Fentanyl

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Also indexed as:

Duragesic

Fentanyl is used in surgery as a general anesthetic and is available in a patch form to treat severe, chronic pain. It is in a class of drugs known as opioid analgesics.

Herbs

Summary of Interactions for Fentanyl

Depletion or interference	None known
Adverse interaction	Alcohol
Side effect reduction/prevention	None known
Supportive interaction	Magnesium
Reduced drug absorption/bioavailability	Alcohol (chronic)

An asterisk (*) next to an item in the summary indicates that the interaction is supported only by weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific evidence.

Interactions with Supplements

Magnesium

One double-blind study showed that giving magnesium intravenously before surgery dramatically reduced the amount of fentanyl needed to control pain during and after an operation.¹ Further research is needed to determine whether people using fentanyl patches might benefit from supplementing with oral magnesium.

Other Interactions

Alcohol

Drinking alcoholic beverages while using fentanyl patches increases the likelihood of side effect, such as drowsiness, dizziness, and poor coordination.² Therefore, people using fentanyl patches should avoid drinking alcohol, especially when they must stay alert. People who chronically consume alcohol require larger amounts of fentanyl to achieve adequate levels of anesthesia.³ Further research is needed to determine whether chronic alcohol consumption increases the amount of fentanyl needed to relieve pain.

References

1. Koinig H, Wallner T, Marhofer P, et al. Magnesium sulfate reduces intra- and postoperative analgesic requirements. Anesth Analg 1998;87:206-10.
2. Sifton DW, et. Physicians' Desk Reference. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 2000, 1445-8.
3. Tammisto T, Tigerstedt I. The need for fentanyl supplementation of N2O-O2 relaxant anesthesia in chronic alcoholics. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 1997;21:216-21.

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Last Review: 09-01-2007

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The information presented in Healthnotes is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires December 2008.

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