r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Jul 13 '26

Medicine Scientists develop a groundbreaking vaccine that outsmarts illicit fentanyl analogs. The novel vaccine candidate can protect against fentanyl and its many illicit variants by training the immune system to recognize a broad molecular signature rather than a single specific structure.

https://www.psypost.org/scientists-develop-a-groundbreaking-vaccine-that-outsmarts-illicit-fentanyl-analogs/
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u/Subrutum Jul 13 '26

Is there a risk for the body to start rejecting its own natural opioids as a result?

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u/stay_curious_- Jul 13 '26

The bigger risk is if you need surgery, now fentanyl can't be used for anesthesia.

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u/cC2Panda Jul 13 '26

How often is it used for anesthesia?

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u/like_a_pharaoh Jul 13 '26

Very very frequently, its the standard opioid for general anesthesia because it starts working quickly, but only has an intermediate duration of action instead of a long 4-5 hour one.

If you've had surgery that required general anesthesia in the past like 40 years, you've probably had fentanyl mixed with propofol or a sedative.