Your doctor has ordered alfentanil, a strong analgesic (painkiller), to relieve your pain. The drug will be added to an intravenous fluid that will drip through a needle or catheter placed in your vein.
You probably will receive alfentanil continuously for around-the-clock pain relief. Your doctor also may order other pain medications to make you feel more comfortable. This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Your health care provider (doctor, nurse, or pharmacist) may measure the effectiveness and side effects of your treatment using laboratory tests and physical examinations. It is important to keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. The length of treatment depends on how you respond to the medication.
- Alfenta®
Before administering alfentanil,
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to alfentanil, morphine, codeine (or medications that contain codeine such as Tylenol with Codeine), hydrocodone (e.g., Vicodin), hydromorphone (e.g., Dilaudid), oxycodone (e.g., Percocet), oxymorphone (Numorphan), or any other drugs.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially antidepressants, sedatives, sleeping pills, tranquilizers, and vitamins.
- tell your doctor if you have or have ever had kidney, liver, heart, or thyroid disease; seizures; asthma; bronchitis; or any other respiratory disease.
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking alfentanil, call your doctor.
- you should know that this drug may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this drug affects you.
- remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this drug.
Alfentanil may cause side effects. Tell your health care provider if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- upset stomach
- vomiting
- drowsiness
- unsteadiness and confusion
- constipation
- decreased appetite
- dry mouth
- difficultly urinating
- sweating
If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your health care provider immediately:
- unsteadiness
- difficulty breathing
- hallucinations
- difficulty being roused
- seizures
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
- Your health care provider probably will give you a several-day supply of alfentanil at a time. If you are receiving alfentanil intravenously (in your vein), you probably will be told to store it in the refrigerator.
- Take your next dose from the refrigerator 1 hour before using it; place it in a clean, dry area to allow it to warm to room temperature.
Store your medication only as directed. Make sure you understand what you need to store your medication properly.
Keep your supplies in a clean, dry place when you are not using them, and keep all medications and supplies out of reach of children. Your health care provider will tell you how to throw away used needles, syringes, tubing, and containers to avoid accidental injury.
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