Patients with severe side effects should be carefully monitored for at least 24 hours (depending on the symptoms) after removal of the TTC Durogesic Matrix, as the fentanyl concentration in the plasma decreases gradually and its 50% reduction is achieved within approximately 17 (13 -22) hours. Durogesic® Matrix should be stored out of the reach of children, both before and after use.
TTC Durogezik® Matrix can not be cut.
Application in patients who have not previously taken opioids and in patients who do not have tolerance for opioids. When TTC Durogesic® Matrix was used, patients who had not previously taken opioids very rarely experienced significant respiratory depression and / or death when used as an initial opioid therapy. The possibility of developing a serious or life-threatening hypoventilation of the lung exists even if a minimum dose of TTC Durogesic® Matrix is used as an initial opioid therapy in patients who have not previously taken opioids. It is recommended to prescribe Durogesic® Matrix to patients demonstrating opioid tolerance.
Inhibition of respiration
As with the use of other potent opioid analgesics, with the use of Durogesic® Matrix, some patients may experience significant respiratory depression. Patients should be carefully screened to identify such effects. The respiratory depression can continue even after removal of the TTC Durogezik Matrix. The degree of respiratory depression increases with an increase in the dose of Durogesic® Matrix. Drugs that affect the central nervous system can increase respiratory depression.
Chronic lung diseases
Durogezik® Matrix can cause a number of severe side effects in patients with chronic obstructive and other lung diseases. In such patients, opioids can reduce the excitability of the respiratory center and increase respiratory resistance.
Increased intracranial pressures
Durogezik® Matrix should be used with caution in patients who may be particularly sensitive to increase of CO2. These patients are those who have had an increase intracranial pressure, impaired consciousness or coma.Durogezik® Matrix should be used with caution in patients with a brain tumor.
Cardiovascular diseases
Fentanyl can cause bradycardia and, thus, it should be used with caution in patients with bradyarrhythmias. Durogezik® Matrix should be used with caution in patients with arterial hypotension.
Liver failure
As fentanyl metabolized to inactive metabolites in the liver, a violation of the liver can lead to a delay in removing the drug. Patients with hepatic insufficiency taking Durogesic® Matrix should be under constant observation to detect symptoms of possible fentanyl toxicity, and if necessary, the dose of Durogesic® Matrix should be reduced.
Opioid analgesics can increase the tone of the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract and bile ducts. Durogezik® Matrix should be used with caution in patients with a history of hepatic colic.
Renal insufficiency
Less than 10% of fentanyl is excreted by the kidneys in an unchanged form, fentanyl has no known active metabolites that would be excreted by the kidneys.Patients with renal disease insufficiency, taking Durogezik® Matrix should be under constant observation to identify symptoms of possible fentanyl toxicity and, if necessary, the dose of Durogesic® Matrix should be reduced.
Serotonin syndrome
Care should be taken when using the drug Durogesic® Matrix together with drugs that affect the serotonergic neurotransmitter system. Joint application with serotonergic drugs, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), as well as with drugs that reduce serotonin metabolism (including inhibitors monoamine oxidase) can lead to the development of a potentially life-threatening serotonin syndrome. This syndrome can occur when taking the recommended doses.
Serotonin syndrome may include mental disorders (agitation, hallucinations, coma), autonomic disorders (tachycardia, fluctuations in blood pressure, hyperthermia), neuromuscular disorders (hyperreflexia, impaired coordination, rigidity) and / or gastrointestinal system disorders (nausea, vomiting , diarrhea).
If you suspect a development of serotonin syndrome, therapy with Durogesic® Matrix should be discontinued.
Interaction with inhibitors of isochrome CYP3A4
With joint with cytochrome inhibitors CYP3A4 (eg, ritonavir, ketoconazole, itraconazole, troleandomycin, clarithromycin, nelfinavir, nefadozone, verapamil, diltiazem and amiodarone) it is possible to increase the concentration of fentanyl in plasma. The consequence of this is an increase or lengthening of both the therapeutic effect and the development of possible side effects (respiratory depression). In these cases, the patient must be under constant medical supervision. Therefore, the combined use of transdermal forms of fentanyl with cytochrome inhibitors CYP3A4 is not recommended, except when patients are under medical supervision. In case of symptoms of depressed breathing, the dose of the drug should be reduced.
Accidental impact of TTC
The accidental exposure of Durogesic® Matrix to the skin (especially in children) with close physical contact with a patient using TTS can lead to opioid overdose. Patients should be warned that if the skin of a person who does not take the drug is accidentally exposed to the skin, the TTS should be immediately removed. For overdose symptoms, see Overdose.
Application in elderly patients
Data obtained from studies of intravenous administration of fentanyl suggest that elderly patients may experience reduced clearance and longer half-life of the drug, and in addition, such patients may be more sensitive to fentanyl than younger patients. Elderly patients taking Durogezik® Matrix should be under constant observation to identify symptoms of a possible fentanyl overdose and, if necessary, a dose of Durogesic® Matrix should be reduced.
Effect on the digestive tract
Opiates increase tone and reduce propulsive reduction of smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract. As a result, the time of gastrointestinal transit increases, which can be the cause of constipation. Patients should be are informed about measures of prevention of constipation and preventive use of laxatives.
Additional measures precautions should be applied to patients suffering from chronic constipation. If paralytic intestinal infection is present or suspected obstruction, treatment with Durogesic® Matrix should be discontinued.
Use in depleted and debilitated patients
Since the depleted and weakened patients may decrease their clearance and the half-life of the drug may be prolonged, exhausted and weakened patients should be under constant medical supervision to identify symptoms of a possible overdose, in which case the dose of Durogesic® Matrix should be reduced.
Drug dependence and the possibility of abuse
With the re-introduction of opioids, tolerance can develop, as well as physical and mental addiction. Iatrogenic dependence when using opioids is rarely observed.
As with the use of other opioid receptor agonists, there may be cases of abuse of fentanyl. Abuse or Intentional Use drug Durogezik® Matrix for other purposes may lead to overdose and / or death. Patients at an increased risk of abuse of opioids,may continue to receive adequate therapy with modified-release opioids, but should be monitored to identify possible signs of misuse, abuse, or dependence.
Fever / external heat sources
Pharmacokinetic model suggests that serum fentanyl concentrations can increase by about one-third if body temperature rises to 40 ° C. Consequently, patients with fever should be under constant observation to identify opioid-specific side effects and, if necessary, subsequent dose adjustment. An increase in the release of fentanyl from the TTS was observed with an increase in temperature, which could lead to an overdose and death of the patient. The study on healthy volunteers showed that when the Durogezik® Matrix was pasted on the TTS, an increase in the mean values was observed AUC by 120% and CmOh on 61%. All patients should avoid direct exposure to external heat sources such as heating lamps, sun lamps, intensive sun baths, hot water bottles, saunas, solarium, hot water baths, etc.,to the place of application of TTC Durogezik® Matrix.
Termination of Durogesic® Matrix
If it is necessary to terminate Durogezik® Matrix, the replacement of this drug with other opioids should be gradual, starting with low doses. This mode of drug substitution is necessary due to a gradual decrease in the concentration of fentanyl after removal of TTC Durogezik® Matrix, while a decrease in fentanyl concentration by 50% in serum takes 17 hours. The abolition of opioid analgesia should always be gradual in order to prevent the development of a "withdrawal syndrome".
Removal of TTS
The used TTS should be folded in half an adhesive side inside and returned to the doctor for destruction in the prescribed manner. Unused TTS should also be returned to the doctor for destruction.
Before use, the drug should be stored in a sealed package.