Systematic Review of Adverse Events of Buprenorphine Patch Versus Fentanyl Patch in Patients with Chronic Moderate-To-Severe Pain

Abstract

SUMMARY This systematic review compares convenience of administration, adverse events and tolerability of buprenorphine patch with fentanyl patch in patients with chronic pain. Methods of quantitative and qualitative research were combined. Seventeen databases were searched up to December 2010. A total of 49 unique trials (56 publications) were included. Patients regarded the use of patches, both transdermal buprenorphine and fentanyl, as easy and convenient. Compared with buprenorphine patch, fentanyl can cause more cases of constipation and could lead to a higher number of serious adverse events. There were no differences between buprenorphine patch and fentanyl patch regarding dizziness, somnolence, nausea and treatment discontinuation. Overall, transdermal administration of buprenorphine and fentanyl can be seen as an alternative pathway for delivering these drugs. Use of transdermal buprenorphine might be favorable in certain groups of patients, such as renally impaired, elderly and immunosuppressed patients.

Disclaimer

J Kleijnen developed the concept for the project. K Misso formulated the search strategy and carried out searches. Study inclusion, quality assessment and data extraction were done by RF Wolff, K Reid, M di Nisio, D Aune, C Truyers, AV Hernandez and R Riemsma. Grünenthal GmbH was given the opportunity to comment on the draft paper, but the authors had full editorial freedom.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This study was sponsored by Grünenthal GmbH. 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.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This study was sponsored by Grünenthal GmbH. 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. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.