If you have cancer and have breakthrough pain while using a regularly scheduled, long-acting narcotic medication, you may benefit from Actiq
® (
fentanyl lozenge). But what is Actiq?
Actiq is a strong opioid narcotic medicine used to control breakthrough pain (pain that "breaks through" the use of around-the-clock pain medication). It comes as a lozenge, with a handle (sometimes called a lollipop), to be placed in the mouth between the cheek and gums. It can be used every four hours as needed for pain, but you should not use more than four Actiq lozenges each day.
Actiq is also is a Schedule II "
controlled substance," which means it has a very high potential for abuse. It works to relieve pain by binding to certain opioid receptors throughout the body. Although this helps provide pain relief, this medication also causes several other effects in the body, including:
- Drowsiness
- Slowed or shallow breathing
- Physical dependence.
(Click Actiq for more details on what Actiq is and how it works. This full-length article also discusses potential side effects, general dosing guidelines, possible overdose symptoms, and more.)
HealthSavvy Sign In
|