Alfentanil Intravenous Advanced Patient Information - Drugs.com

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# Alfentanil (Intravenous)

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Aug 4, 2022.

Intravenous route(Solution)

Alfentanil HCl injection exposes users to risks of addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death. Assess patient’s risk before prescribing and monitor regularly for these behaviors and conditions .

Available Dosage Forms:

- Solution

Therapeutic Class: Analgesic

Chemical Class: Opioid

## Uses for alfentanil

Alfentanil injection is given together with other medicines to relieve pain during surgery. It is also used as a primary anesthesia (numbing medicine) for patients undergoing general surgery.

Alfentanil is to be given only by or under the direct supervision of a doctor.

## Before using alfentanil

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For alfentanil, the following should be considered:

### Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to alfentanil or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

### Pediatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of alfentanil injection in children 12 years of age and older. However, safety and efficacy have not been established in children younger than 12 years of age.

### Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of alfentanil injection in the elderly. However, elderly patients may be more sensitive to the effects of alfentanil injection than younger adults, and are more likely to have age-related kidney or lung problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving alfentanil injection.

### Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

### Interactions with medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving alfentanil, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using alfentanil with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

- Levoketoconazole
- Nalmefene
- Naltrexone
- Safinamide
- Samidorphan

Using alfentanil with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

- Acepromazine
- Alefacept
- Almotriptan
- Alprazolam
- Amifampridine
- Amineptine
- Amiodarone
- Amitriptyline
- Amitriptylinoxide
- Amobarbital
- Amoxapine
- Amphetamine
- Amprenavir
- Anileridine
- Aprepitant
- Aripiprazole
- Armodafinil
- Asciminib
- Asenapine
- Atazanavir
- Avacopan
- Baclofen
- Belzutifan
- Benperidol
- Benzhydrocodone
- Benzphetamine
- Berotralstat
- Boceprevir
- Bosentan
- Bromazepam
- Bromopride
- Brompheniramine
- Buprenorphine
- Bupropion
- Buspirone
- Butalbital
- Butorphanol
- Calcium Oxybate
- Cannabidiol
- Carbamazepine
- Carbinoxamine
- Carisoprodol
- Carphenazine
- Ceritinib
- Cetirizine
- Chloral Hydrate
- Chlordiazepoxide
- Chlorpheniramine
- Chlorpromazine
- Chlorzoxazone
- Ciprofloxacin
- Citalopram
- Clarithromycin
- Clobazam
- Clomipramine
- Clonazepam
- Clopidogrel
- Clorazepate
- Clozapine
- Cobicistat
- Cocaine
- Codeine
- Conivaptan
- Crizotinib
- Cyclobenzaprine
- Cyclosporine
- Daridorexant
- Darunavir
- Delavirdine
- Desflurane
- Desipramine
- Desmopressin
- Desvenlafaxine
- Dexamethasone
- Dexmedetomidine
- Dextroamphetamine
- Dextromethorphan
- Dezocine
- Diazepam
- Dibenzepin
- Dichloralphenazone
- Difenoxin
- Dihydrocodeine
- Diltiazem
- Diphenhydramine
- Diphenoxylate
- Dolasetron
- Donepezil
- Doxepin
- Doxylamine
- Dronedarone
- Droperidol
- Duloxetine
- Duvelisib
- Efavirenz
- Eletriptan
- Eluxadoline
- Enflurane
- Enzalutamide
- Erdafitinib
- Erythromycin
- Escitalopram
- Esketamine
- Eslicarbazepine Acetate
- Estazolam
- Eszopiclone
- Ethchlorvynol
- Ethopropazine
- Ethylmorphine
- Etravirine
- Fedratinib
- Fenfluramine
- Fentanyl
- Fexinidazole
- Flibanserin
- Fluconazole
- Fluoxetine
- Fluphenazine
- Flurazepam
- Fluspirilene
- Fluvoxamine
- Fosamprenavir
- Fosaprepitant
- Fosnetupitant
- Fosphenytoin
- Fospropofol
- Frovatriptan
- Furazolidone
- Gabapentin
- Gabapentin Enacarbil
- Granisetron
- Halazepam
- Haloperidol
- Halothane
- Hexobarbital
- Hydrocodone
- Hydromorphone
- Hydroxytryptophan
- Hydroxyzine
- Idelalisib
- Imatinib
- Imipramine
- Indinavir
- Iproniazid
- Isocarboxazid
- Isoflurane
- Itraconazole
- Ivacaftor
- Ivosidenib
- Ketamine
- Ketazolam
- Ketobemidone
- Ketoconazole
- Lanreotide
- Larotrectinib
- Lasmiditan
- Lefamulin
- Lemborexant
- Levocetirizine
- Levomilnacipran
- Levorphanol
- Linezolid
- Lisdexamfetamine
- Lithium
- Lofepramine
- Lofexidine
- Lomitapide
- Lopinavir
- Lorazepam
- Lorcaserin
- Lorlatinib
- Loxapine
- Lumacaftor
- Magnesium Oxybate
- Meclizine
- Melitracen
- Melperone
- Meperidine
- Mephobarbital
- Meprobamate
- Meptazinol
- Mesoridazine
- Metaxalone
- Methadone
- Methamphetamine
- Methdilazine
- Methocarbamol
- Methohexital
- Methotrimeprazine
- Methoxyflurane
- Methylene Blue
- Metoclopramide
- Mibefradil
- Midazolam
- Mifepristone
- Milnacipran
- Mirtazapine
- Mitapivat
- Mitotane
- Mobocertinib
- Moclobemide
- Modafinil
- Molindone
- Moricizine
- Morphine
- Morphine Sulfate Liposome
- Nafcillin
- Nalbuphine
- Naratriptan
- Nefazodone
- Nelfinavir
- Netupitant
- Nevirapine
- Nialamide
- Nicomorphine
- Nilotinib
- Nitrazepam
- Nitrous Oxide
- Nortriptyline
- Octreotide
- Olanzapine
- Ondansetron
- Opipramol
- Opium
- Opium Alkaloids
- Orphenadrine
- Oxazepam
- Oxcarbazepine
- Oxycodone
- Oxymorphone
- Ozanimod
- Pacritinib
- Palbociclib
- Palonosetron
- Papaveretum
- Paregoric
- Paroxetine
- Pazopanib
- Pentazocine
- Pentobarbital
- Perampanel
- Perazine
- Periciazine
- Perphenazine
- Phenelzine
- Phenobarbital
- Phenytoin
- Pimozide
- Piperacetazine
- Pipotiazine
- Piritramide
- Posaconazole
- Potassium Oxybate
- Prazepam
- Prednisone
- Pregabalin
- Primidone
- Procarbazine
- Prochlorperazine
- Promazine
- Promethazine
- Protriptyline
- Quazepam
- Quetiapine
- Ramelteon
- Ranitidine
- Ranolazine
- Rasagiline
- Remifentanil
- Remimazolam
- Remoxipride
- Ribociclib
- Rifabutin
- Rifampin
- Rifapentine
- Ritonavir
- Rizatriptan
- Ropeginterferon Alfa-2b-njft
- Saquinavir
- Scopolamine
- Secobarbital
- Selegiline
- Selpercatinib
- Sertindole
- Sertraline
- Sevoflurane
- Sibutramine
- Sodium Oxybate
- Sotorasib
- St John's Wort
- Sufentanil
- Sulpiride
- Sumatriptan
- Suvorexant
- Tapentadol
- Taurursodiol
- Telaprevir
- Telithromycin
- Temazepam
- Thiethylperazine
- Thiopental
- Thiopropazate
- Thioridazine
- Tianeptine
- Tilidine
- Tizanidine
- Tolonium Chloride
- Toloxatone
- Topiramate
- Tramadol
- Tranylcypromine
- Trazodone
- Triazolam
- Trifluoperazine
- Trifluperidol
- Triflupromazine
- Trimeprazine
- Trimipramine
- Tryptophan
- Tucatinib
- Venlafaxine
- Verapamil
- Vilazodone
- Voriconazole
- Vortioxetine
- Voxelotor
- Zaleplon
- Ziprasidone
- Zolmitriptan
- Zolpidem
- Zopiclone
- Zotepine

Using alfentanil with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

- Propofol

### Interactions with food/tobacco/alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

### Other medical problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of alfentanil. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

- Alcohol abuse, or history of or
- Brain tumor or
- Breathing or lung problems (eg, apnea, COPD, cor pulmonale, respiratory depression, sleep apnea) or
- Drug dependence, especially with narcotics, or history of or
- Head injury, history of—May increase risk for more serious side effects.

- Gallbladder problems or
- Heart disease or
- Hypotension (low blood pressure) or
- Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) or
- Seizures, history of or
- Slow heartbeat—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

- Kidney disease or
- Liver disease—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body.

## Proper use of alfentanil

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you alfentanil in a hospital. Alfentanil is given through a needle placed in one of your veins.

Detailed Alfentanil dosage information

## Precautions while using alfentanil

Your doctor will check your progress closely while you or your child are receiving alfentanil. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to receive it.

Alfentanil may cause allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you or your child have a rash, itching, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth while you are using alfentanil.

Check with your doctor before using alfentanil with alcohol or other medicines that affect the central nervous system (CNS). The use of alcohol or other medicines that affect the CNS with alfentanil may worsen the side effects of alfentanil, such as dizziness, poor concentration, drowsiness, unusual dreams, and trouble with sleeping. Some examples of medicines that affect the CNS are antihistamines or medicine for allergies or colds, sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicines, medicine for depression, medicine for anxiety, prescription pain medicine or narcotics, medicine for attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, medicine for seizures or barbiturates, muscle relaxants, or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics.

Alfentanil may cause sleep-related breathing problems (eg, sleep apnea, sleep-related hypoxemia). Your doctor may decrease your dose if you have sleep apnea (stop breathing for short periods during sleep) while using alfentanil.

Alfentanil may make you dizzy, drowsy, or lightheaded. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how alfentanil affects you. Sit or lie down if you feel dizzy. Stand up carefully.

Tell your doctor if you or your child have stiffness in the muscles of your neck, chest, hands, or legs after receiving alfentanil.

Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have anxiety, restlessness, a fast heartbeat, fever, sweating, muscle spasms, twitching, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or see or hear things that are not there. These may be symptoms of a serious condition called serotonin syndrome. Your risk may be higher if you also take certain other medicines that affect serotonin levels in your body.

Alfentanil may be habit-forming. If you feel that the medicine is not working as well, do not use more than your prescribed dose. Call your doctor for instructions.

Using narcotics for a long time can cause severe constipation. To prevent this, your doctor may direct you to take laxatives, drink a lot of fluids, or increase the amount of fiber in your diet. Be sure to follow the directions carefully, because continuing constipation can lead to more serious problems.

Using alfentanil while you are pregnant may cause neonatal withdrawal syndrome in your newborn babies. Tell your doctor right away if your baby has an abnormal sleep pattern, diarrhea, a high-pitched cry, irritability, shakiness or tremors, weight loss, vomiting, or fails to gain weight.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

## Alfentanil side effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

- Blurred vision
- chest pain or discomfort
- confusion
- difficult or troubled breathing
- dizziness
- dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
- fainting
- fast, slow, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
- headache
- irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing
- lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
- nervousness
- not breathing
- pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin
- pounding in the ears
- sweating
- trouble breathing
- unusual tiredness or weakness

Rare

- Cough
- noisy breathing
- rigid muscles of the neck, arms, and legs
- tightness in the chest

Incidence not known

- Agitation
- cough
- darkening of the skin
- diarrhea
- difficulty with swallowing
- fainting
- fever
- hives, itching, or skin rash
- loss of appetite
- nausea
- overactive reflexes
- poor coordination
- puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
- restlessness
- shivering
- sweating
- talking or acting with excitement you cannot control
- trembling or shaking
- twitching
- vomiting

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

- Drowsiness
- sleepiness

Rare

- False or unusual sense of well-being

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Alfentanil side effects (more detail)

## More about alfentanil

- Check interactions
- Reviews (1)
- Side effects
- Dosage information
- During pregnancy
- Drug class: Opioids (narcotic analgesics)
- Breastfeeding

### Patient resources

- Patient Information

### Professional resources

- Prescribing Information

### Related treatment guides

- Anesthesia
- Pain

## Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer