Fentanyl Sandoz
Fentanyl Sandoz is a medicine for adults who are already regularly taking strong opioid pain medication for ongoing cancer pain, but need treatment for sudden, severe pain called breakthrough pain.
How to Use
Dosage
Always take the exact dose of Fentanyl Sandoz your doctor prescribes; this dose might be different from other medicines you've used for breakthrough pain.
Method
Place the tablet under your tongue as far back as possible and let it dissolve completely. Do not suck, chew, or swallow it whole.
Do not take your prescribed dose more than four times a day, and wait at least two hours between doses.
Possible Side Effects
- •Nausea
- •Dizziness
- •Headache
- •Severe drowsiness
- •Shortness of breath
- •Mouth inflammation
- •Vomiting
- •Constipation
- •Dry mouth
- •Sweating
- •Fatigue/lack of energy
- •Allergic reaction
- •Tremor/shaking
- •Vision problems or blurred vision
- •Fast or slow heart rate
- •Low blood pressure
- •Memory loss
- •Depression
- •Suspiciousness/unfounded fear
- •Feeling confused
- •Disoriented
- •Anxious/worried/restless
- •Unusually happy/healthy feeling
- •Mood swings
- •Persistent feeling of fullness
- •Stomach pain
- •Digestive problems
- •Mouth ulcers
- •Tongue problems
- •Mouth or throat pain
- •Tightness in throat
- •Lip or gum ulcers
- •Loss of appetite
- •Loss or change in sense of smell/taste
- •Sleep difficulties or disturbed sleep
- •Attention disorders/easily distracted
- •Lack of energy/weakness
- •Skin abnormality
- •Rash
- •Itching
- •Night sweats
- •Reduced sensitivity to touch
- •Increased bruising
- •Joint pain or stiffness
- •Muscle stiffness
- •Withdrawal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anxiety, chills, tremor, and sweating)
- •Accidental overdose
- •Inability in men to get and/or maintain an erection
- •General feeling of being unwell
- •Swollen tongue
- •Severe breathing difficulties
- •Falls
- •Flushing
- •Feeling very warm
- •Diarrhea
- •Seizures
- •Swelling in arms and legs
- •Hallucinations (seeing and hearing things that are not there)
- •Fever
- •Drug tolerance
- •Drug dependence (addiction)
- •Drug abuse
- •Reduced level of consciousness
- •Loss of consciousness
- •Itchy rash
- •Delirium (symptoms may include a combination of anxiety, restlessness, disorientation, confusion, fear, seeing and hearing things that are not there, sleep disturbance, nightmares)
Important Warnings
- Keep this medicine in a safe place away from others, especially children, as it is very strong and can cause serious harm or death if taken accidentally or on purpose by someone not prescribed it.
- Do not take Fentanyl Sandoz if you are allergic to fentanyl or any other ingredient in this medicine, or if you have severe breathing problems.
- Do not use Fentanyl Sandoz for short-term pain or pain that is not breakthrough cancer pain, and do not take it if you are not already regularly using an opioid pain medicine for at least one week for chronic pain, as it can cause dangerously slow or shallow breathing.
- Do not take Fentanyl Sandoz if you are currently being treated with medicines containing sodium oxybate (used for certain narcolepsy symptoms).
- This medicine contains fentanyl, an opioid, which can cause dependence and addiction; repeated use can lead to life-threatening overdose.
Show 1 more warnings
- Fentanyl Sandoz can cause sleep-related breathing problems like sleep apnea; if you notice symptoms such as breathing pauses during sleep or excessive daytime sleepiness, contact your doctor.
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)