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fentanyl lozenge (cancer pain only) - buccal, Actiq

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GENERIC NAME: FENTANYL LOZENGE (CANCER PAIN ONLY) - BUCCAL (FEN-tuh-nill)

BRAND NAME(S): Actiq

Warning | Medication Uses | How To Use | Side Effects | Precautions | Drug Interactions | Overdose | Notes | Missed Dose | Storage

WARNING: This medication should be used only to treat sudden (breakthrough) cancer pain in people who are already using and are able to tolerate moderate-to-large amounts of strong narcotic pain medications (e.g., morphine). Fentanyl must not be used in people who do not regularly take narcotic pain relievers because it can cause them to have very serious (possibly fatal) breathing problems (e.g., very slow and shallow breathing).

Do not use this medication for short-term pain (e.g., from surgery).

This medication can be fatal if taken by a child. Keep this and all other medications out of reach of children. Properly throw away all opened units of the medication as directed by the Medication Guide. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Different brands of this medication deliver different amounts of medication. Do not switch brands without your doctor's permission and directions.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist of all medications that you may use, especially of drugs affecting liver enzymes that remove fentanyl from your body (See also Drug Interactions section). Your doctor may want to monitor you more closely or change the dosage of your fentanyl if you are on certain interacting drugs. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first.

USES: See also Warning section.This medication is used to treat moderate-to-severe sudden (breakthrough) cancer pain. It acts on certain centers in the brain to give you pain relief. This medication is a narcotic pain reliever (opiate-type).

HOW TO USE: A Welcome Kit is available from the manufacturer. It contains important safety and educational materials, emergency information, and a safe storage container to keep this medication out of reach of children. If you have any questions about the materials in this kit, bring them to your doctor or pharmacist, or contact the manufacturer.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, consult your doctor or pharmacist.Take fentanyl as directed by your doctor. Just before using, open the package with scissors. Put the medication in your mouth between your cheek and gums and actively suck on the medication. Move the medication along your cheeks and twirl the handle often. You should finish the medication in 15 minutes to get the most relief. Do not chew, bite, or swallow the medication whole. You may drink some water before using this medication, but do not eat or drink anything while you are using it.If a second dose is needed, wait 30 minutes after starting the first dose. Do not use more than 2 doses per attack of pain.The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. Pain medications work best if they are used as the first signs of pain occur. If you wait until the pain has worsened, the medication may not work as well.Remove the medication from your mouth if you start to have side effects (e.g., dizziness, stomach upset).You should also continue to take your long-acting narcotic medication for ongoing pain as directed by your doctor. Also follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instructions for safely using non-narcotic pain relievers (e.g., naproxen, ibuprofen). Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.To avoid any confusion and chance of overdose, you should only keep a supply of one strength of this medication.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, watery eyes, twitching, widened pupils) may occur if you suddenly stop using this medication. To prevent withdrawal reactions, your doctor may reduce your dose gradually. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details, and report any withdrawal reactions immediately.Though very unlikely, abnormal drug-seeking behavior (addiction) is possible with this medication. To lessen the risk of becoming addicted, do not increase your dose, take it more frequently, or take it for a longer time than prescribed. Properly stop the medication when so directed. When used for an extended period, this medication may not work as well and may require different dosing. Talk with your doctor if this medication stops working well.Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while being treated with this medication unless your doctor instructs you otherwise. Grapefruit can increase the amount of certain medications in your bloodstream. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.Inform your doctor if your pain persists or worsens, if you are not finishing the entire unit of medication for each episode of pain, if you are using more than 4 units of medication per day, or if you are consistently using 2 units of medication for each episode of pain.

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