Identification
Fentanyl is an extremely powerful narcotic pain reliever. Fentanyl works on the receptors in the brain for opioids, causing it to ignore pain signals and instead creating a general sense of euphoria. The brain is protected by a special filter called the blood-brain barrier, but fentanyl is able to quickly cross from the blood into the brain. As a result, fentanyl begins to have its effect almost immediately after it enters the blood. The speed with which it enters the blood depends on the form of fentanyl that is administered.
Forms and Administration
There are three different ways in which fentanyl can be administered. Fentanyl can be given intravenously for the purposes of surgical anesthesia. Fentanyl can also be given orally, although it is generally not actually swallowed but is instead absorbed by the tissue in the mouth. In this form it can be obtained in the form of a pill that dissolves in the mouth or in a hardened "lollipop." Fentanyl can also be administered via a patch that is worn on the skin. The patch releases a constant amount of fentanyl for three days that is absorbed by the skin and eventually transported into the bloodstream.
Entry Into Bloodstream
When fentanyl is injected into the bloodstream, it is immediately carried by the blood circulation to the brain and has an effect. In its other forms, there is a slight delay as the medication is absorbed and transferred into the bloodstream, although it can take seven to eight minutes for it to cause anesthesia. When fentanyl is taken orally, its peak concentration in the blood occurs between 45 and 60 minutes after the medication is started. When fentanyl is taken in patch form, it takes about 12 hours for it to reach its peak levels in the bloodstream, where it remains consistent until the patch is removed.
