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A pitfall to avoid when starting a patient on transdermal fentanyl
1Department of Palliative Care, Prince of Wales Hospital, New South Wales. jamesalvinlow@hotmail.com
Australian Family Physician
|January 5, 2001
Abstract
Background:
A woman with advanced carcinoma of the ovary developed fentanyl toxicity while being changed from oral morphine to transdermal fentanyl.
Objective:
To explain the reason for the toxicity and ways to avoid it.
Discussion:
The transdermal fentanyl patch is proving to be a safe, well tolerated and effective treatment modality in the control of cancer pain, but care has to be exercised when using this drug, especially at the time of initiation, as the consequences may be disastrous for the patient.