Fentora (Fentanyl Citrate) - Summary

FENTORA SUMMARY

FENTORA (fentanyl buccal tablet) is a potent opioid analgesic, intended for buccal mucosal administration. FENTORA is designed to be placed and retained within the buccal cavity for a period sufficient to allow disintegration of the tablet and absorption of fentanyl across the oral mucosa. FENTORA employs the OraVescent^® drug delivery technology, which generates a reaction that releases carbon dioxide when the tablet comes in contact with saliva. It is believed that transient pH changes accompanying the reaction may optimize dissolution (at a lower pH) and membrane permeation (at a higher pH) of fentanyl through the buccal mucosa.

FENTORA is indicated for the management of breakthrough pain in cancer patients 18 years of age and older who are already receiving and who are tolerant to around-the-clock opioid therapy for their underlying persistent cancer pain. Patients considered opioid tolerant are those who are taking around-the-clock medicine consisting of at least 60 mg of oral morphine daily, at least 25 mcg/hr of transdermal fentanyl, at least 30 mg of oral oxycodone daily, at least 8 mg of oral hydromorphone daily, at least 25 mg oral oxymorphone daily, or an equianalgesic dose of another opioid daily for a week or longer. Patients must remain on around-the-clock opioids while taking FENTORA.

This product must not be  used in opioid non-tolerant patients  because life-threatening hypoventilation and death could occur at any dose in patients not on a chronic regimen of opioids. For this reason, FENTORA is contraindicated in the management of acute or postoperative pain.

FENTORA is intended to be used only in the care of opioid tolerant cancer patients and only by healthcare professionals who are knowledgeable of and skilled in the use of Schedule II opioids to treat cancer pain.

Limitations of Use:

As a part of the TIRF REMS Access program, FENTORA may be dispensed only to outpatients enrolled in the program [see Warnings and Precautions]. For inpatient administration of FENTORA (e.g., hospitals, hospices, and long-term care facilities that prescribe for inpatient use), patient and prescriber enrollment is not required.

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NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Media Articles Related to Fentora (Fentanyl)

Addicts Try to Avoid Deadly Fentanyl, But Many Tragically Fail
Source: MedicineNet codeine Specialty [2017.06.16]
Title: Addicts Try to Avoid Deadly Fentanyl, But Many Tragically Fail
Category: Health News
Created: 6/16/2017 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 6/16/2017 12:00:00 AM

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Published Studies Related to Fentora (Fentanyl)

Efficacy and safety of sublingual fentanyl orally disintegrating tablet at doses determined from oral morphine rescue doses in the treatment of breakthrough cancer pain. [2015]
evaluate the efficacy and safety of sublingual fentanyl tablet... CONCLUSIONS: Patients treated with strong opioid analgesics at fixed intervals

Effect of intravenous fentanyl given prior to the end of surgery on emergence agitation in pediatric patients. [2013]
CONCLUSION: Administration of intravenous fentanyl 1 microg/kg 15 minutes prior

Desflurane/fentanyl compared with sevoflurane/fentanyl on awakening and quality of recovery in outpatient surgery using a laryngeal mask airway: a randomized, double-blinded controlled trial. [2013]
anesthetic regimen inclusive of opioids... CONCLUSIONS: Desflurane retains faster awakening properties than does sevoflurane

Clinical effects of intrathecal fentanyl on shoulder tip pain in laparoscopic total extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair under spinal anaesthesia: a double-blind, prospective, randomized controlled trial. [2013]
anaesthesia... CONCLUSIONS: Addition of intrathecal fentanyl to local anaesthetic can relieve

A double-blinded randomized evaluation of alfentanil and morphine vs fentanyl: analgesia and sleep trial (DREAMFAST). [2013]
interference... CONCLUSIONS: Despite better early postoperative analgesia, pain-related sleep

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Clinical Trials Related to Fentora (Fentanyl)

Procedural Pain Treatment With Transmucosal Sublingual Fentanyl Tablet in Colonoscopy Patients [Recruiting]
Colonoscopy is generally considered an invasive procedure that causes remarkable pain to the patient. The pain associated with the procedure is not caused by the insertion of the scope but from inflating of the colon in order to do the inspection. It has been shown that colonoscopy can be performed successfully without sedation (Leung, 2010), but many patients feel discomfort during the procedure. Factors predicting a painful colonoscopy are female-gender, degree of patient nervousness and the technical difficulty of the colonoscopy (Ylinen et al. 2009). Also age under 40, previous abdominal surgery and use of sedation are associated with painful colonoscopy ( Seip et al. 2009). Most often sedation and/or analgesia are achieved by administering a benzodiazepine or a combination of a benzodiazepine and an opioid (Fanti et al. 2009, Maskelar et al. 2009,), dexmedetomidine (Dere et al. 2009) or by using non-pharmacologic methods (Amer-Cuenca et al. 2011). Tramadol as monotherapy did not significantly decrease pain intensity or endoscopist's evaluation of colonoscopy (Grossi et al. 2004). Currently, intravenous midazolam is the drug used most commonly to introduce some sedation for colonoscopy. Intravenous sedation definitely increases the cost of procedure; drug administration, need for pulse oximetry monitoring and the need for follow-up after the procedure make colonoscopy sometimes expensive and troublesome. It has also been shown, that low-dose midazolam neither relieves discomfort nor makes patients forget it (Elphick et al. 2009). Fentanyl is a short-acting opioid widely used in anesthesia management. Transmucosal sublingual formulation of fentanyl has been developed to further improve the management of pain. When administered as a sublingual fast-dissolving tablet (Abstral®) that is placed under the tongue, the effects is fast and predictable. Its active ingredient is absorbed by the body through the mucous membrane. After administration of buccal fentanyl maximum plasma drug concentration was measured after 25 minutes (Darwish et al. 2011). Plasma fentanyl concentrations versus time following buccal and sublingual administration are very similar (Darwish et al. 2008). Abstral® sublingual tablets should be administered directly under the tongue at the deepest part. Sublingual administration is an easy and non-invasive method of pain treatment for the patient coming to colonoscopy done as an office based procedure. Other advantages compared to invasive methods are improved comfort of patients and no need for intravenous access because of pain relief. Before, it has been used in the management of breakthrough pain in cancer patients. Sublingual fentanyl is shown to be effective and well-tolerated for the treatment of breakthrough cancer pain (Uberall et al. 2011). The use of transmucosal tablet for colonoscopy patients is a quite new approach.

Fentanyl Effect on Blood Pressure in Elderly Patients After Induction of General Anesthesia [Recruiting]
Hypotension is frequently encountered after induction of general anesthesia. It can be pronounced in elderly patients and can require administration of vasopressor agents including ephedrine and phenylephrine. Intraoperative hypotension, especially prolonged episodes, can contribute to an increase in morbidity and mortality in the postoperative period as suggested by some former studies. The investigators hypothesize that fentanyl can contribute to the decrease in blood pressure (BP) that is seen after induction of general anesthesia in older patients. This hypotension may be due to fentanyl blocking effect on the sympathetic nervous system. This study will be the first one to examine the effect of fentanyl administration on blood pressure in elderly patients with induction of general anesthesia prior to the start of surgery. If the study shows that fentanyl contributes to hypotension during this period, it may lead to a change in practice and better patient outcomes and mortality rates.

Remifentanil vs Fentanyl During Cardiac Surgery and Chronic Thoracic Pain [Recruiting]
This study will investigate the influence of intra-operative use of remifentanil versus fentanyl on the percentage of patients with chronic thoracic after cardiac surgery via sternotomy. Secondary quantitative sensory testing is performed to determine thermal and electrical detection and pain threshold and the difference in pain variability scoring. Postoperative pain scores, analgesic use, genetic variances and costs are measured.

Breakthrough Dyspnea Fentanyl Study in Cancer Patients [Completed]
The goal of this clinical research study is to learn if fentanyl given under the skin can reduce shortness of breath in cancer patients. Researchers also want to learn if it can help to improve your physical function. In this study, fentanyl will be compared to a placebo. Fentanyl is commonly used for treatment of cancer pain. It is believed to help patients with their shortness of breath as well. A placebo is not a drug. It looks like the study drug but is not designed to treat any disease or illness. It is designed to be compared with a study drug to learn if the study drug has any real effect.

Safety and Efficacy Study of Fentanyl Iontophoretic Transdermal System (ITS) for Management of Moderate to Severe Acute Pain in Participants Who Have Undergone Elective Spine or Orthopedic Surgery [Terminated]
The purpose of this study is to evaluate in daily clinical practice the safety and efficacy of fentanyl Iontophoretic Transdermal (through the skin) System (ITS) for management of moderate (medium level of seriousness) to severe (very serious) acute (a quick and severe) pain in participants who have undergone elective spine or orthopedic (related to bones) surgery.

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Reports of Suspected Fentora (Fentanyl) Side Effects

Pain (23),  OFF Label USE (20),  Drug Prescribing Error (17),  Nausea (9),  Drug Ineffective (8),  Withdrawal Syndrome (7),  Somnolence (6),  Intentional Drug Misuse (4),  Hyperhidrosis (4),  Stomatitis (4), more >>