Fentanyl routes of administration appropriate in the management of acute pain and for breakthrough pain in the cancer setting:

Overdoses and an increased likelihood of side effects associated with transdermal fentanyl patches (Duragesic) may be associated with fever and other factors that enhance drug absorption.

Fastest onset of analgesic effect:

Metabolism of this opioid is dependent neither on liver metabolism or renal excretion:

Remifentanil may be administered repeatedly without a prolongation of drug pharmacological activity.

Best suited for providing analgesia especially for short surgical procedure and also when rapid recovery is beneficial.

For postoperative analgesia this agent is an especially inappropriate choice.

Combination of opioid agents with benzodiazepines may result in severe adverse reactions, Including difficulty in breathing and even death.

Slowest time to peak analgesic effect following IV administration:

Fentanyl is about 100 times more potent when compared to morphine.