What is the purpose of transdermal fentanyl patches?

• A. They are useful for continuous pain control, not rapid pain control.
• B. They provide rapid onset analgesia.
• C. They cure chronic illnesses.
• D. They prevent pain from becoming worse.

Answer: (A)

Transdermal fentanyl patches are designed to provide steady, long‑acting analgesia for ongoing, chronic pain. The patch releases fentanyl slowly through the skin and maintains a continuous level in the bloodstream over several days, which makes them ideal for background pain control rather than for immediate relief. Because of the slow onset, they do not deliver rapid pain relief and are not used to cure illnesses or prevent pain from getting worse on a short-term basis. For breakthrough or acute episodes, additional short-acting analgesics are typically needed.