Fentanyl Transdermal and Zelnorm

• Generic Name: fentanyl
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Duragesic, Abstral, Fentora, Subsys, Actiq, Ionsys, Lazanda, Onsolis, Sublimaze

Fentanyl skin patch is used to treat severe pain, including acute pain following surgery. Ionsys® is applied by your healthcare provider in a hospital setting after surgery for the short-term management of acute pain. Duragesic® is used for pain severe enough to require around-the-clock pain relief for a long period of time. Fentanyl is a strong narcotic analgesic (pain medicine). It acts on the central nervous system (CNS) to relieve pain.

The Duragesic® skin patch should not be used if you need pain medicine for just a short time, such as after dental surgery or tonsil surgery. Do not use the patch for mild pain or pain that occurs only once in a while.

When a narcotic medicine is used for a long time, it may become habit-forming, causing mental or physical dependence. However, people who have continuing pain should not let the fear of dependence keep them from using narcotics to relieve their pain. Mental dependence (addiction) is not likely to occur when narcotics are used for this purpose. Physical dependence may lead to withdrawal side effects if treatment is stopped suddenly. However, severe withdrawal side effects can usually be prevented by gradually reducing the dose over a period of time before treatment is stopped completely.

Fentanyl is available only under a restricted distribution program called the Opioid Analgesic REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy) program.

• Generic Name: tegaserod
• Dosage Forms: tablet
• Other Brand Names: Zelnorm

Zelnorm increases the action of a chemical called serotonin in the intestines. This speeds the movement of stools through the bowels.

Zelnorm is used to treat severe, chronic, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in women under 65 years of age who have constipation (and not diarrhea) as their main bowel problem.

Zelnorm may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.