An Overview of Abusing Abstral
Abstral® (
fentanyl sublingual tablets) is a prescription medication used in the management of breakthrough cancer pain. Breakthrough pain occurs suddenly despite regularly scheduled treatment with pain medication.
Abstral contains
fentanyl, a strong opioid narcotic. Like all narcotics, it has a high potential for abuse. Because of its abuse potential, Abstral is considered a Schedule II federally
controlled substance, like
morphine,
oxycodone, hydromorphone, oxymorphone, and
methadone. Schedule II substances have the highest potential for abuse of all prescription medications.
Addiction Versus Dependence
Like all narcotics, Abstral can lead to physical dependence.
Physical dependence occurs when the body becomes used to a drug and needs it to function normally. If you suddenly stop taking this medication, it will cause withdrawal symptoms. This is an expected physical response to taking a narcotic for long periods.
In addition, the body may become tolerant to the effects of a drug. In the case of Abstral, this means that higher doses may be needed over time to achieve the same pain-relieving effects. In many cases, people who have been on narcotics for long periods can take doses so large they would cause an overdose in people who do not take narcotics.
It is important to keep in mind that physical dependence and tolerance are not necessarily the same as addiction and abuse. Addiction is a serious and complex disease associated with drug abuse, craving, and uncontrolled drug use.
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