Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, a specific µ-agonist, with approximately 100 times the potency of morphine. The effects of fentanyl are indistinguishable from those produced by insufflation of street heroin, however fentanyl is much more potent and has high abuse potential. In the late 1970s, fentanyl appeared in the illicit drug market with over 12 different analogues having been produced clandestinely and identified by the USA DEA. Intravenous administration is most commonly used but fentanyl can also be smoked or insufflated. Fentanyl is extensively metabolised, with only 0.4 to 6% of the dose excreted in urine as unchanged drug. The main metabolite of fentanyl is norfentanyl.
Cross Reactivity
| Analyte |
Compound |
Cross Reactivity %
|
| Fentanyl
LOD: 0.67 ng/mL
|
Norfentanyl |
100 |
|
Fentanyl
|
790
|
|
Benzylfentanyl
|
134
|
|
|
Thienylfentanyl
|
121
|
|
|
Acetylfentanyl
|
37
|
|
|
w-hydroxyfentanyl
|
37
|
|
|
(± )cis-3-methylfentanyl
|
31
|
|
|
α-methylfentanyl
|
20
|
|
|
Alfentanil
|
<1
|
|
|
Carfentanil
|
<1
|
|
|
Despropionylfentanyl
|
<1
|
|
|
Lofentanil
|
<1
|
|
|
Mazindol
|
<1
|
|
|
Remifentanil
|
<1
|
|
|
Sufentanil
|
<1
|
