Editing Fentanyl (section)

==== Palliative care ====
[[File:A generic fentanyl transdermal patch, with a release rate of 12mcg per hour, applied to the skin (cropped).jpg|thumb|A fentanyl transdermal patch with a release rate of 12 micrograms per hour, on a person's arm]]
In [[palliative care]], transdermal fentanyl patches have a definitive, but limited role for:
* people already stabilized on other opioids who have persistent swallowing problems and cannot tolerate other parenteral routes such as subcutaneous administration.
* people with moderate to severe [[Renal failure|kidney failure]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Roy PJ, Weltman M, Dember LM, Liebschutz J, Jhamb M | title = Pain management in patients with chronic kidney disease and end-stage kidney disease | journal = Current Opinion in Nephrology and Hypertension | volume = 29 | issue = 6 | pages = 671–680 | date = November 2020 | pmid = 32941189 | pmc = 7753951 | doi = 10.1097/MNH.0000000000000646 }}</ref>
* troublesome side effects of oral morphine, [[hydromorphone]], or [[oxycodone]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Aurilio C, Pace MC, Pota V, Sansone P, Barbarisi M, Grella E, Passavanti MB | title = Opioids switching with transdermal systems in chronic cancer pain | journal = Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research | volume = 28 | page = 61 | date = May 2009 | issue = 1 | pmid = 19422676 | pmc = 2684533 | doi = 10.1186/1756-9966-28-61 | doi-access = free | title-link = doi }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Minami S, Kijima T, Nakatani T, Yamamoto S, Ogata Y, Hirata H, Shiroyama T, Koba T, Komuta K | title = Opioid switch from low dose of oral oxycodone to transdermal fentanyl matrix patch for patients with stable thoracic malignancy-related pain | journal = BMC Palliative Care | volume = 13 | issue = 1 | page = 46 | date = 8 October 2014 | pmid = 25313295 | pmc = 4195703 | doi = 10.1186/1472-684X-13-46 | doi-access = free | title-link = doi }}</ref>

When using the transdermal patch, patients must be careful to minimize or avoid external heat sources (direct sunlight, heating pads, etc.), which can trigger the release and absorption of too much medication and cause potentially deadly complications.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fentanyl (Transdermal Route) Precautions |url=https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/fentanyl-transdermal-route/precautions/drg-20068152 |website=Mayo Clinic |access-date=19 January 2023 |archive-date=19 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119051903/https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/fentanyl-transdermal-route/precautions/drg-20068152 |url-status=live }}</ref>