Abstral
Abstral helps adults manage sudden, severe breakthrough pain from cancer, even when they are already taking strong, regular pain medication.
Form
resoribletti
Strength
200 mikrog
Active Ingredient
Fentanyl citrate
Manufacturer
Grünenthal GmbH
How to Use
Dosage
Your doctor will determine the correct dose for your breakthrough pain. It's different for everyone.
Method
Place the tablet under your tongue as far back as you can. Let it dissolve completely. Do not suck, chew, or swallow it. Do not eat or drink until the tablet is fully dissolved. If your mouth is dry, rinse with water and spit it out before taking the tablet.
Important
After you and your doctor find the right dose, do not take this dose more than four times a day. Wait at least two hours between doses.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Nausea
COMMON
- •Dizziness
- •Headache
- •Too much sleepiness
COMMON
- •Shortness of breath
COMMON
- •Mouth inflammation
- •Vomiting
- •Constipation
- •Dry mouth
COMMON
- •Sweating
- •Weakness, tiredness, lack of energy
RARE
- •Allergic reaction
- •Shaking or tremors
- •Vision problems or blurry vision
- •Fast or slow heartbeat
- •Low blood pressure
- •Memory loss
- •Depression
- •Suspicious thoughts
- •Feeling confused, worried, or restless
- •Feeling unusually happy or healthy, mood changes
- •Feeling full all the time
- •Stomach pain
- •Indigestion
- •Mouth sores
- •Tongue issues
- •Pain in mouth or throat
- •Tight throat
- •Lip or gum sores
- •Loss or change in smell or taste
- •Sleep problems
- •Trouble paying attention
- •Lack of energy, weakness
- •Skin issues, rash, itching
- •Night sweats
- •Less sensitive to touch
- •Easy bruising
- •Joint pain or stiffness
- •Muscle stiffness
- •Withdrawal symptoms (like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anxiety, chills, shaking, sweating)
- •Accidental overdose
- •Inability for men to get or keep an erection
- •General feeling of being unwell
- •Swollen tongue
- •Severe breathing problems
- •Falls
- •Flushing, feeling very warm
- •Convulsions (seizures)
- •Swelling in arms and legs
- •Seeing and hearing things that are not real (hallucinations)
- •Fever
- •Reduced consciousness, loss of consciousness
- •Itchy rash and delirium (a state of confusion with symptoms like agitation, restlessness, disorientation, fear, seeing/hearing things that aren't real, sleep problems, nightmares)
- •Drug tolerance, drug dependence (addiction), drug misuse
Important Warnings
- Do not take Abstral if you are allergic to fentanyl or any other ingredient in this medicine.
- Do not take Abstral if you have severe breathing problems.
- Abstral is only for breakthrough pain. Do not use it for short-term pain or if you don't already take strong opioid pain medicine regularly for at least a week for ongoing cancer pain.
- Tell your doctor if you have a head injury, breathing issues, heart problems, low blood pressure, liver or kidney disease, a brain tumor, mouth sores, or if you are taking antidepressants or antipsychotics.
- Using Abstral with other medicines that cause drowsiness (like other strong pain relievers, sleeping pills, or medicines for anxiety) can make you very sleepy, cause severe breathing problems, or even a coma. Your doctor might need to adjust your dose or how long you take it.
Show 5 more warnings
- Do not drink alcohol or grapefruit juice while taking Abstral, as this can increase side effects.
- Do not use Abstral if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Fentanyl can pass to the baby. If you must stop, wait at least 5 days after your last dose before breastfeeding.
- Abstral can make you dizzy, tired, or cause blurry vision. Do not drive or operate machinery if you experience these effects.
- Long-term use of Abstral can lead to drug tolerance (it stops working as well) or addiction. Tell your doctor if you feel it's not working, or if you feel you need to take more than prescribed or use it for other reasons.
- Abstral can cause breathing problems during sleep, like pauses in breathing or low oxygen levels. Tell your doctor if you or someone else notices these symptoms.