Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid related to the phenylpiperidines. It belongs to powerful narcotics analgesics. Fentanyl is approximately 50-100 times more potent than morphine and has a short duration of action. Fentanyl is one of t he varieties that been listed in management of United Nations “ Single Convention of narcotic drug in 1961 ” . Among the opiates agents that under international control, fentanyl is one of the most commonly used to cure moderate to severe pain. After continuous injection of fentanyl, the sufferer will have the performance of protracted opioid abstinence syndrome, such as ataxia and irritability etc, which presents the addiction after taking fentanyl in a long time.
Fentanyl, originally for chronic pain, has increased in illicit street use leading to tens of thousands of deaths in the US every year. There are several analogues and derivatives of fentanyl which are also abused and have higher potencies. Fentanyl is rapidly metabolized by the liver to the inactive metabolites norfentanyl, hydroxyfentanyl, and hydroxynorfentanyl.
Fentanyl is excreted in urine with roughly 0.4-6% of the drug unchanged, 26-55% excreted as norfentanyl, and unknown amounts of hydroxyfentanyl and hydroxynorfentanyl.
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