Pharmacodynamics and clinical efficacy of fentanyl iontophoretic transdermal system for post-operative pain in hospitalized patients

Abstract

Introduction: The fentanyl iontophoretic transdermal system (ITS) is a patient-controlled transdermal system allowing needle-free administration of on-demand doses of Fentanyl of 40 µg over a 10-min period up to 80 doses or over a 24-h period. It is indicated in opioid naïve patients for the treatment of acute postoperative pain in the hospitalized patients for up to 72 h.

Areas covered: It has been demonstrated to be effective and safe in randomized trials and to provide comparable analgesia versus morphine intravenous (i.v.) patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with adverse events similar between groups.

Expert opinion: Fentanyl ITS has shown high patient satisfaction rates, and was described by patients and investigators as easy and convenient to use. These properties make this technology interesting when considering perioperative pain management. In the present health care environment additional data are required to establish the cost-benefit ratio of this technology in optimizing patient’s recovery from surgery.

Keywords:

• fentanyl
• iontophoretic system
• opioid
• pain management
• patient-controlled
• postoperative analgesia
• transdermal

Acknowledgement

The authors acknowledge the contributions of L Palkovic in the review of the fentanyl iontophoretic transdermal system literature.

Declaration of Interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.