A potent narcotic analgesic, abuse of which leads to habituation or addiction. It is primarily a mu-opioid agonist. Fentanyl is also used as an adjunct to general anesthetics, and as an anesthetic for induction and maintenance. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, p1078)

A synthetic, lipophilic phenylpiperidine opioid agonist with analgesic and anesthetic properties. Fentanyl selectively binds to and activates the mu-receptor in the central nervous system (CNS) thereby mimicking the effects of endogenous opiates. Activation of the mu-subtype opioid receptor stimulates the exchange of GTP for GDP on the G-protein complex and subsequently inhibits adenylate cyclase. This causes a decrease in intracellular cAMP which inhibits cAMP-mediated calcium influx into the cell via the calcium channels and thereby results in hyperpolarization and reduced neuronal excitability.

Potent narcotic analgesic, abuse of which leads to habituation or addiction; primarily a mu-opioid agonist, used as an adjunct to general anesthetics, and as an anesthetic for induction and maintenance.

Fentanyl, synthetic narcotic analgesic drug, the most potent narcotic in clinical use (50 to 100 times more potent than morphine). The citrate salt, fentanyl citrate, is administered by injection, either intramuscularly or intravenously, sometimes in combination with a potent tranquilizer. The...