Alfentanil

Alfentanil

File:Alfentanil.png
Clinical data
Routes of administration	Intravenous
ATC code	N01AH02 (WHO)
Legal status
Legal status	US: Schedule II
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	Not applicable
Protein binding	92%
Metabolism	Hepatic
Elimination half-life	90–111 minutes
Identifiers
IUPAC name N-[1-[2-(4-ethyl-5-oxo-1,4-dihydrotetrazol-1-yl)ethyl]- 4-(methoxymethyl)-4-piperidyl]-N-phenyl-propanamide
CAS Number	71195-58-9
PubChem CID	189496
DrugBank	APRD00726
E number	{{#property:P628}}
ECHA InfoCard	{{#property:P2566}}
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C21H32N6O3
Molar mass	416.517 g/mol
Melting point	140.8 °C (285.44 °F)

Alfentanil (trade name Alfenta) is a potent but short-acting synthetic opioid analgesic drug, used for anaesthesia in surgery. It is an analogue of fentanyl with 10-20% the potency of fentanyl. It is an OP3 mu-agonist.

While alfentanil tends to cause less cardiovascular complications than other similar drugs such as fentanyl and remifentanil it tends to give stronger respiratory depression and so requires careful monitoring of breathing and vital signs. Alfentanil is administered by the parenteral (injected) route for fast onset of effects and precise control of dosage.

Alfentanil is a restricted drug which is classified as Schedule II in the USA, according to the U.S. DEA website.

Alfentanil was discovered at Janssen Pharmaceutica in 1976.

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