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fentanyl tablet (cancer pain only) - buccal, Fentora

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

BRAND NAME(S): Fentora

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. When the medication is no longer needed, properly discard all of the unused 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: See also Warning section.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 blister pack unit as instructed. Do not push the tablet through the foil of the blister pack because doing so may damage the tablet. Use the medication right away. Do not break, bite, chew, or suck on the medication or swallow the medication whole. Put the medication in your mouth above a back tooth between your cheek and gums, and leave it in place until it is dissolved. The medication usually takes up to 25 minutes to fully dissolve. If there is still some medication left after 30 minutes, swallow it with a glass of water.If a second dose is needed, wait 30 minutes after starting the first dose. Do not use more than 2 doses for an attack of pain. You must wait at least 4 hours before using this medication again for a later pain attack.The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. 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.If you start to have side effects (e.g., dizziness, stomach upset, extreme drowsiness), rinse your mouth with water and spit the medication into a toilet or sink. Rinse the sink or flush the toilet afterwards to remove any remaining medication.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.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.Tell your doctor if your pain persists or worsens, if you are using this medication more than 4 times per day, or if you are consistently using 2 doses of medication for each attack of pain.

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