Can Fentanyl Cause Seizures? Symptoms, Prevention, and When to Seek Help

Are you suffering from severe pain and have tried different painkillers, but are still facing the same issue? Then there are chances you might get prescribed fentanyl by your doctor. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid and one of the best medications you can get for pain.In some cases, Fentanyl is used in pregnancy to manage labour pain and also works for managing pain in life-threatening health issues including cancer. Studies show opioids have a high risk of causing seizures. But like other opioids, can fentanyl cause seizures? Well, keep reading the blog to find out and know the risks before using it.

Are Seizures a Side Effect of Fentanyl? What You Need to Know For Safety

What is Fentanyl?

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid mainly used to treat pain normally and it even works for pain management in almost all medical conditions. It is one of the most addictive medications. In morphine and fentanyl comparison, fentanyl is found to be 100 times more potent than morphine and also 50 times more potent than heroin, known that fentanyl vs heroin comparison. It is also classified as a Schedule II controlled substance, and is advised to be used only under a doctor’s supervision.

What are Seizures?

A seizure is a medical condition in which a sudden, uncontrollable surge of electrical activity happens inside the brain which hampers the functioning and causes unusual symptoms like unconsciousness, convulsion and confusion. Seizures have two types: focal onset and generalized onset. Also, there are some other names for seizures, like fit(s), convulsion(s) and episode.

Can Fentanyl Cause Seizures?

Yes, fentanyl can cause seizures only if not used according to the prescribed manner or used while being in a medical condition. And, if used without prescription in the form of drugs, then there is a high risk for seizures. The risk of every side effect of fentanyl is very high. Because the potency is so high that it can make you experience serious effects with a minimal dose. The extreme potency of fentanyl makes the mind full of doubts and questions. Many people think that coming in contact with fentanyl in any form can cause overdose or harm the body. Well, for a clear understanding, follow up to the “Can fentanyl be absorbed through skin?” page.

How Fentanyl Causes Seizures?

The effects of fentanyl on the brain affect the balance of neurotransmitters inside the brain which later helps in causing seizures. Also, fentanyl’s effects on the respiratory system cause hypoxia, which hampers the flow of oxygen in the brain, and due to a lack of oxygen inside the brain, the risk of seizure increases. There are still studies going on to figure out the exact mechanism of fentanyl causing seizures.

How To Deal With It?

To deal with seizures caused by fentanyl, you need to take immediate emergency care and rush to the hospital ASAP. Because there are very high chances of causing an overdose, and this can lead to very life-threatening health issues and can even cause death. Also, you can take Naxolone by consulting a doctor. It reverses the effects of fentanyl in the body and helps to stay normal. This is available in the form of a spray and an injection. In some rare cases of fentanyl seizures, people stop breathing or start to breathe very heavily. To deal with this, you can perform CPR slowly.

Safety Measures Of Using Fentanyl 

By coming this far, you know that fentanyl is a highly potent medication and there must be some safety measures taken while using fentanyl. So, some of the safety measures that are important to follow are listed below. 

• Always carry a naloxone with you.
• Update your doctor about everything that happens while using the medicine.
• Never use alone
• Try to use fentanyl strips to check your supply
• Avoid taking alcohol or nicotine while using fentanyl

Fentanyl Alternatives

To manage pain, fentanyl is not the only option you can get. There are many medications you can get. In the same drug class there are other opioids like oxycodone, morphine, or hydromorphone. Also, you can use Buprenorphine as it is considered to be one of the safest alternatives to fentanyl. Because in fentanyl addiction treatment, buprenorphine is used to reduce withdrawal symptoms and manage drug cravings, it also works similarly to fentanyl and manages pain at the same time. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion

In the end, we get an answer to the question, Can Fentanyl cause seizures. But the chances of seizures are very high with fentanyl, as the potency is very high and various effects are noticeable with minimal doses. Seizures in Fentanyl require immediate emergency treatment because there are chances of death or can experience a serious life-threatening health issue. Always take the medicine under a doctor’s supervision.