How FENTORA Works to Treat Breakthrough Pain
FENTORA should be placed above a rear molar tooth between the upper cheek and gum. You may feel a gentle bubbling sensation between your cheek and gum as the tablet dissolves. FENTORA should not be chewed or swallowed.
About half of the fentanyl in FENTORA is absorbed through the lining of your mouth and into your bloodstream. The other portion gets swallowed and absorbed more slowly through your stomach and intestines, like the medicine in a pill.
As soon as the fentanyl enters the bloodstream, it is carried throughout your body. It travels to your central nervous system — the brain and spinal cord — where it works to relieve your pain. Some patients may start to feel relief as early as 15 minutes.
If a flare or episode of breakthrough pain is not relieved within 30 minutes, your doctor may instruct you to take an additional dose. See the special instructions for taking an additional dose in the Medication Guide or by clicking here.
How to Take FENTORA Video
Learn about proper administration of FENTORA with this helpful video
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IMPORTANT:
- DO NOT USE FENTORA unless you are regularly using other opioid pain medicines around-the-clock for your constant cancer pain and your body is used to these medicines.
- Keep FENTORA in a safe place away from children. Accidental use by a child is a medical emergency and can result in death. If a child accidentally takes FENTORA, get emergency help right away.
Read the Medication Guide that comes with FENTORA before you start taking it and each time you get a new prescription. There may be new information. This Medication Guide does not take the place of talking to your doctor about your medical condition or your treatment. Share this important information with members of your household.
The most important information you should know about FENTORA is:
- FENTORA can cause life-threatening breathing problems which can lead to death:
- If you are not regularly using other opioid pain medicines around-the-clock for your constant cancer pain and your body is not used to these medicines. This means that you are not opioid tolerant
- If you do not use it exactly as prescribed by your doctor
- Your doctor will prescribe a starting dose of FENTORA that is different than other fentanyl containing medicines you may have been taking. Do not substitute FENTORA for other fentanyl medicines, including Actiq®, without talking with your doctor.