Fentanyl sublingual tablets (Abstral)

Abstral® is a strong opioid painkiller that is put under the tongue. It dissolves and works very quickly. It is used to treat the kind of moderate to severe pain that comes on suddenly without warning or is brought on by movement or something like changing a dressing. This kind of pain usually lasts for a short time so a painkiller like fentanyl can help. If you know what brings your pain on, you can use the tablet in advance to prevent pain.

Fentanyl tablets are used to help manage pain that comes on suddenly in people who are already taking a regular strong pain killer to control their pain.

The fentanyl tablet will work best if you take it as soon as the pain starts to come on or just before you do something that gives you pain.

• If your mouth is dry, take a sip of water first and swallow it or spit it out.
• Peel back the foil in the blister pack and remove one tablet.
• Do not try to push the tablet through the foil or split it.
• Put the tablet under the tongue as far back as you can.
• Let it dissolve completely; do not bite, suck or swallow the tablet.
• Do not eat or drink anything until the tablet has completely dissolved.

The dose prescribed by your doctor depends on your pain. You may be started on 1 or 2 tablets of the lowest dose of fentanyl tablet for an attack of pain. The dose can be increased if your doctor or nurse decides this will help.

Your doctor or nurse will explain how to use the fentanyl tablets and when to take them. This will depend on your pain. The fentanyl tablet will work best if you take it as soon as the pain starts to come on or just before you do something that gives you pain.

Some people only need to use the fentanyl tablet occasionally. Others may need to use it more often. It is important to follow the advice given by your doctor or nurse.

• After taking a dose of the fentanyl tablet, you should wait for at least 2 hours before using the fentanyl tablets to treat another episode of pain.
• You must not use the fentanyl tablets for more than 4 episodes of pain in a 24 hour period.
• It is useful to keep a note of when you take a tablet and how well it works.

Fentanyl passes quickly through the moist skin in the mouth into the blood stream. Most people get pain relief within 5 to 10 minutes and the effect lasts for about 30 to 60 minutes.

Although a fentanyl tablet is a very good pain killer, it is not helpful for all types of pain. Other treatments may be suggested by your doctor or nurse. Your doctor will give you another short acting pain killer that you can take if the fentanyl tablet does not control your pain or you need to wait before it is safe to take another dose of the fentanyl tablet.