Remifentanil

Generic name: Remifentanil
Brand names: Ultiva
Dosage form: intravenous powder for injection (1 mg; 2 mg; 5 mg)
Drug class: Opioids (narcotic analgesics)

Usage of Remifentanil

Remifentanil is an opioid medication that is used to treat or prevent pain during and after surgery or other medical procedures.

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

Remifentanil side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Opioid medicine can slow or stop your breathing, and death may occur. A person caring for you should seek emergency medical attention if you have slow breathing with long pauses, blue colored lips, or if you are hard to wake up.

Your caregivers will watch for any side effects you have, such as:

shallow breathing, breathing that stops during sleep;

fast or slow heart rate;

stiff muscles;

low blood pressure (severe weakness, feeling light-headed); or

serotonin syndrome--agitation, hallucinations, fever, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, diarrhea.

Serious breathing problems may be more likely in older adults and in those who are debilitated or have wasting syndrome or chronic breathing disorders.

Common side effects of remifentanil may include:

slow breathing;

slow heart rate;

muscle stiffness; or

low blood pressure.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Remifentanil

You should not be treated with remifentanil if you are allergic to it.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

breathing problems, sleep apnea;

a head injury, brain tumor, or seizure;

problems with your gallbladder or pancreas;

alcoholism or drug addiction;

if you have recently used alcohol, sedatives, tranquilizers, or other opioid medications; or

if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, or tranylcypromine.

Receiving remifentanil during late pregnancy may cause side effects in the newborn baby, including severe drowsiness and breathing problems. Your baby's breathing, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and other vital signs will be watched closely.

Ask a doctor before using opioid medicine if you are breastfeeding. Tell your doctor if you notice severe drowsiness or slow breathing in the nursing baby.

Relate drugs

How to use Remifentanil

MISUSE OF OPIOID MEDICINE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH.

Remifentanil is injected into a vein by a healthcare provider.

Remifentanil is usually given through an infusion connected to pump that will release the correct dose of the medication to provide continuous pain relief during and after your surgery.

Your breathing, blood pressure, oxygen levels, kidney function, and other vital signs will be watched closely.

You may be given other pain medications to use after your remifentanil treatment is discontinued. Keep using these medicines for as long as your doctor has prescribed.

Warnings

MISUSE OF OPIOID MEDICINE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH. `

What other drugs will affect Remifentanil

Many other drugs can be dangerous when used with opioid medicine. Tell your doctor if you also use:

other opioid medicines;

a benzodiazepine sedative like Valium, Klonopin, or Xanax;

sleep medicine, muscle relaxers, or other drugs that make you drowsy; or

drugs that affect serotonin, such as antidepressants, stimulants, or medicine for migraines or Parkinson's disease.

This list is not complete. Many drugs may affect remifentanil, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.