European agency recommends approval for Abstral (fentanyl) for cancer pain
June 29, 2008 by Marijke Durning, RN
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Breakthrough cancer pain can be very tough to treat. This is the pain that is felt when the regular pain medications don’t hold you as well as they should for as long as they should. So, if you are feeling pain, you can have a separate medication, or more of the original, on top of what you’re receiving.
A medication called Abstral* (fentanyl) is a tablet that dissolves quickly under the tongue (called sublingual). The advantages of sublingual medications is that patients who can’t eat or drink can still have their medications and the reaction is usually pretty quick.
Cancer pain can keep patients from enjoying their last days and can be extremely discouraging, sometimes causing faster deterioration. Anything that can help relieve the pain is welcome.
*Abstral was originally known as Rapinyl
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