Offered as the brand name for Sufentanil, Sufenta is used for intravenous administration in the maintenance of balanced general anesthesia. It is a primary anesthetic agent for the induction and maintenance of anesthesia with 100 percent oxygen in patients who are undergoing major surgical procedures. It is also the drug used in the administration of an epidural.
While its primary purpose is to serve as an anesthesia for surgery, it may also be combined with other medications to ease pain, such as the application conducted during labor and delivery. A narcotic analgesic, Sufenta works in the brain and nervous system to cause anesthesia and decrease pain.
Abuse of Sufenta
Sufenta is a Schedule II controlled drug product that has the ability to produce drug dependence much like that of morphine. As a result, it has the potential to be abused. The majority of those who seek to abuse Sufenta are the same ones in the profession to administer the drug.
Its likeness to morphine makes Sufenta an attractive option for those seeking to achieve a euphoric high. In addition, Sufenta can be more powerful than similar drugs and therefore, can deliver the desired effects more quickly. With this increase in potency also comes an increased risk and users put themselves at risk of a potentially dangerous overdose when the drug is used incorrectly.
Effects of Sufenta
As an opioid analgesic, Sufenta is used to balance general anesthesia and therefore places significant control over the brain and the central nervous system. The drug has also been reported to be as much as 10 times more powerful than fentanyl. When the drug is administered intravenously with 100 percent oxygen, it is approximately five to seven times as potent as fentanyl.
Certain bothersome side effects can include anxiety; confusion; constipation; difficulty walking; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; headache; indigestion; itching; nausea; and vomiting. Severe side effects have been known to include severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); hallucinations; muscle rigidity; seizures; slow or irregular heartbeat; slowed breathing; trouble breathing; and weakness.
Withdrawal of Sufenta
A physical dependence to Sufenta can arise quickly in a user, making it very difficult for an individual to stop taking the drug. Withdrawal symptoms can set in once use is stopped abruptly after addiction and dependence has set in.
Withdrawal symptoms associated with Sufenta use can include, but are not limited to:
Treatment of Sufenta Addiction
The treatment of a Sufenta addiction can vary depending upon the patient, the normal dosage amount taken and the level of addiction. The first step is for a patient to be evaluated by a board-certified physician and a board-certified psychiatrist to determine the proper method for treatment.
A quality treatment center will recommend a comfortable detox to ensure the individual has completely rid their body of the drug and addressed additional cravings. Medications will be selected and administered according to the addiction and the level of treatment. Counseling is generally also introduced in order to assess the reason for the addiction and to prevent future relapse.