Fentora

fentanyl

In September 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Fentora, a prescription drug containing fentanyl and used to treat severe, brief pain flare-ups (called breakthrough pain) in cancer patients already taking opioids for persistent cancer pain.

Fentora comes in tablets that are placed in the mouth, between the upper cheek and gum, above a rear molar tooth. Saliva dissolves the tablets and passes them into the body, allowing the medicine to enter the bloodstream faster.

The most common side effects seen in patients taking Fentora are:

• nausea
• vomiting
• abnormalities at the application site
• fatigue
• anemia
• dizziness
• constipation
• swelling
• weakness
• dehydration
• headache.

Over the week of September 17, 2007, Cephalon Inc., creator of cancer drug Fentora, sent warning letters to doctors regarding several deaths linked to the drug.

On September 26, 2007, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned health-care professionals and potential users about risks involving Cephalon Inc.’s cancer drug Fentora (fentanyl buccal) after reports of deaths and dangerous side effects.