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Safety Alert: Fentanyl

Fentora (fentanyl buccal tablet) and the occurrence of serious adverse events

What does this mean?

Cephalon issued two Dear Healthcare Professional Letters to inform prescribers and other healthcare providers of important safety information regarding Fentora. Fentora is indicated only for the management of breakthrough pain in patients with cancer who are already receiving and who are tolerant to opioid therapy for their underlying persistent cancer pain. Serious adverse events, including deaths, have occurred in patients treated with Fentora. These deaths occurred as a result of improper patient selection (e.g., use in opioid non-tolerant patients), improper dosing, and/or improper product substitution. The healthcare professional letters provide key points regarding appropriate patient selection and proper dosing and administration of Fentora to reduce the risk of respiratory depression.

Read the complete MedWatch 2007 Safety Summary including a link to the Dear Doctor and Dear Healthcare Professional Letters and Prescribing information, at:

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm113690.htm

Cephalon issued two Dear Healthcare Professional Letters to inform prescribers and other healthcare providers of important safety information regarding Fentora. Fentora is indicated only for the management of breakthrough pain in patients with cancer who are already receiving and who are tolerant to opioid therapy for their underlying persistent cancer pain. Serious adverse events, including deaths, have occurred in patients treated with Fentora. These deaths occurred as a result of improper patient selection (e.g., use in opioid non-tolerant patients), improper dosing, and/or improper product substitution. The healthcare professional letters provide key points regarding appropriate patient selection and proper dosing and administration of Fentora to reduce the risk of respiratory depression.

Read the complete MedWatch 2007 Safety Summary including a link to the Dear Doctor and Dear Healthcare Professional Letters and Prescribing information, at:

more information here

Source: FDA
Publication Date: 2007-09-13
Last Updated: 2009-12-06

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Fentanyl medication page