Matrifen
Matrifen patches contain fentanyl, a strong opioid pain medicine, used to relieve very severe and long-lasting pain in adults and children over 2 years old who already use opioid pain medicine.
How to Use
Dosage
Your doctor will decide the right strength for you. Each patch works for 3 days (72 hours).
Method
Apply one patch to a flat area on your upper body or arm, not on a joint. For children, always apply to the upper back. Change the patch every 3 days (72 hours) at the same time, always removing the old one first.
Do not use more patches than your doctor prescribed. Each patch should be worn for 3 days.
Possible Side Effects
- •Nausea, vomiting, constipation
- •Drowsiness
- •Dizziness
- •Headache
- •Allergic reaction
- •Loss of appetite
- •Sleep problems
- •Depression
- •Anxiety, confusion
- •Hallucinations (seeing, feeling, hearing or smelling unreal things)
- •Muscle tremors or spasms
- •Unusual skin sensations (tingling or prickling)
- •Light-headedness
- •Fast or irregular heartbeat
- •High blood pressure
- •Shortness of breath
- •Diarrhoea
- •Dry mouth
- •Abdominal pain or indigestion
- •Excessive sweating
- •Itching, rash, or red skin
- •Inability to urinate or empty the bladder completely
- •Feeling very tired, weak, or generally unwell
- •Feeling cold
- •Swelling of hands, ankles, or feet
- •Agitation or feeling disoriented
- •Strong feeling of well-being (euphoria)
- •Reduced sensitivity to touch, especially on the skin
- •Memory loss
- •Blurred vision
- •Slow heartbeat or low blood pressure
- •Bluish skin due to low oxygen levels in the blood
- •Lack of bowel movements (ileus)
- •Itchy rash (eczema) or other skin problem at the patch site
- •Flu-like illness
- •Body temperature fluctuations
- •Fever
- •Muscle twitching
- •Difficulty getting and maintaining an erection, and problems with sexual intercourse
- •Difficulty swallowing
- •Pupil constriction
- •Temporary pauses in breathing (apnea)
Important Warnings
- Matrifen patches can be very dangerous, even deadly, for people who are not already taking strong opioid pain medicine regularly.
- Matrifen patches, even used ones, can be deadly for children. Keep all patches away from children, as they can be attracted to them, and if a child puts a patch on their skin or in their mouth, it can be fatal.
- Only use this patch on the skin of the person it was prescribed for. If it accidentally sticks to another person (especially a child), remove it immediately and contact a doctor. This can cause serious breathing problems or even death.
- Do not use Matrifen patches if you have severe breathing problems, like slow or shallow breathing.
- If you have any questions, always ask your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.
Show 7 more warnings
- Matrifen can cause constipation, so ask your doctor or pharmacist how to prevent or treat it.
- Do not expose the patch to direct heat, like heating pads, hot water bottles, or sunbathing. Avoid hot baths, saunas, or hot tubs, as this can increase the amount of medicine absorbed.
- Do not drink alcohol while using Matrifen without first talking to your doctor, as alcohol can make drowsiness and breathing problems worse.
- If you are pregnant, planning to get pregnant, or breastfeeding, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before using this medicine.
- Matrifen can make you sleepy or dizzy. Do not drive or use machines until you know how this medicine affects you.
- Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have lung, heart, liver, or kidney problems, low blood pressure, a brain tumor, long-lasting headaches, a head injury, or myasthenia gravis, or if you are elderly, as you may need closer monitoring.
- Tell your doctor if you experience breathing problems during sleep, such as pauses in breathing, waking up due to shortness of breath, trouble staying asleep, or strong daytime tiredness. Matrifen can cause these issues, and your doctor may need to adjust your dose.
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)