Frequently Asked Questions
The frequently asked questions (FAQs) section of the site will help answer many of the questions you may have about getting started and using Onsolis. If you have any questions about taking Onsolis, please call your health care provider's office right away.
About Onsolis
Finding the Right Dose
Important Things to Know
Getting Started
Using Onsolis
What to Expect
Onsolis® has been chosen as part of your treatment program. Onsolis is used only for the treatment of breakthrough pain in patients with cancer, 18 years of age or older, who are already taking another opioid for their constant cancer pain and their body is used to this medicine (opioid tolerant). Patients are opioid tolerant if they are taking at least: 60 mg oral (by mouth) morphine/day, 25 mcg transdermal (patch) fentanyl/hour, 30 mg of oral oxycodone/day, 8 mg oral hydromorphone/day, 25 mg oral oxymorphone/day, or another opioid at a dose shown to provide similar relief, for 1 week or longer.
Onsolis must not be used in patients who are not opioid tolerant because life threatening breathing problems could occur. For this reason, you should not use Onsolis if you only have pain for a short time, pain from surgery, headache, migraine, or dental pain. Onsolis should not be used in the emergency room.
Only patients with cancer who can tolerate opioid pain medicines should use Onsolis. Only health care providers with experience in treating cancer pain with these medicines should prescribe Onsolis.
Onsolis is a unique delivery system. It is fentanyl in a small film that sticks to the inside of your cheek and usually dissolves within 15 to 30 minutes after application. Once it's applied, Onsolis stays in place and does not need to be moved around in your mouth. In studies Onsolis provided relief in many patients in 30 minutes. The duration of breakthrough pain varies from patient to patient. Onsolis was studied in a trial that showed effective pain relief up to 60 minutes. However, relief may vary from patient to patient.
