Acute neuropsychiatric findings in a patient receiving fentanyl for cancer pain

Eduardo Bruera; Jose Pereira

doi:10.1016/S0304-3959(96)03238-1

Acute neuropsychiatric findings in a patient receiving fentanyl for cancer pain

Eduardo Bruera, Jose Pereira

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

A 62-year-old man receiving subcutaneous fentanyl for the management of cancer pain developed generalized central excitation after an overdose of 5000 μg of fentanyl. The patient developed acute confusion, restlessness, generalized myoclonus, visual hallucinations, and hyperalgesia and tremors upon tactile stimulation of the arms or legs. These symptoms rapidly disappeared after the administration of 0.2 mg of naloxone. Within an hour the symptoms reappeared and once again, responded immediately after a second injection of 0.2 mg of naloxone. Our findings suggest that fentanyl overdose can occasionally present with general central irritability that responds to naloxone.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	199-201
Number of pages	3
Journal	Pain
Volume	69
Issue number	1-2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3959(96)03238-1
State	Published - Jan 1997
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Cancer
Fentanyl
Neuropsychiatric

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Neurology
Clinical Neurology
Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

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10.1016/S0304-3959(96)03238-1

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title = "Acute neuropsychiatric findings in a patient receiving fentanyl for cancer pain",

abstract = "A 62-year-old man receiving subcutaneous fentanyl for the management of cancer pain developed generalized central excitation after an overdose of 5000 μg of fentanyl. The patient developed acute confusion, restlessness, generalized myoclonus, visual hallucinations, and hyperalgesia and tremors upon tactile stimulation of the arms or legs. These symptoms rapidly disappeared after the administration of 0.2 mg of naloxone. Within an hour the symptoms reappeared and once again, responded immediately after a second injection of 0.2 mg of naloxone. Our findings suggest that fentanyl overdose can occasionally present with general central irritability that responds to naloxone.",

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author = "Eduardo Bruera and Jose Pereira",

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AU - Bruera, Eduardo

AU - Pereira, Jose

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AB - A 62-year-old man receiving subcutaneous fentanyl for the management of cancer pain developed generalized central excitation after an overdose of 5000 μg of fentanyl. The patient developed acute confusion, restlessness, generalized myoclonus, visual hallucinations, and hyperalgesia and tremors upon tactile stimulation of the arms or legs. These symptoms rapidly disappeared after the administration of 0.2 mg of naloxone. Within an hour the symptoms reappeared and once again, responded immediately after a second injection of 0.2 mg of naloxone. Our findings suggest that fentanyl overdose can occasionally present with general central irritability that responds to naloxone.

KW - Cancer

KW - Fentanyl

KW - Neuropsychiatric

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Acute neuropsychiatric findings in a patient receiving fentanyl for cancer pain

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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