Transmucosal Immediate-Release Fentanyl (TIRF) Medicines

TIRF (transmucosal immediate-release fentanyl) medicines contain fentanyl, a prescription opioid (narcotic) pain reliever. TIRF medicines are used to manage breakthrough pain in adults with cancer who are routinely taking other opioid pain medicines around-the-clock for pain.

Breakthrough pain is pain that comes on suddenly for short periods of time and is not alleviated by a patient’s normal pain management plan. To use the TIRF medicines safely, these patients must be opioid tolerant based on concurrent regular use of another opioid medication.

TIRF medicines include Abstral (fentanyl) sublingual tablet, Actiq (fentanyl citrate) oral transmucosal lozenge and its generic equivalents, Fentora (fentanyl citrate) buccal tablet, Lazanda (fentanyl) nasal spray, and Onsolis (fentanyl) buccal soluble film.