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Postoperative Pain, Fentanyl

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Encyclopedia of Pain

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Synonyms

Actiq® oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate; Chemical name: N-Phenyl-N-(1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinyl-procainamide; Durogesic® – transdermal patch; Fentanyl; Sublimaze®

Definition

Fentanyl is a potent and rapid-onset synthetic opioid that is a phenylpiperidine derivative.

Characteristics

Fentanyl is a derivative of 4-anilinoperidine and is structurally related to pethidine. It is commercially formulated as a citrate, a white crystalline solid that is readily soluble in acidic aqueous solutions. It has a pKa of 8.4, and each ml of aqueous solution contains 0.05 mg fentanyl base (0.0785 mg of the citrate). It is a highly lipophilic drug and produces analgesia, respiratory depression, vagal effects, emesis, constipation, and physical dependence.

Pharmacology

Fentanyl is an opioid analgesic that binds predominantly to mu (μ) receptors. Its primary therapeutic actions are analgesia and sedation. Mood alterations, euphoria, and dysphoria are common. Fentanyl also depresses the...

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Anaesthesia, Central Clinical School, The University of Sydney, D06 – Blackburn Building, NSW 2006, Sydney, Australia

    Peter C. A. Kam

Authors
  1. Peter C. A. Kam
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter C. A. Kam .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Gerald F. Gebhart

  2. Physiologisches Institut der, Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

    Robert F. Schmidt

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© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Kam, P.C.A. (2013). Postoperative Pain, Fentanyl. In: Gebhart, G.F., Schmidt, R.F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Pain. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-28753-4_3435

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