[POP QUIZ] What Year Was Fentanyl Approved By The FDA? (and guess who owns the patent!)

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that was first developed in 1960 by Belgian chemist Dr. Paul Janssen. The patent for fentanyl was obtained under his company name, Janssen Pharmaceutica. (now a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson)

Fentanyl was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1968 and introduced to the marketplace as an analog for Demerol with plans that it would be only for palliative care.

By Camille Renzoni (https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/team/editorial/camille-renzoni/)

*Link to full article: https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/fentanyl-addiction/when-fentanyl-approved-by-fda/

In many ways, fentanyl is a massive part of the current opioid crisis in the U.S. Despite the fact that fentanyl is one of the most powerful and most-abused opioids, as well as one of the more deadly prescription drugs currently available, it wasn’t until music legend Prince’s death was ruled in part due to a fentanyl overdose that this drug took over the national spotlight.

What is Fentanyl?

Fentanyl is a Schedule II prescription opioid painkiller that’s 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine. It’s intended for use in people suffering from severe, long-term pain, primarily in cancer situations. Fentanyl is used to treat breakthrough pain in people who are already on around-the-clock narcotics and are opioid resistant.

Before prescribing fentanyl, doctors should assess whether or not a patient is a good fit for the drug based on their history of potential drug or alcohol abuse, and whether there are other options available.

Despite the extreme potency and dangers associated with this drug, it’s actually a painkiller that’s been around for decades. People who wonder what the history of fentanyl is and when was fentanyl approved by the FDA may be surprised to find out how long it’s been in use.

What Is the History of Fentanyl?

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that was first developed in 1960 by Belgian chemist Dr. Paul Janssen. The patent for fentanyl was obtained under his company name, Janssen Pharmaceutica.

Fentanyl was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1968 and introduced to the marketplace as an analog for Demerol with plans that it would be only for palliative care.

Along with being extremely potent (even more so than heroin) fentanyl acts quickly but also wears off fast. Despite instructions to physicians as to how it should be prescribed, fentanyl has been given to patients for uses it was never meant for, such as the short-term pain of recovering from knee surgery.

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*Also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fentanyl