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The utilization of buprenorphine in chronic pain
Best Practice and Research: Clinical Anaesthesiology
  • Ivan Urits, Harvard Medical School
  • Cynthia Pham, Georgetown University School of Medicine
  • Daniel Swanson, Georgetown University School of Medicine
  • Kevin Berardino, Georgetown University School of Medicine
  • Prudhvi Bandi, University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
  • Ariunzaya Amgalan, Georgetown University School of Medicine
  • Rachel J. Kaye, Medical University of South Carolina
  • Jai Won Jung, Georgetown University School of Medicine
  • Alan David Kaye, Louisiana State University Health Science Center
  • Antonella Paladini, Università degli Studi dell'Aquila
  • Giustino Varrassi, Paolo Procacci Foundation
  • Adam M. Kaye, University of the Pacific
  • Laxmaiah Manchikanti, Pain Management Centers of America
  • Omar Viswanath, University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
ORCiD
Adam M. Kaye: 0000-0002-7224-3322
Document Type
Article
DOI
10.1016/j.bpa.2020.06.005
Publication Date
9-1-2020
Abstract

Reclassification of chronic pain as a disease may be helpful because patients with chronic pain require significant treatment and rehabilitation with a clear diagnosis. This can help address critical factors including suffering, quality of life, participation, and with family and social life, which continue to become more important in evaluating the quality of the health care we give our patients today. During the past decade of the opioid epidemic, methadone was the primary treatment for opioid addiction until buprenorphine was approved. Buprenorphine's high-affinity partial agonist properties make it a good alternative to methadone due to lower abuse potential and safer adverse effect profile while maintaining significant efficacy. Expanded out-patient prescribing options have allowed physician and physician extenders such as physician assistants and nurse practitioners to treat these patients that otherwise would have been required to utilize methadone. With unique pharmacological properties, buprenorphine is a safe and effective analgesic for chronic pain. The literature for buprenorphine shows great potential for its utilization in the treatment of chronic pain.

Citation Information
Ivan Urits, Cynthia Pham, Daniel Swanson, Kevin Berardino, et al.. "The utilization of buprenorphine in chronic pain" Best Practice and Research: Clinical Anaesthesiology Vol. 34 Iss. 3 (2020) p. 355 - 368 ISSN: 1532-169X
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/adam-kaye/130/