Fentanyl Side Effects

Fentanyl is a synthetic narcotic – eighty times as powerful as morphine – that was developed in the 1950s as treatment for patients with severe and/or chronic pain. The drug is marketed under several trade names. Duragesic is a fentanyl skin patch; Actiq is a fentanyl lozenge; Fentora is fentanyl in pill form; other products include Ionsys and Sublimaze,

Fentanyl side effects may include allergic reactions such as swelling of the face, mouth or lips; hives; difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Gastrointestinal reaction may be a form of fentanyl side effect as manifested by nausea; vomiting; constipation; or itching.

There are other fentanyl side effects that may be the result of an excess of the drug in the body. These may include hallucinations; excessive dizziness; excessive drowsiness; seizures; a slowed heartbeat (hypotension); slowed breathing; and a semiconscious or unconscious state.

The FDA has put out a significant number of public health advisories about the importance of using fentanyl products in an appropriate manner. It is used both for patients who have developed a tolerance for opiates and for patients that may have acute pain but no experience with other opiates. That makes fentanyl a double-edged sword and fentanyl side effects a wide range of physical reactions.