Changes in the consumption of immediate-release fentanyl between 2018 and 2022 in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife after the implementation of regulatory measures by health authorities.

In 2018, the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS) issued a warning regarding the increasing use of immediate-release fentanyl (IRF) in Spain and recommended strict adherence to the approved indications. In April 2019, the regional government modified the electronic prescribing system to support this objective. In July 2021, the Ministry of Health implemented a restrictive prescribing and dispensing measure to further ensure compliance with the authorized indications. We analyzed trends in transmucosal IRF consumption in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (SCTF) and across each of its constituent islands between 2018 and 2022. Additionally, we compared the evolution of IRF use in the province with national data for Spain. Data were obtained from pharmaceutical wholesalers supplying community pharmacies at the population level. IRF utilization was expressed as defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID). Linear regression models were applied to assess temporal trends. At baseline, IRF consumption in SCTF was approximately twice the national average. Marked heterogeneity in consumption patterns was observed across the different islands. Four distinct periods with differing trends were identified, three of which coincided with the implementation of new regulatory measures. Our findings indicate that annual IRF consumption in SCTF decreased by 54.76% between 2018 and 2022, representing a greater reduction than the national average. The 2018 warning had limited impact, whereas subsequent regional and national regulatory measures were associated with a substantial decline in IRF use.