Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate used to treat moderate to severe pain. It is 100 times stronger than morphine, which is considered the standard base of effective narcotic pain killers, according to the 2009 edition of Anesthesia. The short-term effects of Fentanyl can vary drastically based on a person's level of opiate tolerance. Overall, a prescription dose of Fentanyl will produce similar effects of other common opiates but with a much more intense effect, depending on the person's tolerance.
Nausea and Vomiting
The 2009 edition of the Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine lists several short-term effects caused by prescription opiates. One of the most common side effects of opiates like Fentanyl is the onset of nausea. The nausea caused by Fentanyl generally goes away after 7 to 10 days as the body adjusts to balance its effects on metabolism and appetite. If too strong of a dose is initially given, a patient's nausea may progress to vomiting. In conjunction with an slowed gastrointestinal tract, Fentanyl also affects the reflux of the esophagus, sense of fullness and the part of the brain that initiates vomiting.
Slow and Labored Breathing
The muscles associated with breathing are also affected by opiates, especially stronger ones like Fentanyl. Opiates relax muscle tissue and slow their reaction time. Medsafe states that Fentanyl can cause cause acute respiratory depression and that until patients are well tolerated, they should be monitored by a medical professional.
Itching
Another common effect that most people experience from prescription opiates like Fentanyl is itchy skin, especially in the nose and face. The itching is caused by a restriction of the small veins and capillaries near the surface of the skin. Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate and causes itching for reasons other than the typical opiates derived from opium. Other opiate pain killers release histamine, a primary chemical agent related to itching. Daniel Philibin at the Harvard Medical School found that Fentanyl had no correlation to a release of histamine in patients.
Drowsiness
Patients who are not used to taking stronger opiates like Fentanyl may also experience drowsiness. The symptoms may be an acute reaction from the Fentanyl itself or as a secondary response to opioid induced insomnia. The drowsiness usually goes away with 5 to 7 days. Especially with stronger opiates like Fentanyl, driving and operating machinery should be taken with much precaution until the patient begins to tolerate the drug better.
Constipation
Constipation is one of the most common side effect of opiate pain killers. Because Fentanyl is one of the strongest of these pain killers, the accompanying constipation can also be more severe. Nearly all patients taking opiates will experience some degree of constipation, although it is not seen as a contraindication to suggest using an alternative medication. The constipation caused by opiates can be easily remedied with an increase in fiber, laxatives and stool softeners.
References
- "Anesthesia, 7th Edition"; Ronald Miller; 2009
- "Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine, 3rd Edition"; Derek Doyle; 2005
- Medsafe: Fentanyl
- "Journal of Molecular Medicine"; Histamine release with intravenous narcotics: Protective effects of H1 and H2-receptor antagonists; Daniel Philibin; September 1982
