Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: IONSYS versus XTAMPZA ER.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: IONSYS versus XTAMPZA ER.
IONSYS vs XTAMPZA ER
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
IONSYS is an iontophoretic delivery system for fentanyl, a mu-opioid receptor agonist. Fentanyl binds to mu-opioid receptors in the CNS, inhibiting ascending pain pathways and altering pain perception and emotional response.
Oxycodone is a full mu-opioid receptor agonist, producing analgesia, euphoria, and sedation. Xtampza ER utilizes DETERx technology to provide extended-release properties and resist tampering.
Apply one 40 mcg fentanyl iontophoretic transdermal system to skin on upper arm or chest; delivers 40 mcg per dose on-demand for up to 24 hours or 80 doses, whichever is shorter. Maximum 2 doses per hour, 6 doses per application. Patient must be opioid-tolerant.
Initial: 9 mg orally every 12 hours with food; titrate by 9 mg every 3-7 days as needed; maximum dose: 36 mg every 12 hours.
None Documented
None Documented
Terminal elimination half-life: 16.3 ± 9.1 hours for fentanyl released from IONSYS; accounts for prolonged release from depot and is longer than intravenous fentanyl (3-12 hours).
3-4 hours for immediate-release morphine; 8-12 hours for extended-release formulation (XTAMPZA ER), allowing twice-daily dosing
Renal: approximately 90% as fentanyl metabolites (mainly norfentanyl) and less than 10% as unchanged drug; fecal: less than 10%.
Primarily renal (70-90% as morphine-3-glucuronide, morphine-6-glucuronide, and free morphine); biliary/fecal (10-20%)
Category C
Category C
Opioid Analgesic
Opioid Analgesic