Advice
Following an abbreviated submission
fentanyl sublingual tablets (Abstral) are accepted for restricted use in NHS Scotland for the management of breakthrough pain in adult patients using opioid therapy for chronic cancer pain.
Use of sublingual fentanyl tablets should be restricted to patients who are unsuitable for other short-acting opioids e.g. oral morphine. This product offers an alternative to buccal administration at a reduced cost per administration.
Prescribers should be aware of the differing absorption and elimination characteristics of available oral fentanyl preparations; doses are not interchangeable.
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Medicine details
- Medicine name:
- fentanyl sublingual (Abstral)
- SMC ID:
- 534/09
- Indication:
- Management of breakthrough pain in adult patients using opioid therapy for chronic cancer pain
- Pharmaceutical company
- ProStrakan
- BNF chapter
- Central nervous system
- Submission type
- Abbreviated
- Status
- Restricted
- Date advice published
- 09 February 2009