Intranasal Fentanyl

leslie :-D · Feb 13, 2013

first of all, please accept my condolences on the loss of your dad.

time will be an invaluable ally in your healing.

yes, i've used fentanyl intranasal a few times and it works very well.

there are several opioids that have proven to be highly effective via the nasal passages.

as long as there is no (nasal) obstxn or patho, then it is turning out to be a highly desirable route for meds that can't be given any other way.

it 'sounds' like your dad passed peacefully.

what a blessing.

prayers for faith, comfort, and resolve.

leslie

tyvin, BSN, RN · Feb 13, 2013

Fentanyl in nasal form is not new. End of life care embraces many concepts. The nose and the orifice are utilized when people can't take things in when more traditional routes fail. My condolences...

JZ_RN · Feb 13, 2013

I apologize and feel so badly for your loss. I've never had a patient with fentanyl intranasally before but it seems like a great idea.

jamie876 · Feb 13, 2013

My condolences!I just head of intranasal fentanyl...now I know!thanks

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Feb 13, 2013

We did nebulizer fentanyl for someone having major air hunger while dying from pneumonia, but I've never heard of intranasal fentanyl. I'm also for sorry for your loss and glad you found something to bring your father comfort at the end of life. Thanks for sharing.

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN · Feb 13, 2013

Sorry for your loss.

Guest343211 · Feb 13, 2013

first of all, please accept my condolences on the loss of your dad.
time will be an invaluable ally in your healing.
yes, i've used fentanyl intranasal a few times and it works very well.
there are several opioids that have proven to be highly effective via the nasal passages.
as long as there is no (nasal) obstxn or patho, then it is turning out to be a highly desirable route for meds that can't be given any other way.
it 'sounds' like your dad passed peacefully.
what a blessing.
prayers for faith, comfort, and resolve.
leslie

Yes, I've seen it work well, even for short procedures at the bedside with kids. Of course the idea of putting something in that way is not going to easy or pleasurable if the kid or person is strong enough to resist. I know that I am quite sensitive in my nasal area, and I would instinctively give a fight. But really for the kids we have given it to in the unit, well, it wasn't that bad and worked well.

WildflowerRN · Feb 13, 2013

Yes, we use fentanyl intranasally in the ED for procedures, along with versed, narcan and ativan. We use a MAD (mucosal atomization device) that screws on to the end of a syringe. Works like a charm and with similar dosing. Love it for kids and for iv drug users we can't get a line on quickly for narcan administration.

Debilpn23 · Feb 13, 2013

Does anyone have any experience with this? Thought I'd share a personal experience. My Dad just passed away from Melanoma, he was at home on Hospice and the roxanol/ativan combo just wasn't cutting it anymore. The ambulance was called to take him to the hospital for a palliative care admission. He had 4+ edema EVERYWHERE, so IV sites were very limited. The paramedic opted to give him Fentanyl intranasally and I am still amazed at how great it worked!

I am so sorry for your loss. Hugs

nrsang97, BSN, RN · Feb 13, 2013

I am so sorry for your loss. I have never heard of intranasal fentanyl until now. I am so glad it was a help to your dad.

nkochrn, RN · Feb 13, 2013

I hadn't ever seen it until I helped with the advanced EMT class and they were taught how to do it. This was the first time I actually saw it on a real patient though. They use the MAD devices also. It seemed like the IN worked even faster than the IV, but he'd also had lots of morphine and ativan before EMS arrived to help prepare him for the transfer. A few weeks before this he'd been transferred by ambulance and had to be given 10 mg of Valium because the 400 mcg of Fentanyl he'd had in the ER wasn't enough and he was trying to crawl off the cart because it was so painful!