PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - KYRIAKI MYSTAKIDOU AU - EMMANUELA KATSOUDA AU - ELENI TSILIKA AU - EFI PARPA AU - LAMBROS VLAHOS TI - Transdermal Therapeutic Fentanyl-System (TTS-F) DP - 2004 Sep 01 TA - In Vivo PG - 633--642 VI - 18 IP - 5 4099 - http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/18/5/633.short 4100 - http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/18/5/633.full SO - In Vivo2004 Sep 01; 18 AB - Fentanyl, a surgical analgesic and general anaesthetic, is a lipophilic short-acting synthetic opioid, having a selective potent effect on mu receptors. The transdermal therapeutic fentanyl-system (TTS-F) allows for a continued and sustained titratable amount of fentanyl to be delivered without the inconvenience of the typical 24-h administration of other analgesics. Although incidences of respiratory depression led to TTS-F being contraindicated for postoperative analgesia, it is currently undergoing Phase III trials for nociceptive, neuropathic and chronic moderate to severe pain in a variety of settings. It demonstrates a slow pharmacokinetic profile and incidences of breakthrough pain may still require rapid analgesia, for which intravenous and bolus administration of rapid acting opioids remain ‘gold standard’. However, TTS-F is finding uses for chronic pain of cancer origin where it offers a solution for step 3-pain (WHO) management on the WHO analgesic ladder. More recent data indicates that TTS-F is not only effective for neuropathic but also nociceptive non-cancer and cancer pain alike. This review presents an overview of the synthesis, delivery, pharmacokinetics, toxicity and clinical pharmacology of the transdermal delivery of fentanyl. Copyright © 2004 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved