Fentanyl Tablet - Buccal

See also Uses and How To Use sections.

Fentanyl has a high risk for abuse and severe, possibly fatal, breathing problems. Do not use fentanyl buccal tablets unless you have been regularly taking moderate to large amounts of narcotic pain medication. Otherwise, it may cause overdose (even death). The risk for harm is higher if you take the wrong dose/strength, or if you take it along with other drugs that might also affect breathing. It might also be higher when you start this medication and after a dose increase. Get medical help right away if you notice unusual slow/shallow breathing.

Carefully follow the specific directions for using fentanyl buccal tablets. Since they are not taken the same way, different forms of fentanyl (including lozenges, buccal tablets, patches) do not have the same effects at equal strengths and should not be substituted for each other. Tell your doctor or pharmacist of all medications that you use, especially of drugs that can affect how fentanyl works (see also Drug Interactions section). Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines you are using without your doctor's approval.

Keep this medicine in a safe place to prevent theft, misuse, or abuse. If a child accidentally swallows this drug, get medical help right away.

Because of the risk of misuse, abuse, and overdose, you will need to register with a special distribution program before receiving your prescription. Only doctors and pharmacies enrolled in this program may prescribe or dispense this medication. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for details.

Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist before you start using fentanyl and each time you get a refill. Learn all usage and disposal instructions. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.Use this medication as directed by your doctor. Just before using, open the blister pack unit as directed. Do not push the tablet through the foil of the blister pack because this could damage the tablet. Place the tablet in your mouth either above a rear molar tooth between your upper cheek and gum or under the tongue. Leave the medication in place until it is dissolved (usually 14 to 25 minutes). Do not break, bite, chew, suck, or swallow the tablet whole. You may feel a gentle bubbling in your mouth while the tablet dissolves. Do not eat or drink anything while the tablet dissolves. If there is still some tablet left after 30 minutes, swallow it with a glass of water. If you are using the method that involves placing the tablet between your cheek and gum, remember to change sides of the mouth with each dose.Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while using this medication unless your doctor or pharmacist says you may do so safely. Grapefruit can increase the chance of side effects with this medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details.If you start to have side effects (such as dizziness, feeling sick to your stomach, severe drowsiness) before finishing a dose, your doctor may need to adjust your dose. Rinse your mouth with water and spit the rest of the tablet into a sink or toilet. Rinse the sink or flush the toilet afterward to finish proper disposal. Tell your doctor promptly if this happens.The dosage is 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 per episode of breakthrough pain. Wait at least 4 hours before using fentanyl buccal tablets again for another episode of breakthrough pain. Do not increase your dose, take the medication more frequently, or take it for a longer time than prescribed.Pain medications work best if they are used when the first signs of pain occur. If you wait until the pain has worsened, the medication may not work as well.You should continue to also take your long-acting narcotic medication as directed by your doctor. Other non-narcotic pain relievers (such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen) may also be prescribed with this medication. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions about using fentanyl safely with other drugs.This medication may cause withdrawal reactions, especially if it has been used regularly for a long time or in high doses. In such cases, withdrawal symptoms (such as restlessness, watering eyes, runny nose, nausea, sweating, muscle aches) may occur if you suddenly stop using this medication. To prevent withdrawal reactions, your doctor may reduce your dose gradually. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details, and report any withdrawal reactions immediately.When this medication is used for a long time, it may not work as well. Talk with your doctor if this medication stops working well.Along with its benefits, this medication may rarely cause abnormal drug-seeking behavior (addiction). This risk may be increased if you have abused alcohol or drugs in the past. Take this medication exactly as prescribed to lessen the risk of addiction.Tell your doctor if your pain persists or worsens, if you have more than 4 episodes of breakthrough pain daily, or if you need to use 2 doses of medication for each episode of pain.

Before taking fentanyl, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: brain disorders (such as head injury, tumor, seizures), 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 regular use/abuse of drugs/alcohol, stomach/intestinal problems (such as blockage, constipation, diarrhea due to infection, paralytic ileus), difficulty urinating (such as due to enlarged prostate), gallbladder disease, disease of the pancreas (pancreatitis).This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages.Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, and slow/shallow breathing.Before using this medication, women of childbearing age should talk with their doctor(s) about the risks and benefits. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you plan to become pregnant. During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. It may slightly increase the risk of birth defects if used during the first two months of pregnancy. Also, using it for a long time or in high doses near the expected delivery date may harm the unborn baby. To lessen the risk, use the smallest effective dose for the shortest possible time. Tell the doctor right away if you notice any symptoms in your newborn baby such as slow/shallow breathing, irritability, abnormal/persistent crying, vomiting, or diarrhea.This drug passes into breast milk and may rarely have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Tell the doctor immediately if your baby develops unusual sleepiness, difficulty feeding, or trouble breathing. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Not applicable.

Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not freeze. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and pets.See also Warning and How to Use sections. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Read the Medication Guide for details. To discard this medication, the FDA recommends flushing down the toilet or pouring into a drain. However, consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.

Reviewed on 4/16/2014 References