Staying SECURE with FENTORA
The medication guide contains important product information. Read the Medication Guide that comes with FENTORA before you start using it and each time you get a new prescription because it may include updated product information. Share this important information with members of your household.
As part of the SECURE program to promote the safe and appropriate use of FENTORA, your doctor, your pharmacist and the makers of FENTORA all want you to understand the following important information:
- Know what it means to be "opioid tolerant"
FENTORA contains fentanyl, which is one of the strong pain medicines called opioids. If you are taking FENTORA, you must already have been taking another opioid pain medicine around the clock for your constant cancer pain for a week or longer. This means your body is used to these medicines (your body is "opioid tolerant"), and you may be at less risk for serious breathing problems.
What you can do to help
- Never stop taking your around-the-clock opioid pain medicine while you are taking FENTORA without first talking to your doctor
- Never use FENTORA for the treatment of short-term pain from injuries, surgery or headaches/migraines
- Protect against misuse, abuse and diversion of FENTORA
FENTORA contains fentanyl, a strong, federally controlled medicine that can be abused or diverted (stolen) by people who abuse prescription medicines or street drugs.
What you can do to help
- Keep FENTORA in a safe place both in and outside the home to protect it from being stolen since it can be a target for people who abuse medicines
- Never give FENTORA to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms you have
- Selling or giving away FENTORA is against the law
- Tell your doctor about all your medical and mental health issues, especially any past or present drug or alcohol abuse or addiction problem, or a family history of this problem
- Protect against accidental use of FENTORA
FENTORA contains a medicine in an amount that can be fatal to a child and can cause life-threatening breathing problems in anyone who takes it accidentally.
What you can do to help
- Keep FENTORA in a safe and secure place away from children and anyone to whom it has not been prescribed. If a child accidentally takes FENTORA, call 9-1-1 or call emergency help right away
- Keep tablets in their blister packages until you are ready to take FENTORA. Do not store FENTORA in pillboxes. Once a blister is opened, the tablet must be taken immediately
- To dispose of unused FENTORA, remove tablets from blister packs and flush down the toilet, or contact Cephalon Medical Services at 1-800-896-5855 for assistance
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.