From the Guidelines
The Dotti patch, also known as the fentanyl patch, is a transdermal medication delivery system that contains the opioid fentanyl, used primarily for managing moderate to severe cancer pain in adult patients who are opioid-tolerant. When using the fentanyl patch, it's essential to follow specific guidelines to ensure safe and effective use. The patch should be applied to clean, dry skin on the lower abdomen or buttocks and typically changed every 48 to 72 hours, depending on the patient's needs 1. The fentanyl patch comes in various strengths, and dosing should be individualized based on the patient's analgesic requirements, with a recommended conversion from other opioids to transdermal fentanyl using equianalgesic dose ratios 1. Some key points to consider when using the fentanyl patch include:
- Pain should be relatively well-controlled on short-acting opioid before initiating the fentanyl patch 1
- The patch is not recommended for unstable pain requiring frequent dose changes 1
- Use of the fentanyl patch is contraindicated in patients who are not tolerant to opioid therapy, and application of heat may accelerate transdermal fentanyl absorption 1
- An as-needed dose of morphine or other short-acting opioid should be prescribed and will be needed particularly during the first 8 to 24 hours after initiating the fentanyl patch 1
- The patch works by steadily releasing fentanyl through the skin directly into the bloodstream, providing a consistent level of analgesia and helping to alleviate moderate to severe cancer pain. According to the most recent and highest quality study, the fentanyl patch is an effective and tolerable analgesic for cancer pain, with a low rate of reported intolerable adverse events 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Dotti Patch
- There is no direct information available on the Dotti patch in the provided studies 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- The studies primarily focus on the effects of opioids, such as fentanyl, on females and the role of estradiol in opioid use disorder 2, 3, 5, 6.
- Some studies discuss the differences in opioid use disorder between males and females, including the impact of estradiol on vulnerability to opioid addiction-like features 2, 4, 5, 6.
- However, none of the studies mention the Dotti patch, suggesting that there may be no research available on this topic in the provided evidence.