To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Actiq Now Available In The U.S. For Breakthrough Cancer Pain URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/F18EE.htm Doctor's Guide March 31, 1999
ABBOTT PARK, IL - March 31, 1999 -- Abbott Laboratories' Actiq(R) (oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate) is now available in the United States for breakthrough cancer pain in patients who are already receiving -- and tolerant to -- opioid therapy for their underlying, persistent cancer pain. Breakthrough cancer pain is a flare of severe cancer pain that breaks through the medication being administered at regular intervals for persistent cancer pain. Breakthrough cancer pain is a component of chronic cancer pain that is particularly difficult to treat due to its severity, rapid onset and unpredictability. More than 800,000 cancer patients suffer with breakthrough cancer pain. Episodes of breakthrough cancer pain develop rapidly and can last from one to three hours, leaving patients in excruciating pain between their regularly scheduled doses of pain medication. Actiq is a powerful pain medication that is administered orally using Anesta's proprietary oral transmucosal system (OTS) for drug delivery. The product is a medicated drug matrix on a handle. Actiq dissolves in the mouth and is absorbed by the highly permeable oral mucosa, allowing for the medication to enter the bloodstream through the lining of the mouth. The most common adverse events observed with Actiq use in breakthrough cancer pain patients are somnolence (sleepiness), nausea, vomiting and dizziness. These types of events are generally associated with opioid therapy. The most clinically meaningful adverse event is the potential for respiratory depression. Actiq is contraindicated in the management of acute or postoperative pain and must not be used in patients who cannot tolerate opioids. It is intended to be used only in the care of cancer patients by oncologists and pain specialists who are skilled in the use of Schedule II opioids to treat cancer pain. Related Links: Actiq, Abbott Laboratories --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.