Actiq lozenges (fentanyl)

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

- Nausea and vomiting
- Constipation
- Drowsiness
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Indigestion
- Taste disturbance
- Dry mouth
- Mouth ulcers
- Gum irritation or bleeding
- Headache
- Low blood pressure (hypotension)
- Slow, shallow breathing (respiratory depression)
- Slow heart rate (bradycardia)
- Confusion
- Difficulty in passing urine (urinary retention)
- Blurred vision
- Sweating
- Itching
- False perceptions of things that are not really there (hallucinations)
- Feeling of well-being, optimism and cheerfulness (euphoria)

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while using this one, to ensure that the combination is safe.

The manufacturer states that this medicine should not be used at the same time as, or within two weeks of taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as the antidepressants phenelzine or tranylcypromine.

There may be an increased risk of side effects such as drowsiness, sedation, low blood pressure and slow, shallow breathing, if this medicine is used with other medicines that have a sedative effect on the central nervous system. These include the following:

- antipsychotics, eg haloperidol
- barbiturates, eg phenobarbital, amobarbital
- benzodiazepines, eg diazepam, temazepam
- general anaesthetics
- muscle relaxants
- other opioid painkillers, eg morphine, codeine
- sedating antihistamines, eg chlorphenamine, hydroxyzine
- sleeping tablets, eg zopiclone
- tricyclic antidepressants, eg amitriptyline

The anti-HIV medicine ritonavir may increase the blood level of fentanyl if it is taken at the same time. This can increase the risk of fentanyl side effects, and for this reason this combination is not recommended unless the patient is closely monitored.

Other medicines containing the same active ingredient

Durogesic Dtrans

Tilofyl patches

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