alfentanil

Alfentanil is a synthetic, short-acting opioid analgesic and anesthetic, classified as a small-molecule derivative of fentanyl. It acts as an agonist at the μ-opioid receptor, producing potent analgesia and sedation by binding to stereospecific receptors in the central nervous system. Alfentanil is characterized by its rapid onset (four times faster than fentanyl) and short duration of action (one-third that of fentanyl), making it suitable for use during surgical procedures requiring quick but not long-lasting pain control. Its primary indications are as an adjunct or primary agent for anesthesia during surgery, including cardiac surgery, and for monitored anesthesia care. The drug was discovered at Janssen Pharmaceutica in 1976[5][1][2][7].

Brand names

Alfenta

Other names

alfentanil hydrochloridealfentanil HCl