Transdermal buprenorphine for moderate chronic noncancer pain syndromes

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Chronic noncancer pain has remained a challenging clinical problem. Opioid analgesics are effective, but they are known to be associated with opioid use disorder and potentially treatment-limiting side effects. Buprenorphine is a Schedule III synthetic opioid in the USA with a chemical structure similar to that of morphine but with a longer duration of action, greater potency, and other unique pharmacological attributes. Its role in treatment of chronic noncancer pain may be broader than currently thought.

Areas covered: The pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, clinical efficacy, and safety profile of transdermal buprenorphine in moderate chronic noncancer pain syndromes patients will be discussed.

Expert commentary: Buprenorphine offers effective analgesia in the form of a Schedule III drug (rather than Schedule II such as oxycodone or morphine) and transdermal buprenorphine is a convenient, accepted, around-the-clock pain reliever. Its lower potential for abuse should make it a more desirable pain reliever but many payers do not reimburse buprenorphine, driving prescribers and their patients to generic versions of the riskier Schedule II oral opioids such as oxycodone and morphine.

KEYWORDS:

• Opioid analgesics
• buprenorphine
• chronic pain
• chronic noncancer pain
• transdermal patch

Declaration of interest

J.V Pergolizzi has acted as a consultant/speaker and researcher for Baxter, BioDelivery Sciences International, Collegium Pharmaceutical, Daiichi Sankyo, Depomed, Endo International, Grunenthal GmhB, Inspirion Pharmaceuticals, Iroko Pharmaceuticals, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, Mundi Pharma, and Purdue Pharma, and is COO of NEMA Research. F Coluzzi has served as speaker and consultant for Grunenthal GmhB. R Taylor Jr. is an employee of NEMA Research. Medical writing and editorial assistance was provided by Jo Ann LeQuang of LeQ Medical. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.