sufentanil citrate at a glance
Medicine class
Potent synthetic opioid and full mu-opioid receptor agonist
Licensed use
Acute moderate to severe pain in adults
Administration
Placed under the tongue by a healthcare professional in a monitored setting
Important practical point
The tablet must dissolve under the tongue and must not be chewed or swallowed
What is sufentanil citrate used for?
The selected UK product is licensed for:
Management of acute moderate to severe pain in adults within a medically monitored setting.
How does sufentanil citrate work?
Sufentanil activates mu-opioid receptors, mainly in the brain and spinal cord. It changes the perception of pain and the response to it, but can also cause sedation and suppress breathing.
sufentanil citrate preparations and strengths
Sublingual tablet
Route: Sublingual
Strengths: 30 micrograms
How to take sufentanil citrate
This product is not for self-administration. A healthcare professional uses the single-use applicator to place the tablet under the tongue. Let it dissolve without chewing or swallowing; avoid eating, drinking and unnecessary talking immediately afterwards.
Tell staff if your mouth is very dry before administration.
Do not handle or remove the tablet from its applicator yourself.
Do not drive or use machinery if you feel sleepy, dizzy or visually impaired.
sufentanil citrate side effects
Common or expected effects
- Feeling or being sick
- Constipation, indigestion, wind or dry mouth
- Headache, dizziness, sleepiness or sedation
- Confusion, anxiety or difficulty sleeping
- Itching
- Low blood pressure or reduced oxygen levels
- Difficulty passing urine
Get urgent medical advice
- Slow, shallow or stopped breathing
- Severe sleepiness, loss of consciousness or coma
- Severe allergic reaction, including facial or throat swelling, wheezing or collapse
- Severe serotonin syndrome symptoms, such as agitation, high temperature, sweating, muscle rigidity or abnormal movements
sufentanil citrate in pregnancy
Sufentanil is not recommended during pregnancy because evidence in pregnant women is limited, it crosses the placenta and opioids can suppress the newborn's breathing. Specialist obstetric and anaesthetic advice is important if exposure is being considered or has occurred.
sufentanil citrate while breastfeeding
Sufentanil enters breast milk in amounts that may affect the infant. A clinician should weigh the benefit of treatment against breastfeeding and advise whether breastfeeding or sufentanil should be paused. Specialist advice is particularly important for premature or unwell infants.
sufentanil citrate interactions
Give the clinical team a complete list of medicines, supplements, alcohol use and recreational drugs before sufentanil is administered.
Benzodiazepines, sedatives, antipsychotics, anaesthetic gases, alcohol and other opioids
Combined central nervous system depression can cause profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma or death.
Gabapentin or pregabalin
Concurrent use increases the risk of opioid overdose and serious respiratory depression.
Potent CYP3A4 inhibitors, including ketoconazole, itraconazole and ritonavir
These may increase or prolong sufentanil exposure and adverse effects.
Common questions about sufentanil citrate
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is sufentanil citrate used for?
The selected UK product is licensed to manage acute moderate to severe pain in adults in a medically monitored setting.
Can I take it at home?
Not this selected product. It must be administered by a healthcare professional where breathing and consciousness can be monitored.
Can I chew or swallow the tablet?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.