In the early days, Pentazocine (Fortwin) was known to be the safest substitute for morphine and a narcotic drug to treat chronic pain, without the fear of addiction. It belongs to the group of medicines called narcotic analgesics (pain medicines). It works by acting on the central nervous system to relieve pain.
Fortwin drug is an anaesthetic drug used in surgical cases. But if injected intravenously by an average person, it could act as a sedative.Regular usage or habit could turn one into an addict. Fortwin injections are sold strictly on prescription from certified doctors. Fortwin is the official brand name for pentazocine, an opioid (narcotic) drug that is used to treat moderate or moderately severe pain.
There are many brand names for pentazocine; Fortwin, among them, is an injectable form of this drug. It is often used as an anaesthetic before surgery. It can be injected by doctors or under their direction, usually administered on the thigh region.
Pentazocine injection is used before surgery or with a general anaesthetic to put the patient to sleep before surgery. It is also used to relieve moderate to severe pain. Pentazocine is an opioid pain medication, sometimes called a narcotic. This medicine is also used to relieve the severe pain experienced by women during delivery of a baby. Pentazocine specifically belongs to the narcotic analgesics group of medicines.
Opioid medicines include fentanyl, hydrocodone, morphine, oxycodone, and many others. They can do more harm to the body rather than pain relief, if used without adherence to prescription. Another type of Fortwin injection use is as a preoperative or pre-anaesthetic medication as well as a supplementation to surgical anaesthesia to maintain anaesthetic effect. Thus, Pentazocine or Fortwin injection can slow or stop the breathing process. Fortwin injection is a synthetic narcotic drug that is used as a painkiller. Neurons excite and give pain signals to the brain. Pentazocine helps reduce neuron excitability by inhibiting the action of mu-opioid receptors and promoting the action of kappa opioid receptors.
Misuse or overdose of Fortwin injection or pentazocine can cause addiction or death, especially in cases where the medicine is used without a prescription. You should not use Pentazocine or Fortwin injection if you are allergic to it or if you have breathing problems or any lung diseases; stomach or bowel obstructions; asthma or sulfite allergy; seizures, head injury, brain tumour; digestive tract blockage in stomach or intestines etc.; low or high blood pressure; alcoholism; drug addiction; mental illness; a history of heart disease or heart attack, kidney or liver diseases; or problems with your gallbladder or adrenal gland.
Consumption of drugs (opioids) in any form can have adverse effects on an individual. So, before you start any medication, you must weigh in all the risks associated with it.
Intake of Fortwin drugs must be well thought out because of the risks of addiction, abuse, and misuse. Besides, accidental overdose of the drug can be fatal.
Pentazocine Side Effects
Some of the common side effects of Pentazocine Lactate Solution are – an extreme sense of wellbeing or euphoria, diarrhoea, dizziness, drowsiness, excessive sweating, inducing of a relaxed easy state, nausea, vomiting.
Some other rare but dangerous pentazocine side effects are
If your health care provider recommends you to consume pentazocine, you should consider the following risks:
Allergies: Be truthful and tell your doctor about any earlier or unusual signs or allergic reactions to any of the opioids. If you have a medical history of any other form of allergies from food, dyes, animals, etc. mention it as well.
Risky for children: None of the studies conducted by far has ascertained the safety of the usage of pentazocine injection in kids of up to 16 years of age. This is especially true for infants and newborns, and hence, necessary precautions must be undertaken.
Risky for elderly: Similar to paediatrics, none of the studies demonstrates geriatric-specific problems that limit the benefits of pentazocine injection in aged individuals.
However, senior citizens have more probability of facing the aftereffects in comparison to the younger folks. They might suffer from kidney-related issues and others due to which a significant change in the dosage for patients who receive pentazocine (Fortwin) drug injection may be required.
Risks during pregnancy: In general, opioids like Fortwin are known to cross the placental barrier and are contraindicated in pregnant women. So, prolonged usage of opioids can lead to withdrawal signs in the neonate.
Abrupt discontinuation of opioids usage can lead to pregnancy complications (miscarriage / still-birth). If you’re breastfeeding, you must analyze the pentazocine side effects and other risks carefully before administering the medicine to the women.
Contraindications with other drugs: Generally, it’s advised to avoid combining two different medicines as it can adversely affect your wellbeing. However, there are cases when it’s okay to intake two or more medicines together even if an interaction might occur.
In such cases, your doctor might adjust your dosage, or recommend other precautions. In case you’re taking opioids like Fortwin (pentazocine), your medical advisor must have complete knowledge of whether you’re taking any other medicines. Avoid drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing like a sleeping pill, muscle relaxer, tranquiliser, antidepressant, or antipsychotic medicine. If you are on prescribed medication, then do inform your doctor in advance.
Kindly avoid taking Fortwin injection dose with the following medicines as it can hamper your mental and physical health:
Risks associated with alcohol consumption: The consumption of alcohol or tobacco along with medicines can also lead to interactions and may trigger certain side effects.
To avoid mishappenings, the doctor may change your dosage intake or give you special instructions regarding the consumption of certain foods, alcohol, or tobacco.
Staying safe: Precautions to take if you are prescribed Fortwin (Pentazocine)
To ensure the medicines aren’t affecting you negatively, you must take them as prescribed by your doctor. If one overdoses the fortwin uses or abuses it for more than the duration listed by the medical practitioner, the consequences can be dangerous.
Each medicine comes with a predefined instructions list. So, for best results, follow the directions listed on the prescription label and notify your doctor if the medicine doesn’t seem to be working or has stopped relieving your pain.
Generally, Fortwin is given as an injection under the skin, into a muscle, or a vein under the guidance of your doctor or healthcare provider.
If you’re at home and want to inject it by yourself, you’re given proper training for the same wherein you learn how to use the injection and dispose of the needles and syringes properly. In case you have doubts understanding the process, it’s better to avoid self-injecting this medicine.
Collect all used syringes and needles into a puncture-proof bag and keep it out of the reach of your kids and pets.
Since, Fortwin drug is usually given in the form of an injection, inserting it at the same place tends to weaken your internal tissues and muscles within that area.
So, inject the medicine at different places on your body and seek the help of your medical practitioner to understand the right places on your body where you can inject the medicine without worrying about your safety.
Note: Do not mix pentazocine with other medicines in the same syringe or IV line. Use separate needles each time and dispose of them. Keep your pentazocine injection at room temperature and away from heat, moisture, and light.
In case, you missed out a dose, take it immediately. However, if it’s already time for your next dosage, it’s better to skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. The overdose of medicine can harm you, so avoid it.
The quantity of medicine varies from person to person and depends on the strength of the medicine. The number of injections (each day), the timeline, and the duration all depend on the intensity of the medical problem you are treating.
However, as a practice, you mustn’t stop using pentazocine as it can trigger unwanted withdrawal symptoms like:
So, always consult your doctor first and then stop your medications to avoid above-listed aftereffects.
The signs of overdose are similar to general cases of immediate withdrawal. The Fortwin content mostly comprises opioids. So, if you’re using an opioid of any kind and feel there’s an overdose, it’s always better to seek emergency medical care.
Side effects of the pentazocine can be seen under two conditions. One condition is when there is an overdosage of the drug and another is when a person develops dependency towards it.
You can also keep a check on the following symptoms to better understand your situation:
Overdose side effects
It is usually combined with other forms of drugs or alcohol. Some of these combinations can be deadly as it slows down the central nervous system and results in coma and eventually death.
Dependency side effects
Pentazocine usage may result in dependency but under doctor’s supervision, it can be stopped with no withdrawal symptoms. But once the addiction becomes severe and when the individual’s choice of drug is unavailable, the effect becomes adverse.
Fortwin drug should not be used when there is a brain injury or damage and when a person is allergic. Pregnant women should also avoid its usage.
Opioids may have a negative reaction to the body and brain. Fortwin injection addiction treatment will require professional help, and this usually begins with medical detox. Here are some treatment processes that are used to beat fortwin addiction
When a patient is suffering from a fortwin injection addiction, they are dependent on the drug as well. Dependence is not the case, always, because it does refer to a scenario where someone is physically used to the presence and effects of the drug.
When a medical professional wants the patient to stop depending on fortwin, then they have to expect certain withdrawal signs that can get intense; it’s vital that professionals know how to handle the withdrawal symptoms and make the patient feel as comfortable as possible.
Before a patient begins with addiction treatment, they have to go through a full medical detox, from all substances. During a fortwin detox, the patients will go through withdrawal in a controlled setting, where it will be managed by a professional. The setting will provide constant care and 24/7 supervision.
Once the patient is fully detoxed from fortwin injection side effects, along with any other substances that they might use, they may begin the rehabilitation program.
A fortwin addiction treatment program is a way of helping patients suffering from substance abuse and addiction and stopping them from seeking and using drugs compulsively.
Many people don’t understand that addiction, especially drug addiction, is a chronic disorder that affects your mental and physical health. It also negatively impacts a person’s life, along with their loved ones as well.
Fortwin addiction treatments are evidence-based, and it can include a combination of modified treatments. For instance, opioid addiction treatments can include a combination of behavioural and pharmaceutical therapies to induce the best outcomes.
There are no standard treatment plans, they are highly individualized because no two patients have the same needs or addictions.
Inpatient Fortwin rehab programs can be short or long term treatments. The inpatient program can last from 28 days to six months or more. Some of the key features and benefits of an inpatient program are-
This program is where a patient participates in treatments after a residential stay, and this is the only type of treatment they can participate in. Outpatient rehabs are less structured and there is no residential element like inpatient programs.
There are intensive outpatient programs, but the patient stay home and not at the centre. Outpatient rehab centres will allow the patients more flexibility, and they can continue with their personal and professional commitments while receiving the necessary treatments.
However, this rehabilitation program is not recommended for someone who lacks support from their family and is surrounded by an environment that is stressful and triggers their addiction.
Fourteen per cent of all those who have been prescribed pentazocine for medical use will get addicted to it. So, there are high chances that it can cause dependency. However, with medical supervision and doctor’s advice, the dosage can be reduced gradually with no withdrawal symptoms.
Call us @ 96111 94949 to learn more about Fortwin or opioid-related treatment and deaddiction options.