This invention provides a composition for the intranasal delivery of fentanyl or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to an animal comprising an aqueous solution of fentanyl or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable additive selected from (i) a pectin and (ii) a poloxamer and chitosan or a salt or derivative thereof provided that when the composition comprises a pectin it is substantially free of divalent metal ions and which, in comparison to a simple aqueous solution of fentanyl administered intranasally at the same dose, provides a peak plasma concentration of fentanyl (Cmax) that is from 10 to 80% of that achieved using a simple aqueous solution of fentanyl administered intranasally at an identical fentanyl dose.
