Verify That Fentanyl Patches Aren't Ordered for Acute Pain

You'll hear more emphasis on eliminating fentanyl patches for acute pain and in opioid-naive patients...due to a new ISMP best practice.

We know the concerns...high potency, slow onset, lingering effects after patch removal, etc. That's why they're only for CHRONIC pain...and only for patients who've been on opioids at certain doses and durations.

But a recent study suggests about HALF of new fentanyl patch Rxs are written for patients who aren't opioid tolerant.