Learn more about usage, cautions, and possible side effects of Actiq.
Chemical Name: FENTANYL (FEN-ta-nil)
Actiq 200mcg is a narcotic (opioid) analgesic used only for the management of breakthrough cancer pain in patients who are already using and are tolerant to around-the-clock narcotic pain medicines. Actiq 200mcg should not be used for short term pain including (including headache or migraine) or for pain caused by injury or surgery.
WARNING: Actiq 200mcg should be used only to treat breakthrough pain caused by cancer in people already using narcotic pain medicine. Severe, even life-threatening, breathing problems can occur in patients using fentanyl if they are not already using other narcotics. Do not use Actiq 200mcg for pain that is short-term nor for pain that occurs after surgery. Actiq 200mcg can be fatal if used by a child. Keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children. Properly dispose of all opened units. Some medicines or medical conditions may interact with Actiq 200mcg. DO NOT SWITCH BRANDS of Actiq 200mcg without first talking with your doctor. Different brands may release different amounts of Actiq 200mcg into your body. This may cause severe and possibly fatal overdose. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Some medicines or medical conditions may interact with Actiq 200mcg. INFORM YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking. DO NOT TAKE ACTIQ 200mcg if you drink alcoholic beverages, you are taking sodium oxybate (GHB) or other sedatives which cause drowsiness and decrease breathing rate. DO NOT TAKE ACTIQ 200mcg if you are also taking or have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) (eg, phenelzine) within the past 14 days. ADDITIONAL MONITORING OF YOUR DOSE OR CONDITION may be needed if you are taking amiodarone, azole antifungals (eg, fluconazole), barbiturate anesthetics (eg, thiopental), benzodiazepines (eg, alprazolam), cimetidine, HIV protease inhibitors (eg, ritonavir), macrolides (eg, erythromycin), naltrexone, or sibutramine. Inform your doctor of any other medical conditions, including diabetes, asthma or other breathing problems, fever, increased pressure or a lesion on the brain, heart problems, liver or kidney disease, pancreatitis, thoughts of hurting or killing yourself (suicidal thoughts), recent surgery or head trauma, allergies, pregnancy, or breast-feeding. Tell your doctor if have or have ever had alcoholism, substance abuse, or narcotic dependence, if you consume more than 3 alcohol-containing drinks per day, or if you weigh less than 110 pounds (50 kilograms). USE OF ACTIQ 200mcg IS NOT RECOMMENDED if you have not already been taking other prescription narcotic pain medicines (eg, morphine, codeine) on a regular schedule or if you have mild or short-term pain, including pain from injuries and surgery. Use of Actiq 200mcg in children under age 16 is not recommended. Discuss with your doctor the risks and benefits of giving Actiq 200mcg to your child. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about taking Actiq 200mcg.
Follow the directions for using Actiq 200mcg provided by your doctor. Actiq 200mcg comes with a MEDICATION GUIDE approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Read it carefully each time you refill Actiq 200mcg. Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist any questions that you may have about Actiq 200mcg. ACTIQ 200mcg COMES WITH A SAFE STORAGE CONTAINER. Ask your doctor any questions that you may have about using the container. Use scissors to open the package immediately before use. Using the attached handle, place the unit in the mouth between cheek and lower gum, occasionally moving it from one side of the mouth to the other. Allow the unit to dissolve over 15 minutes by sucking on the unit. Do not swallow, crush, or chew the unit. Excess saliva should be swallowed. Do not eat, drink, or smoke while the unit is dissolving. IF EXCESS DROWSINESS, SLOWED BREATHING, OR DIZZINESS occur before dose is used, use handle to remove the unit from mouth and dispose of immediately. Do not save or reuse partially used doses. STORE ACTIQ 200mcg at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) in the original package, away from heat, moisture, and light.
DO NOT TAKE ACTIQ 200mcg if you have had an allergic reaction to it or if you are allergic to any ingredient in this product or any related medicines (eg, sufentanil). If using Actiq 200mcg for an extended period of time, DO NOT SUDDENLY STOP taking Actiq 200mcg without your doctors approval. When used for an extended period of time, Actiq 200mcg may not work as well and may require different dosing. Talk with your doctor if Actiq 200mcg stops working well. DO NOT EXCEED THE RECOMMENDED DOSE or take Actiq 200mcg for longer than prescribed. Exceeding the recommended dose or taking Actiq 200mcg for longer than prescribed may be habit-forming. If you suddenly stop taking Actiq 200mcg, you may experience WITHDRAWAL symptoms including anxiety; diarrhea; fever, runny nose, or sneezing; goose bumps and abnormal skin sensations; nausea; vomiting; pain; rigid muscles; rapid heartbeat; hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not really there); shivering or tremors; sweating; and trouble sleeping. Stop using Actiq 200mcg gradually as instructed by your health care provider. Contact your doctor if your usual dose stops providing pain relief. Be sure to tell your doctor or health care provider about your pain and if Actiq 200mcg is working so that your dose can be adjusted if needed. AVOID ALCOHOL while you are using Actiq 200mcg. Actiq 200mcg will add to the effects of alcohol and other depressants. Actiq 200mcg may cause drowsiness or dizziness. DO NOT DRIVE, OPERATE MACHINERY, OR DO ANYTHING ELSE THAT COULD BE DANGEROUS until you know how you react to Actiq 200mcg. Using Actiq 200mcg alone, with other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks. Actiq 200mcg contains sugar and may increase your risk of developing cavities. Maintain good oral hygiene (e.g., brushing and flossing). ACTIQ 200mcg CAN BE FATAL TO A CHILD. Keep both the used and unused medicine out of the reach of children. Throw away Actiq 200mcg properly according to the instructions given to you by your health care provider. If a child accidentally takes Actiq 200mcg, remove the medicine from their mouth, keep them awake by calling their name and shaking their arm, and call the emergency room or poison control center immediately. BEFORE YOU BEGIN TAKING ANY NEW MEDICINE, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. This includes antihistamines. Caution should be used in the elderly since they may be more sensitive to the effects of this drug. FOR WOMEN: IF YOU PLAN ON BECOMING PREGNANT, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Actiq 200mcg during pregnancy. ACTIQ 200mcg IS EXCRETED IN BREAST MILK. DO NOT BREAST-FEED while taking Actiq 200mcg. DIABETES PATIENTS - Actiq 200mcg contains about 2 grams of sugar per unit.
SIDE EFFECTS that may occur while taking Actiq 200mcg include drowsiness, dry mouth, constipation, nausea, or dizziness. If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE if you experience excessive drowsiness, slowed breathing, or dizziness. CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY if you experience weakness, fatigue, fainting, seizures, unusually slow heartbeat, or trouble breathing. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your healthcare provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Drug interactions can result in unwanted side effects or prevent a medicine from doing its job. Use our drug interaction checker to find out if your medicines interact with each other. Check drug interactions for Actiq
If overdose is suspected contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include severe drowsiness or dizziness, very slow or weak heartbeat, pinpoint pupils, slow or shallow breathing, muscle rigidity, and loss of consciousness.
IF ANY DRUG REMAINS ON HANDLE, dispose of Actiq 200mcg by placing under hot running water until all of the drug matrix is dissolved. Dispose of the handle out of the reach of children and pets. If you are unable to immediately dissolve unfinished medicine under hot water, store the unit in the child-resistant container provided until it can be properly discarded. Dispose of any unopened units that are no longer needed as directed in the patient information leaflet. DO NOT SHARE ACTIQ 200mcg with others for whom it was not prescribed. DO NOT USE ACTIQ 200mcg for other health conditions. KEEP ACTIQ 200mcg OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN. The amount of medicine in each unit can be harmful or fatal to a child. IF USING ACTIQ 200mcg FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, obtain refills before your supply runs out.
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