Fentanyl

Epic card · No. 10055

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. Fentanyl is also used as a sedative for intubated patients. Fentanyl has a short duration of action and works by activating μ-opioid receptors. Brand names include Actiq, Duragesic, and Sublimaze, among others. Fentanyl was first synthesized by Paul Janssen in 1960 and was approved for medical use in the United States in 1968. In 2015, 1,600 kilograms (3,500 pounds) were used in healthcare globally. As of 2017, fentanyl was the most widely used synthetic opioid in medicine; in 2019, it was the 278th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than a million prescriptions. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. The effects of fentanyl are similar to those of other opioids, causing...

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