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Abstral-product-image

Abstral®

fentanyl citrate

Abstral® is indicated for the management of breakthrough pain in adult patients using opioid therapy for chronic cancer pain. Breakthrough pain is a transient exacerbation of otherwise controlled chronic background pain.*1

Adverse Events should be reported. Reporting forms and information can be found at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. Adverse Events should also be reported to Kyowa Kirin International UK NewCo Ltd, known as Grünenthal Meds on +44 (0)1896 664000, email PVUK@grunenthalmeds.com

Click here for Prescribing Information.

The Association for Palliative Medicine of Great Britain and Ireland (APM) has stated that patient preference is of particular importance when considering treatment for BTcP.2

A survey of patient preference for placebo formulations of Abstral®, a buccal/sublingual tablet (Effentora®) and a nasal spray (Instanyl®) was conducted amongst 30 patients with cancer attending day care who were receiving strong opioids for background and breakthrough episodes of cancer pain.

The participants were given a placebo of each product with instructions and were asked to access and administer it. They were then asked to make assessments of each placebo on ease of use, palatability, ease of access of and overall impression.

Responses were recorded on a Likert agree-disagree scale (1 = extreme positive, 7 = extreme negative).3

Time to Dissolve

The patients reported an average time for dissolution of the Abstral® placebo of 57 seconds (range 37s – 1m 12s) and 5 minutes 23 seconds for the buccal/sublingual tablet placebo (range 3m 6s – 7m 23s)3 (figure 2).

 

*Abstral® should only be administered to patients who are considered tolerant to their opioid therapy for persistent cancer pain. Patients can be considered opioid tolerant if they take at least 60 mg of oral morphine daily, at least 25 micrograms of transmucosal fentanyl per hour, at least 30 mg of oxycodone daily, at least 8 mg of oral hydromorphone daily or an equianalgesic dose of another opioid for a week or longer.1

Abstral® (fentanyl (as citrate)) is indicated for the management of breakthrough pain in adult patients using opioid therapy for chronic cancer pain. Breakthrough pain is a transient exacerbation of otherwise controlled chronic background pain. Please note not all medicines containing opioids are authorised for all types of pain indication. Refer to the summary of product characteristics before prescribing. For advice on the responsible use of opioids, including those indicated for other types of pain, please click here

Average:

  • References

    1. Abstral® Summary of Product Characteristics.

    2. Davies AN et al. Eur J Pain. 2009;13:331-338.

    3. England R et al. BMJ Support Palliat Care. 2011;1:349-351.

    KKI/INT/ABS/0009 November 2023