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Data updated: May 26, 2026

SUFENTA PRESERVATIVE FREE (sufentanil citrate)

Pain Approved 1984-05-04

Sufentanil Citrate is a potent opioid agonist indicated for use in adult and pediatric patients as an analgesic adjunct in balanced general anesthesia or as a primary anesthetic agent with 100% oxygen during major surgical procedures (e.g., cardiovascular or neurosurgery). It is specifically utilized in intubated and ventilated patients to maintain myocardial and cerebral oxygen balance or when extended postoperative ventilation is anticipated. Additionally, it is indicated for epidural administration in combination with low-dose bupivacaine for analgesia during labor and vaginal delivery.

Source: FDA Label • RISING

How SUFENTA PRESERVATIVE FREE Works

Sufentanil is a highly potent opioid agonist. It provides analgesia and anesthesia through its action on opioid receptors in the central nervous system. When used as an adjunct in balanced general anesthesia, sufentanil is approximately 10 times as potent as fentanyl. When administered as a primary anesthetic agent with 100% oxygen, it is approximately 5 to 7 times as potent as fentanyl.

2
Indications
--
Phase 3 Trials
1
Priority Reviews
42
Years on Market

Details

Status
Prescription
First Approved
1984-05-04
Routes
INJECTION
Dosage Forms
INJECTABLE

Companies

Active Ingredient: SUFENTANIL CITRATE

SUFENTA PRESERVATIVE FREE Approval History

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Original
New Indication
New Form
Label Update
30 FDA actions from 1984 to 2025 · 1 indication expansions
Dec 2025 SUPPL
Label · Labeling
Dec 2023 SUPPL
Label · Labeling
Oct 2019 SUPPL
Label · Labeling

What SUFENTA PRESERVATIVE FREE Treats

1 indications

SUFENTA PRESERVATIVE FREE is approved for 1 conditions since its original approval in 1984. These indications span multiple therapeutic areas including oncology, immunology, and more.

  • Labor Pain
Source: FDA Label

SUFENTA PRESERVATIVE FREE Boxed Warning

SERIOUS AND LIFE-THREATENING RISKS FROM USE OF SUFENTANIL CITRATE ‎INJECTION Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse Because the use of Sufentanil Citrate Injection exposes patients and other users to the risks of opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death, assess each patient's risk prior to prescribing and reassess all patients regularly for the development of these behaviors and conditions ‎[see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ]‎ . Life-Threatening Respiratory Depression Se...

SUFENTA PRESERVATIVE FREE Competitive Set

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Filters applied: drops same-active-ingredient (505(b)(2) reformulations), route-mismatch (topical vs systemic), and cross-therapeutic-area matches in same-indication rings.

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Clinical Trial Registry

4 trials
Trial Sponsor ID Phase Status Title
NCT06530563 XiangyaHMZK Ph 4 not yet recruiting the Efficacy and Safety of Oliceridine Fumarate Injection for Acute Pain After Abdominal Surgery
NCT05831345 CHUB-Methadone Ph 3 recruiting Intraoperative Methadone for the Prevention of Postoperative Pain
NCT03685188 WCH2018086 Ph 4 enrolling by invitation Oxycodone and Sufentanil for Analgesia in Hip Surgery
NCT00738192 CARAN NMU-FY2008-311 NJFY0807311M Ph 4 completed Comparison of Analgesic Efficacy of Fentanyl, Sufentanil and Butorphanol After Remifentanil Anesthesia
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Active Pipeline

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Key Completed Trials

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Completed studies with published results, ranked by significance

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Trial Timeline

Full development history with FDA approval milestones

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Understanding FDA Approval Types
Count Type What it means
- ORIG Original approval - drug first enters market
- SUPPL - Efficacy New indication (new disease/condition approved)
- SUPPL - Labeling Label text changes (warnings, dosing updates)
- SUPPL - Manufacturing Production changes (new facility)
- SUPPL - Chemistry Formulation changes (new dosage strength)

Green lines in the timeline show ORIG and Efficacy approvals - the clinically meaningful milestones.

SUFENTA PRESERVATIVE FREE FDA Label Details

Indications & Usage

FDA Label (PDF)

SUFENTA PRESERVATIVE FREE is indicated for the treatment of Labor Pain.

⚠️ BOXED WARNING

WARNING: SERIOUS AND LIFE-THREATENING RISKS FROM USE OF SUFENTANIL CITRATE ‎INJECTION Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse Because the use of Sufentanil Citrate Injection exposes patients and other users to the risks of opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death, assess each p...

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Data Sources

Data sourced from official FDA and NIH databases. Click links to verify on original sources.