Fentanyl could be administered in different ways. In a medical setting, fentanyl is given in the form of tablets, lozenges, injections, and skin patches. These methods are highly controlled and given in very specific doses. The odds of overdose are low when fentanyl is being administered by medical professionals in clinical settings.
However, when used recreationally, the risk of overdosing on fentanyl is high, especially depending on the method of administration. Some forms of fentanyl intake are higher risk because more fentanyl enters the body quicker. For example, injecting fentanyl into the veins is a high-risk behaviour. Its effects are immediate, and the likelihood of overdose is very high because injection immediately leads to a higher amount of the drug in the body.
Some routes of administration include intravenous, inhalation, intramuscular, transdermal, oral, intranasal.
Intravenously: injection into the vein. The drug enters the system immediately and has the fastest effect. The drug is being delivered in high amounts to the organs rapidly, and this might have toxic effects. This method carries the highest risk of overdose.
Inhalation: inhaling the drug into the lungs can be done by smoking it. This route has a quick effect but is lower risk than injection. Inhaled drugs go directly to the specific organ they’re meant to target, which means you can use a lower amount compared to taking pills or injecting. As a result, there is a lower risk of unwanted outcomes, such as overdosing, with inhalation than with injection.
Intramuscular: this route of administration involves injecting the drug deep beneath the skin into the muscle. This route results in very quick absorption of the drug and may result in unpredictable effects. Following intramuscular administration, effects can be felt from seven to eight minutes, and the duration of the effects is one to two hours.
Transdermal: often done using fentanyl patches on top of the skin. This method is often used in clinical settings and is relatively low risk due to the slower rate of absorption of the drug into the blood circulation.
Oral: involves consuming a pill, powder, lozenge, buccal tablet (dissolves in the mouth, placed between gums and cheek), sublingual tablet or spray (dissolves/placed under tongue). Taking fentanyl orally may have less of an effect than other routes, due to a lower amount of the drug being available in the bloodstream.
Intranasal: administered through the nose as a spray. Has a slower onset of action than intravenous administration, although this route still has a rapid effect on the brain centers. Effects can be felt in 2-10 mins, and last for 30-60 mins. The risks associated with fentanyl nasal spray remain high, as it may cause serious harm (such as respiratory problems) or even death.
