Sufentanil is the generic name for the medication used for intravenous administration in the maintenance of balanced general anesthesia. It is also available under the brand name Sufenta. Both are a primary anesthetic agent for the induction and maintenance of anesthesia with 100 percent oxygen in patients undergoing major surgical procedures. It is also the drug used in the administration of an epidural.
While it is primarily an anesthesia for surgery, Sufentanil may also be combined with other medications to ease pain, such as in the application of a pain reliever during labor and delivery. Sufentanil is a narcotic analgesic and works in the brain and nervous system to cause anesthesia and decrease pain.
Abuse of Sufentanil
A Schedule II controlled drug, Sufentanil has the ability to produce drug dependence much like that of morphine and therefore has the potential to be abused. The majority of those who seek to abuse Sufentanil are also the ones in profession to safely administer the drug to patients.
Sufentanil is an attractive option for those seeking to achieve a euphoric high due to its similarity to morphine. Sufentanil 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 Sufentanil
As an opioid analgesic, Sufentanil balances general anesthesia and places significant control over the brain and the central nervous system in the process. The drug is reported to be as much as 10 times more powerful than fentanyl, which is used in similar circumstances. When Sufentanil is administered intravenously with 100 percent oxygen, it is approximately five to seven times as potent as fentanyl.
Side effects can be common and can include anxiety; confusion; constipation; difficulty walking; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; headache; indigestion; itching; nausea; and vomiting.
Severe side effects that have been known to occur with Sufentanil use 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 Sufentanil
A user can easily develop a physical dependence on Sufentanil, making it very difficult to stop taking the drug. Withdrawal symptoms can easily occur once use is abruptly stopped, especially after addiction and dependence has set in.
Withdrawal symptoms common in the cessation of Sufentanil use can include, but are not limited to:
Treatment of Sufentanil Addiction
Sufentanil withdrawal can cause a significant amount of trauma, often putting a life at risk. As a result, healthcare professionals recommend that users taper off the medication slowly under the care of a board-certified physician and board-certified addiction psychiatrist. By entering a detox center for 24/7 treatment, the individual can rid their body of the drug completely.
A quality treatment center will do a full physical on a patient to determine the right medications in use of a method called comfortable detox. This method is used to correct the chemical imbalances in the individual suffering with a Sufentanil addiction and should be combined with psychological evaluations and other medical care to address cravings for the drug.