
What is Fentanyl?
It is a strong synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. It is a prescribed medicine that is also illegally manufactured and consumed. A drug that’s similar to morphine except that it’s used to treat people who are in a lot of pain, particularly after the operation. As it is also used to treat chronic pain patients who are physically tolerant of other opioids.
Use of Fentanyl:
Fentanyl may be habit-forming, especially with prolonged use. Use it exactly as directed. Do not use a larger dose of it. Do not use the medication more often. Or use it for a longer period of time than prescribed by your doctor. While using fentanyl, discuss with your doctor first. About the pain treatment goals, length of treatment, and other ways to manage your pain.
Heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine are mixed with fentanyl because it produces a high with a small amount of drug, making it a less expensive option. This is especially harmful when users are unaware that their medications may include fentanyl, a cheap but lethal addition. They may be taking higher opioids than their bodies are adapted to, increasing their risk of overdosing.
Mental & Physical Effects of it:
Fentanyl, like heroin, morphine, and other opioid medications, operates by attaching to the body’s nerve terminals, which are present in pain and emotion-controlling parts of the brain. After frequent use of opioids, the brain adapts to the drug, reducing sensitivity and making it difficult to derive pleasure from anything other than the drug.
Relaxation, disorientation, nausea, and other unpleasant side effects might range from mild to severe. Because it is 50 to 100 times more strong than morphine, the negative impacts may be more severe, arrive faster, and persist longer.
- Drowsiness or fatigue
- Confusion
- Trouble concentrating
- Tightness in the throat
- Stiff or rigid muscles
- Relaxation and euphoria
- Constricted pupils
- Physical weakness
- Itching
- Depressed breathing, shallow breaths, or irregular breaths
- Slowed heartbeat
- Sweating
- Flushing
- Constipation
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
Effects of Fentanyl overdose:
Even with a valid prescription, tolerance and reliance can develop. when the body requires more of a drug to achieve the same effect. A common occurrence with opioid painkillers that fentanyl is designed to combat, allowing those with severe chronic pain to still receive relief when other opioids fail. To achieve chemical equilibrium, the brain requires a particular amount of substance. A doctor will most likely taper or replace the fentanyl with another medicine. Fentanyl is rarely provided to persons whose pain will go away, therefore tapering off the medicine is uncommon.
Low blood pressure Drowsiness Dizziness Vomiting and nausea Changes in pupillary size in a limp body Cold and clammy skin Lips and fingernails are blue in tone (cyanosis) Breathing has slowed or ceased. Low heart rate Consciousness loss or reduction Coma
Fentanyl causes serious damage or death to the kid or an adult who has consumed it without the prescription Even partially used fentanyl can contain enough drugs to injure or kill children or adults. Children should not have access to fentanyl.
Precaution of Using Fentanyl:
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to fentanyl patches, injection, nasal spray, tablets, lozenges, or films; any other medications; or any of the ingredients in fentanyl tablets, lozenges, or films. Ask your pharmacist or check the Medication Guide for a list of the ingredients.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention the medications listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section and any of the following medications: antihistamines; barbiturates such as phenobarbital; buprenorphine (Buprenex, Subutex, in Suboxone); butorphanol (Stadol); carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Tegretol); efavirenz (Sustiva, in Atripla); modafinil (Provigil); nalbuphine (Nubain); naloxone (Evzio, Narcan); nevirapine (Viramune); oral steroids such as dexamethasone, methylprednisolone (Medrol), and prednisone (Rayos); oxcarbazepine (Trileptal); pentazocine (Talwin); phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek); pioglitazone (Actos, in Actoplus Met, in Duetact); rifabutin (Mycobutin); and rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, in Rifamate, in Rifater). Also tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medications or if you have stopped taking them within the past two weeks: monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors including isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), and tranylcypromine (Parnate). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
- tell your doctor what herbal products you are taking, especially St. John’s wort.
- tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family drinks or has ever drunk large amounts of alcohol or uses or has ever used street drugs or excessive amounts of prescription medications. Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had a head injury, a brain tumor, a stroke, or any other condition that caused high pressure inside your skull; seizures; slowed heartbeat or other heart problems; low blood pressure; mental problems such as depression, schizophrenia (a mental illness that causes disturbed or unusual thinking, loss of interest in life, and strong or inappropriate emotions), or hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist); breathing problems such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; a group of lung diseases that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema); or kidney or liver disease.
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while using fentanyl, call your doctor.
- you should know that this medication may decrease fertility in men and women. Talk to your doctor about the risks of using fentanyl.
- if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using fentanyl.
- you should know that fentanyl may make you drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.
- you should know that fentanyl may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting when you get up too quickly from a lying position. This is more common when you first start using fentanyl. To avoid this problem, get out of bed slowly, resting your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up.
- if you have diabetes, you should know that each fentanyl lozenge (Actiq) contains about 2 grams of sugar.
- if you will be using the lozenges (Actiq), talk to your dentist about the best way to care for your teeth during your treatment. The lozenges contain sugar and may cause tooth decay and other dental problems.
- you should know that fentanyl may cause constipation. Talk to your doctor about changing your diet and using other medications to treat or prevent constipation.
