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- ACTIQ is an opioid agonist indicated for the management of breakthrough pain in cancer patients 16 years of age and older who are already receiving and who are tolerant to around-the-clock opioid therapy for their underlying persistent cancer pain.
- Patients considered opioid tolerant are those who are taking, for one week or longer, around-the-clock medicine consisting of at least 60 mg of oral morphine per day, at least 25 mcg of transdermal fentanyl per hour, at least 30 mg of oral oxycodone per day, at least 8 mg of oral hydromorphone per day, at least 25 mg oral oxymorphone per day, at least 60 mg oral hydrocodone per day, or an equianalgesic dose of another opioid daily for a week or longer.
- Patients must remain on around-the-clock opioids while taking ACTIQ.
- Most common (frequency ≥5%): nausea, dizziness, somnolence, vomiting, asthenia, and headache, dyspnea, constipation, anxiety, confusion, depression, rash, and insomnia.
• Mixed Agonist/Antagonist and Partial Agonist Opioid Analgesics: Avoid the use of mixed agonist/antagonist or partial agonist analgesics in patients who are already receiving a full opioid agonist analgesic (including ACTIQ) because they may reduce analgesic effect of ACTIQ or precipitate withdrawal symptoms.
• Lactation: Not recommended.
• Renal and Hepatic Impairment: Administer ACTIQ with caution.
• Life-Threatening Respiratory Depression in Patients with Chronic Pulmonary Disease or in Elderly, Cachectic, or Debilitated Patients: Monitor closely, particularly during initiation and titration.
• Serotonin Syndrome: Potentially life-threatening condition could result from concomitant serotonergic drug administration. Discontinue ACTIQ if serotonin syndrome is suspected.
• Adrenal Insufficiency: If diagnosed, treat with physiologic replacement of corticosteroids, and wean patient off of the opioid.
• Severe Hypotension: Monitor during dosage initiation and titration. Avoid use of ACTIQ in patients with circulatory shock.
• Risks of Use in Patients with Increased Intracranial Pressure, Brain Tumors, Head Injury, or Impaired Consciousness: Monitor for sedation and respiratory depression. Avoid use of ACTIQ in patients with impaired consciousness or coma.
