How to Apply Fentanyl

Fentanyl is a opiod pain medication used to treat chronic, severe pain that is not alleviated by conventional narcotic pain medications. According to Drugs.com, fentanyl dulls the pain receptors within your brain to provide round the clock relief. Used in patch form, fentanyl is only available via prescription and extreme care should be used when applying fentanyl patches. Consult your physician if you experience any allergic reactions such as hives, itching or pain at the patch site.

Things You'll Need

• Warm water
• Clean towel
• New fentanyl patch
• Medical tape
• Soap

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Instructions

• 1

  Cleanse your application site thoroughly with clean water to remove oils and bacteria. Do not use soaps or other skin applications. According to the National Institutes of Health, ideal application sites include the sides of your waist, your back, upper arm or chest. Make sure to remove any hair that is growing on your application site. Dry thoroughly.

• 2

  Remove the patch from its protective wrapper, ensuring that you do not touch the sterile area to be secured to your skin. According to Drugs.com, press the patch to your skin and hold firmly for 30 seconds. This will ensure that your fentanyl patch is firmly in place and that all edges adhere to your skin.

• 3

  Secure any edges that will not adhere to your skin with medical tape, suggests the National Institutes of Health. Your patch may come loose at the edges after it has been in place for a few hours.

• 4

  Wash your hands immediately after application to avoid spreading fentanyl gel to your mouth or food.

• 5

  Apply a fresh patch after 72 hours. According to Drugs.com, remove your old patch and fold it in half. Discard of your used patch out of the reach of children and apply your new patch following the same method as your first patch application.