Fentanyl transdermal system. Pain management at home.

Abstract

Eighty percent of patients experienced good analgesia, which led to an overall improvement in their quality of life. Transdermal fentanyl was discontinued for 17% of patients due to intractable nausea, diarrhea, adherence problems, or poor analgesia. Many patients wore the system until they died or until a few days before death when severe increasing pain necessitated parenteral opioids. The side effects of transdermal fentanyl were similar to those of conventional opioids. Patient compliance and acceptance of this noninvasive, continuous system of drug delivery has been excellent; its simplicity of administration allows patients to be cared for at home.