Fentanyl Transdermal System

SIDE EFFECTS

The following serious adverse reactions are discussed elsewhere in the labeling:

• Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
• Life-Threatening Respiratory Depression [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
• Accidental Exposure [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
• Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
• Interactions with Central Nervous System Depressants [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
• Hypotensive Effects [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice.

Clinical Trial Experience

The safety of fentanyl transdermal system was evaluated in 216 patients who took at least one dose of fentanyl transdermal system in a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of fentanyl transdermal system. This trial examined patients over 40 years of age with severe pain induced by osteoarthritis of the hip or knee and who were in need of and waiting for joint replacement.

The most common adverse reactions ( ≥ 5%) in a double-blind, randomized, placebocontrolled clinical trial in patients with severe pain were nausea, vomiting, somnolence, dizziness, insomnia, constipation, hyperhidrosis, fatigue, feeling cold, and anorexia. Other common adverse reactions ( ≥ 5%) reported in clinical trials in patients with chronic malignant or nonmalignant pain were headache and diarrhea. Adverse reactions reported for ≥ 1% of fentanyl transdermal system-treated patients and with an incidence greater than placebo-treated patients are shown in Table 3.

The most common adverse reactions that were associated with discontinuation in patients with pain (causing discontinuation in ≥ 1% of patients) were depression, dizziness, somnolence, headache, nausea, vomiting, constipation, hyperhidrosis, and fatigue.

Table 3: Adverse Reactions Reported by ≥ 1% of Fentanyl Transdermal System-treated Patients and With an Incidence Greater Than Placebo-treated Patients in 1 Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial of Fentanyl Transdermal System

Adverse reactions not reported in Table 3 that were reported by ≥ 1% of fentanyl transdermal system-treated adult and pediatric patients (N=1854) in 11 controlled and uncontrolled clinical trials of fentanyl transdermal system used for the treatment of chronic malignant or nonmalignant pain are shown in Table 4.

Table 4: Adverse Reactions Reported by ≥ 1% of Fentanyl Transdermal System-treated Patients in 11 Clinical Trials of Fentanyl Transdermal System

The following adverse reactions occurred in adult and pediatric patients with an overall frequency of < 1% and are listed in descending frequency within each System/Organ Class:

Cardiac disorders: cyanosis

Eye disorders: miosis

Gastrointestinal disorders: subileus

General disorders and administration site conditions: application site reaction, influenza-like illness, application site hypersensitivity, drug withdrawal syndrome, application site dermatitis

Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders: muscle twitching

Nervous system disorders: hypoesthesia

Psychiatric disorders: disorientation, euphoric mood

Reproductive system and breast disorders: erectile dysfunction, sexual dysfunction

Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders: respiratory depression

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: eczema, dermatitis allergic, dermatitis contact

Pediatrics

The safety of fentanyl transdermal system was evaluated in three open-label trials in 289 pediatric patients with chronic pain, 2 years of age through 18 years of age. Adverse reactions reported by ≥ 1% of fentanyl transdermal system-treated pediatric patients are shown in Table 5.

Table 5: Adverse Reactions Reported by ≥ 1% of Fentanyl Transdermal System-treated Pediatric Patients in 3 Clinical Trials of Fentanyl Transdermal System

Post-Marketing Experience

The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of fentanyl transdermal system. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency.

Cardiac Disorders: tachycardia, bradycardia

Eye Disorders: vision blurred

Gastrointestinal Disorders: ileus, dyspepsia

General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions: pyrexia

Immune System Disorders: anaphylactic shock, anaphylactic reaction, anaphylactoid reaction

Investigations: weight decreased

Nervous System Disorders: convulsions (including clonic convulsions and grand mal convulsion), amnesia, depressed level of consciousness, loss of consciousness

Psychiatric Disorders: agitation

Respiratory, Thoracic, and Mediastinal Disorders: respiratory distress, apnea, bradypnea, hypoventilation, dyspnea

Vascular Disorders: hypotension, hypertension

Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Fentanyl Transdermal System (Fentanyl Transdermal System for Transdermal Administration)