An Introduction to Fentanyl Side Effects
Just like any medicine,
fentanyl (
Abstral®,
Actiq®,
Duragesic®,
Fentora®,
Onsolis™) can cause side effects. However, not everyone who uses the medication will have problems. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or are treated easily by you or your healthcare provider.
(This article covers many, but not all, of the possible side effects with fentanyl. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list with you.)
Common Side Effects of Fentanyl
Fentanyl products have been studied thoroughly in clinical trials. In these studies, the side effects that occurred in people using the drug were carefully recorded. In some of the trials, people were given long-acting opioid medication in addition to fentanyl. Therefore, it is difficult to know which side effects were due to fentanyl and which were due to the other medication. The most commonly reported adverse reactions are those that are expected with any opioid treatment.
In clinical studies, the most common fentanyl side effects included:
- Nausea -- in up to 29 percent of people
- Vomiting -- up to 21 percent
- Dizziness -- up to 19 percent
- Drowsiness -- up to 17 percent
- Tiredness (fatigue) -- up to 16 percent
- Weakness -- up to 13 percent
- Dehydration -- up to 13 percent
- Shortness of breath -- up to 12 percent
- Constipation -- up to 12 percent
- Swelling of the legs, ankles, or feet (edema) -- up to 12 percent
- An exaggerated sense of well-being (euphoria) -- up to 10 percent
- Headaches -- up to 10 percent
Other common reactions, occurring in 1 to 9 percent of people, included:
- Diarrhea
- Decreased appetite
- Confusion
- Weight loss
- Dry mouth
- Cough
- Insomnia or problems sleeping
- Pain, including joint and back pain
- Abdominal (stomach) pain
- Low blood pressure (hypotension)
- Abnormal gait (abnormal manner of walking)
- Flushing (sudden reddening of the face, neck, or upper chest)
- Accidental injury
- Itching
- Rash
- Sweating
- Changes in vision
- A spinning sensation (vertigo).
In addition, some people who are using the fentanyl patches may experience pain or redness at the application site; people using the products that dissolve in the mouth may experience redness, swelling, or inflammation in the mouth.
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