[Treatment of chronic osteoarthritis pain: effectivity and safety of a 7 day matrix patch with a low dose buprenorphine].

Abstract

Patients with osteoarthritis often suffer from chronic pain. If pain treatment with NSAIDS and coxibes is no longer indicated, a constant and user friendly opioid analgesia can be achieved with a low dose buprenorphine patch being applicated using an interval of 7 days. The use of this matrix patch was evaluated in a multicenter observational study on 4263 patients in clinical practice. During treatment a significant decrease of mean pain intensity on a 11-point scale could be observed from 6.9 points before using the patch to 2.9 points at the end of observation. Further effects were a decrease of additional analgetic medication and an improvement of aspects of life quality, e.g. mobility and quality of sleep. Only in 4.5% of the patients adverse effects were observed, reflecting the expected range of adverse effects of opioids. Thus it could be demonstrated that the use of the transdermal patch is an effective, user friendly and safe way of chronic pain relief for osteoarthritis patients.

• Authors: Ulf Schutter, Ingrid Ritzdorf, Birgit Heckes
• Journal: MMW Fortschritte der Medizin (MMW Fortschr Med) Vol. 150 Suppl 2 Pg. 96-103 (Jun 26 2008) ISSN: 1438-3276 [Print] Germany
• Vernacular Title: Chronische Arthroseschmerzen: Effektivität und Verträglichkeit eines 7-Tage-Pflasters mit niedrig dosiertem Buprenorphin. Ergebnisse einer multizentrischen Anwendungsbeobachtung.
• PMID: 18712130 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, English Abstract, Journal Article, Multicenter Study)

Chemical References

• Analgesics, Opioid
• Buprenorphine

Topics

• Administration, Cutaneous
• Administration, Sublingual
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Analgesics, Opioid (administration & dosage)
• Buprenorphine (administration & dosage)
• Chronic Disease
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Osteoarthritis, Hip (drug therapy)
• Osteoarthritis, Knee (drug therapy)
• Pain Measurement
• Prospective Studies