Date:
23 April 2024
Page URL:
https://ntk.eastamb.nhs.uk/news/Fentanyl-patches-awareness-for-clinicians.htm?pr=
Fentanyl is a pain relief, usually used to help prevent pain after surgery or other medical procedure.
It comes in patch form, and is a potent opioid analgesic – a 25 microgram per hour fentanyl patch equates to daily doses of oral morphine of up to 90mg. As a consequence, fentanyl patches are only used in patients who have previously tolerated opioids.
Although we don’t use fentanyl patches here in the Trust, we have received a patient safety notice for your awareness, should you attend a patient that uses them.
Overdoses
Regulatory authorities have received reports of life-threatening reactions and fatalities from fentanyl overdose occurring as a result of:
Signs and symptoms of a fentanyl overdose include: trouble breathing, shallow breathing; tiredness or extreme sleepiness or sedation; inability to think, walk or talk normally; feeling faint, dizzy or confused.
Patients who experience serious adverse events should have the patches removed immediately and should be monitored for up to 24-hours after patch removal.
Published 8th January, 2016