Fentanyl, first developed in 1959, is an analgesic so powerful it’s 100 times stronger than morphine. Because of this, it has become a vital part of pain management.
Unfortunately, like many other opioids, fentanyl has become a widely abused drug. Worse, it’s behind many synthetic opioid overdose deaths.
Even when it doesn’t kill, fentanyl overdose and misuse can cause unpleasant symptoms. These include nausea, breathing problems, constipation, and unconsciousness.
But what about seizures? Can fentanyl cause seizures, too?
Yes, it can.
We’ll tell you how (and what you can do to minimize the risks of adverse fentanyl effects), so read on.
How Can Fentanyl Cause Seizures?
Fentanyl can cause seizures because it’s an opiate, and opiates can lower a person’s seizure threshold.
The term “seizure threshold” refers to a person’s likelihood of experiencing a seizure. The lower it is, the higher their tendency to get seizures. This is why people with epilepsy have a lower seizure threshold than those without.
Does Fentanyl Always Cause Seizures?
No, fentanyl doesn’t always cause seizures in everyone who takes it. However, some people are more likely to experience this adverse effect, such as those with epilepsy. You’re also at a higher risk if you overdose or get too much fentanyl in your system.
Are Drug-Related Seizures Life-Threatening?
Yes, because a seizure, in itself, can cause a person’s breathing to have pauses. When these pauses go on too long, they can severely deprive the blood of oxygen. This can then result in hypoxia, which, if not treated immediately, can result in coma or death.
Therefore, prolonged seizures, whether drug-induced or not, require emergency medical attention. If this happens to you or someone you care about, please dial 911 immediately.
How Can You Avoid Fentanyl Seizures?
Given its extreme potency, there’s no (safe) room for error when taking fentanyl. Even just a slightly higher dose can already lead to an overdose that could trigger seizures. So, if you must take it as a prescription medication, always follow your doctor’s instructions.
Your doctor may instruct you to take it as needed for your breakthrough pain. However, to ensure the safe use of fentanyl, you should never take it more than four times a day.
Don’t go beyond the safe limit, even if you still experience pain after your fourth dose. Instead, let your doctor know. They may have to increase your dosage or prescribe another medication to help.
As soon as you get your medication supply from the pharmacy, double-check its label and packaging. Ensure that the fentanyl dosage matches the one prescribed by your doctor.
It may also help to create reminders or notes immediately after taking your prescription medication. You can write this in a journal or on your smartphone’s notepad. This can help you monitor and track your intake to avoid potential overdoses.
Practice Safe Fentanyl Use
If you’ve been asking, “Can fentanyl cause seizures,” now you know that it can. It may not happen to everyone who uses it, but when it does, it can be dangerous, even life-threatening.
So, if you now have to take this as a prescription medication for pain, please do so with care. Always follow your doctor’s instructions to minimize your risk of overdosing.
For more guides like this, explore our other health and wellness articles.