remifentanil

	What is the most important information I should know about remifentanil?
	What is remifentanil?
	What should I discuss with my health care provider before I receive remifentanil?
	How should I take remifentanil?
	What happens if I miss a dose?
	What happens if I overdose?
	What should I avoid after receiving remifentanil?
	What are the possible side effects of remifentanil?
	What other drugs will affect remifentanil?
	Where can I get more information?
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You should not receive this medication if you are allergic to remifentanil.

Before you receive remifentanil, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. You may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely receive this medication.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast-feeding before you are treated with remifentanil.

Your breathing and other vital signs will be constantly monitored while you are being treated with remifentanil.

Remifentanil can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. You should not plan on driving or doing anything that requires you to be awake and alert right after you are treated with this medication.

Follow your doctor's instructions about any other restrictions on food, beverages, or activity after you are treated with remifentanil.

Remifentanil is a narcotic (opioid) pain medicine.

Remifentanil is used to treat or prevent acute pain after surgery.

Remifentanil may be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

You should not receive this medication if you are allergic to remifentanil.

Before you receive remifentanil, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. You may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely receive this medication.

FDA pregnancy category C. Remifentanil may be harmful to an unborn baby. Before you receive this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant.

It is not known whether remifentanil passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not receive this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Remifentanil is given as an injection through a needle placed into a vein. You will receive this injection in a hospital or surgery center.

Remifentanil is usually given slowly through an IV infusion connected to pump that will release the correct dose of the medication to provide continuous pain relief during and after your surgery.

Your breathing and other vital signs will be constantly monitored while you are being treated with remifentanil.

You may be given other pain medications to use after your remifentanil treatment is discontinued.

Since remifentanil is given as needed by a healthcare professional for only a short time, it is not likely that you will miss a dose.

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have received too much of this medicine. Overdose symptoms may include slow breathing, chest tightness, slow heart rate, extreme weakness or dizziness, seizure, or fainting.

Remifentanil can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. You should not plan on driving or doing anything that requires you to be awake and alert right after you are treated with this medication.

Follow your doctor's instructions about any other restrictions on food, beverages, or activity after you are treated with remifentanil.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Your caregivers will monitor you for any of these serious side effects, which may clear up within minutes after stopping the remifentanil infusion or decreasing the dose:

• weak, shallow breathing, or breathing that stops;
• fast or slow heart rate;
• stiff muscles; or
• severe weakness, feeling light-headed or fainting.

Less serious side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting, constipation, dry mouth;
• shivering;
• itching or sweating;
• headache;
• muscle pain;
• cough, sore throat;
• dizziness, confusion, agitation;

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

There may be other drugs that can interact with remifentanil. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about remifentanil.