Fentanyl Sandoz
Fentanyl Sandoz is a medicine for adults who already take strong opioid pain medication regularly for ongoing cancer pain but need treatment for sudden, severe breakthrough pain.
How to Use
Dosage
Your doctor will decide the right dose for your breakthrough pain, which may involve trying different strengths and could be more than one tablet per dose.
Method
Place the tablet(s) under your tongue and let them dissolve completely. Do not suck, chew, or swallow them. If your mouth is dry, moisten it with a little water first. Do not eat or drink until the tablet has fully dissolved.
Do not take more than four doses per day, and always wait at least two hours between doses.
Possible Side Effects
- •Nausea
- •Dizziness
- •Headache
- •Extreme sleepiness
- •Shortness of breath
- •Mouth inflammation
- •Vomiting
- •Constipation
- •Dry mouth
- •Sweating
- •Fatigue or lack of energy
- •Allergic reactions
- •Tremors or shaking
- •Vision problems or blurred vision
- •Fast or slow heartbeat
- •Low blood pressure
- •Memory loss
- •Feeling sad (depression)
- •Feeling suspicious or unreasonable fear
- •Feeling confused
- •Not knowing the time or place (disorientation)
- •Feeling anxious, worried, or restless
- •Feeling unusually happy or well
- •Mood changes
- •Feeling constantly full
- •Stomach pain
- •Indigestion
- •Mouth sores
- •Tongue problems
- •Pain in mouth or throat
- •Tight feeling in the throat
- •Lip or gum sores
- •Loss of appetite
- •Loss or change of smell or taste
- •Difficulty sleeping or disturbed sleep
- •Attention problems or easy distraction
- •Lack of energy, weakness, or loss of strength
- •Skin problems, rash
- •Itching
- •Night sweats
- •Reduced sensitivity to touch
- •Easy bruising
- •Joint pain or stiffness
- •Muscle stiffness
- •Withdrawal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anxiety, chills, shaking, and sweating)
- •Accidental overdose
- •Difficulty getting or keeping an erection in men
- •General feeling of being unwell
- •Swollen tongue
- •Severe breathing difficulties
- •Falls
- •Flushing, feeling very warm
- •Diarrhea
- •Seizures
- •Swelling in arms or legs
- •Seeing or hearing things that are not there (hallucinations)
- •Fever
- •Tolerance to the medicine
- •Medicine addiction
- •Medicine misuse
- •Reduced consciousness, loss of consciousness
- •Itchy rash
- •Delirium (a state of confusion with agitation, restlessness, not knowing the time/place, fear, seeing/hearing unreal things, sleep problems, nightmares)
Important Warnings
- This medicine is very strong and can cause severe harm or death if taken by accident or by someone it wasn't prescribed for, especially children.
- Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to fentanyl or have severe breathing problems.
- You must already be taking strong opioid pain medicine regularly for long-term pain; otherwise, this medicine can cause dangerously slow or shallow breathing.
- Do not use this medicine for short-term pain or if you are taking medicines that contain sodium oxybate.
- Tell your doctor if you have a head injury, muscle weakness (myasthenia gravis), heart problems, low blood pressure, liver or kidney disease, a brain tumor, increased pressure in your head, mouth sores, or if you have had problems with your adrenal glands or sex hormones.
Show 7 more warnings
- Inform your doctor if you are having surgery, notice increased pain sensitivity that higher doses don't help, or if you experience nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, and low blood pressure together, as these could be signs of a serious adrenal gland issue.
- This medicine can cause dependence and addiction. Using it for a long time or at higher doses increases this risk, especially if you or your family have a history of alcohol, prescription drug, or illegal drug misuse.
- This medicine can cause sleep-related breathing problems, such as pauses in breathing during sleep or low oxygen levels in the blood. Contact your doctor if you notice these symptoms.
- Using this medicine with other sedatives (medicines that make you sleepy) or benzodiazepines can increase drowsiness, make breathing difficult, and lead to coma, which can be life-threatening.
- Do not drink grapefruit juice or alcohol while taking this medicine, as they can increase side effects and make you more drowsy.
- Do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding unless specifically advised by your doctor. If breastfeeding, wait at least five days after your last dose before resuming.
- This medicine can affect your ability to drive or operate machinery. If you feel dizzy, tired, or have blurred vision, do not drive or use machines.
Use in Elderly Patients
Avoid use in older adults. Sedative. Serotonergic. Intended for the treatment of cancer pain. Not suitable for initiating opioid medication. Low transdermal efficacy in cachectic patients. Increases the risk of confusion and falling. Need for laxative is often necessary. Consider potential significant interactions. (updated 24.3.2025)