Fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic opioid of the piperidine family, used primarily as a pain medication for cancer patients and after surgery, and as a sedative for patients on a breathing tube; it is fifty to one hundred times more potent than morphine. It acts as an agonist at mu-opioid receptors, producing analgesia and respiratory depression, with additional activity at kappa-opioid receptors contributing to sedation. Chemist Paul Janssen synthesized fentanyl in Belgium in 1959 at his company, Janssen Pharmaceutica; the United States Food and Drug Administration approved it for medical use in 1968 under the brand name Sublimaze, marketed by McNeil Laboratories, and the Duragesic transdermal patch reached the market in the mid-1990s.
Facts
Drug ClassSynthetic opioid analgesic of the piperidine family. 4 Mechanism of ActionAgonist at mu-opioid and kappa-opioid receptors; mu-receptor agonism drives respiratory depression and generalized analgesia, kappa-receptor agonism drives sedation and spinal analgesia. 4 Approved UsePain management, especially for cancer pain and pain following surgery; also used as an anesthesia adjunct and sedative for intubated patients. 4 First Approved / Isolated Year Significant RiskFatal respiratory depression is the principal risk, especially in overdose; fentanyl is now the leading driver of synthetic opioid overdose deaths in the United States. 4 Classification
ATC ClassSourced to the subject's own account Route of Administration Route of Administration Route of Administration Route of Administration Route of Administration Route of Administration WHO Essential MedicineSourced to the subject's own account Connections
Treats
Source Fentanyl (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System (Wikipedia)
WikipediaFirst-level anatomical group codes, Code NQuote, First-level anatomical group codes, Code N
Nervous system
2. Fentanyl (Wikipedia)
WikipediaInfobox drug, routes_of_administrationQuote, Infobox drug, routes_of_administration
Buccal, epidural, intramuscular, intrathecal, intravenous, sublingual, transdermal
3. WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (Wikipedia)
WikipediaWHO Model List of Essential Medicines, Opioid analgesics sectionQuote, WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, Opioid analgesics section
Fentanyl
4. Fentanyl (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationLead section
Fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic opioid of the piperidine family, used primarily as pain medication. It is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. Its primary clinical use is in pain management for cancer patients and those recovering from surgery.
Infobox, drug class
Opioid
Lead section, mechanism
Fentanyl exerts its actions as an agonist of the μ-opioid receptor and κ-opioid receptor. The μ-receptor agonism is responsible for the respiratory depression and generalized analgesia whilst the κ-receptor agonism is responsible for sedation and spinal analgesia.
Lead section, adverse effects
The most common adverse effects are respiratory depression, emesis, and asthenia. Bradycardia and apnea are uncommon side effects but are serious and can lead to death outside of clinical settings.
History section
Fentanyl was first synthesized by Paul Janssen in 1960 and was approved for medical use in the United States in 1968.
Treats: Pain, Lead section, indication
Its primary clinical use is in pain management for cancer patients and those recovering from surgery.
View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.