Fentanyl
Fentanyl
Fentanyl (pronounced: /ˈfɛntənɪl/) is a powerful synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent. It is a prescription drug that is also made and used illegally.
Etymology
The term "Fentanyl" is derived from the names of its creators, Dr. Paul Janssen and his team at the Belgian pharmaceutical company Janssen Pharmaceutica in 1960. The name is a combination of the chemical names "N-(1-phenethyl-4-piperidyl) propionanilide" and "fentanyl".
Medical Uses
Fentanyl is used medically to treat patients with severe pain, especially after surgery. It is also sometimes used to treat patients with chronic pain who are physically tolerant to other opioids. In its prescription form, fentanyl is known by such names as Actiq®, Duragesic®, and Sublimaze®.
Side Effects
Side effects of fentanyl can include drowsiness, nausea, confusion, constipation, sedation, tolerance, addiction, respiratory depression and arrest, unconsciousness, coma, and death.
Related Terms
- Opioid: A class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription.
- Morphine: A pain medication of the opiate family which is found naturally in a number of plants and animals.
- Janssen Pharmaceutica: A pharmaceutical company headquartered in Beerse, Belgium and owned by Johnson & Johnson.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Fentanyl
- Wikipedia's article - Fentanyl
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