Warnings about fentanyl use

摘要

Fentanyl patches should only be used for patients who have previously tolerated opioids because of a risk of respiratory depression for opioid-naive patients, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has warned in its September Drug Safety Update. The advice comes following reports of unintentional fentanyl overdose - both life-threatening and fatal - due to patch dosing errors, accidental exposure and exposure of the patch to a heat source (possibly resulting in increased fentanyl absorption).