? about Fentanyl

jmgrn65, RN · Nov 3, 2006

We only use Fentanyl for pain control in PACU, except as a patch or epidural. I don't have any knowledge of it being used elswhere.

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Nov 3, 2006

Yah me neither..that seemed very odd to me..thanks...keep the answers comming folks..this just makes me say 'HUH!?"

RunnerRN, BSN, RN · Nov 3, 2006

As far as I know, Fentanyl doesn't have the afterload reduction capability that Morphine does.....but I may be wrong (and I'm too lazy to look it up right now:))

TazziRN, RN · Nov 3, 2006

We use it for IV sedation for procedures.

Just asked my doc, he said it could work but it would be much shorter acting so would not be as effective.

Reno1978, BSN, RN · Nov 3, 2006

From my experience as a student, fentanyl is used often with versed for procedural sedation. Other than that, I've only seen it used in patch form post-op.

Looking it up in my drug book, it has the same mode of action as morphine - both bind to opiate receptors in the CNS to alter pain sensation and provide general depression of the CNS.

angeRN6297, RN · Nov 3, 2006

We use Fentanyl now in our PCA pumps instead of demerol...

babynurselsa, RN · Nov 3, 2006

Some of my favorite ER docs like Fentanyl for pain. BUT I have never had it ordered fo cardiac pain. They still rely on Morphine.

Let us know what you find out

willie03 · Nov 3, 2006

I just recerted for ACLS and Morphine is still the drug of choice, after NTG, for cardiac pain.

We use PCA Fentanyl on my unit for postop pain sometimes, like when a patient is allergic to Morphine. And the patches are good for chronic and cancer pain.

AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Nov 3, 2006

We use Fentanyl in NH on the ambulance, however we also carry morphine. I use fentanyl for patients with orthopedic injuries and for patients having an MI involving the right ventricle.

Fentanyl does reduce stimulation of cardiac muscle through the beta receptors although I do not know the exact mechanism of this. Fentanyl does not have the same effects on vasculature that morphine does because it does not cause a release of histamine. Studies also show giving patients doses of narcotics often masks the severity of their pain and increases overall mortality in ACS. There really is no need to give a narcotic for vascular dilation when we give nitroglycerin SL and in my service we can even hang IV NTG in the ambulance or put on paste. We also give lopressor which has been shown to decrease mortality by about 30%. The only true value of narcotics in teh MI patient may be to help with sympathetic stimulation secondary to the anxiety one would have, which fenatly does, and since it does not cause the vascular dialtion that morphine does it is much safer for those patients who can easily be killed by NTG and other drugs that reduce preload and afterload such as those having a right V. MI.

Ok I am getting of the soap box now.

Swtooth

WVUturtle514 · Nov 3, 2006

Swtooth is right on....although morphine and fentanyl work by the same mechanism (through agonism of the mu opioid receptors), it does not cause a histamine release like morphine does, which is the reason for the decrease in afterload. I have never heard of fentanyl being given for MI, mainly for the reason above, but also because fentanyl is such a short acting drug, I can't see that it would have much benefit in the MI patient.

ceecel.dee, MSN, RN · Nov 3, 2006

A patch can never be used acutely...it takes hours (like 12-24) to reach therapeutic levels.