A study by Danish researchers published online November 25, 2013 by the Annals of Emergency Medicine found that intranasal fentanyl administered by ambulance workers prior to delivery of patients to the hospital appeared to be safe and effective.
The study involved over 900 patients, including adults and children older than 8, who were in severe pain. The patients received up to 3 doses of either 50 or 100 μg intranasal fentanyl. According to records kept by ambulance crews, the median reduction in pain on a scale of 0-10 was 3, and only 4% of the patients experienced mild adverse effects such as nausea, vertigo, or rash. No serious adverse effects were recorded.
Two fentanyl nasal sprays received marketing authorization from the EMA in 2011 for the treatment of breakthrough pain in cancer patients: Instanyl (Takeda) and PecFent (Archimedes). In the US, PecFent is known as Lazanda and is now marketed by Depomed.
Read the abstract.
