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Transdermal fentanyl patch
Transdermal fentanyl delivers the opioid fentanyl through the skin at a controlled rate to bind mu-opioid receptors in the central nervous system and reduce pain perception.
Transdermal fentanyl delivers the opioid fentanyl through the skin at a controlled rate to bind mu-opioid receptors in the central nervous system and reduce pain perception. Used for Chronic pain in opioid-tolerant patients, Cancer pain, Severe chronic pain requiring continuous opioid therapy.
At a glance
| Generic name | Transdermal fentanyl patch |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Duragesic |
| Sponsor | Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center |
| Drug class | Opioid analgesic |
| Target | Mu-opioid receptor (μ-OR) |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Pain management |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid agonist that binds to mu-opioid receptors throughout the brain and spinal cord. The transdermal patch formulation provides sustained-release delivery over 48-72 hours, maintaining steady-state plasma concentrations and providing continuous analgesia. This route of administration bypasses first-pass hepatic metabolism and reduces dosing frequency compared to oral or parenteral routes.
Approved indications
- Chronic pain in opioid-tolerant patients
- Cancer pain
- Severe chronic pain requiring continuous opioid therapy
Common side effects
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Somnolence
- Headache
- Application site reactions
- Respiratory depression
- Dependence/withdrawal
Key clinical trials
- Optimizing Postoperative Pain Control After Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery (NA)
- Evaluation of Fentanyl Transdermal Patch Absorption in Hemodynamically Unstable ICU Patients.
- A Study to Evaluate the Adherence of 2 Strengths of Newly Manufactured Samples and Aged Samples of a New Formulation (JNJ-35685-AAA-G016 and JNJ-35685-AAA-G021) of Fentanyl Transdermal System Compared With Duragesic Fentanyl Transdermal Patch in Healthy Participants (PHASE1)
- Bioequivalence Study of Fentanyl Transdermal System (JNJ-35685-AAA-G021) Compared With DURAGESIC Fentanyl Transdermal Patch in Healthy Participants (PHASE1)
- Transdermal Fentanyl as a Form of Rebound Pain Reduction in Fast Track Programme in Primary Knee Arthroplasty.
- Study of the Effect of Clinical Procedures on Drug Delivery of Mylan Fentanyl Transdermal System 25 µg/hr and Duragesic® 25 µg/hr (PHASE1)
- Correlation Between the Analgesic Effect of Fentanyl Transdermal Patches and Nutritional Status in Cancer Pain Patients
- Methadone vs. Transdermal Fentanyl for Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Transdermal fentanyl patch CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Transdermal fentanyl patch updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center portfolio CI