Journal of pain & palliative care pharmacotherapy
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J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother · Mar 2022
Application Site Reactions from the Buprenorphine Transdermal Patch: A Case Series.
Buprenorphine is a partial mu-opioid agonist available as a transdermal patch for use in patients with chronic pain. Transdermal products can be associated with application site reactions (ASRs). The incidence of ASRs to the buprenorphine transdermal patch (BTP) have been described as low and seldom requiring patch discontinuation. ⋯ The strength at which an ASR emerged varied among subjects; however, all ASRs developed with BTP strengths 10 mcg/hr or higher. The dose-response relationship and prolonged onset to ASR emergence may be suggestive of an allergic delayed hypersensitivity reaction. However, in this case series three subjects demonstrated tolerability to BBF either before or after developing a skin reaction to BTP.
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J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother · Mar 2022
Microinduction to Buprenorphine from Methadone for Chronic Pain: Outpatient Protocol with Case Examples.
The negative sequelae of full mu agonist chronic opioid analgesic therapy (COAT) are numerous and well documented. One safer alternative to COAT use in chronic, non-cancer pain (CNCP) is a transition to buprenorphine. ⋯ Presented here are clinical cases transitioned to buprenorphine from methadone via a novel microinduction protocol during enrollment in an outpatient, group, integrative, multidisciplinary program. The protocol was successful to promote satisfactory and sustained COAT cessation for patients with CNCP and is arguably safer than current conventional practices.
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J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother · Mar 2022
An Evaluation of Docusate Monotherapy and the Prevention of Opioid-Induced Constipation after Surgery.
Our purpose was to determine if docusate monotherapy is effective in preventing opioid-induced constipation in patients receiving opioids following orthopedic surgery. Our single-center, retrospective, cohort study evaluated 212 orthopedic patients who received opioids between May 1, 2018, and December 31, 2018. All patients were aged 18 years and older, hospitalized for more than 48 hours, and received docusate for primary prevention of constipation post-operatively. ⋯ Docusate monotherapy was not effective in preventing constipation in patients receiving opioids following elective orthopedic surgery. Based on these findings, we propose utilization of stimulant bowel products with proven efficacy as primary therapy after surgery to prevent constipation. Future multi-centered, randomized controlled trials are necessary to evaluate the differences in efficacy and safety between common bowel regimens in treating opioid-induced constipation in patients who undergo elective orthopedic surgery.
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J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother · Mar 2022
Benefits of Intranasal Administration of Diamorphine and Midazolam in the Management of Patients Receiving Palliative Care in the Community: A Case Series.
Opioids and benzodiazepines are cornerstones of the pharmacological management of pain and agitation in palliative medicine. Oral drug delivery is the most popular route of administration, with the subcutaneous route typically utilized where oral medications are not tolerated or are ineffective. Intranasal drug delivery offers an important alternative administration route, with benefits including ease of administration, tolerability and avoidance of needle use, and is particularly useful in the community, where medications may be administered by lay carers or by patients themselves. ⋯ We describe the management of three patients under the community palliative care team who received intranasal diamorphine, two of whom also received intranasal midazolam, to manage breakthrough symptoms of pain and agitation at home. In each case, the patient or their relative was taught how to prepare and administer the relevant intranasal medication. This case series demonstrates that for selected patients, diamorphine and midazolam administered intranasally by patients or lay carers at home is efficacious, acceptable and generally well tolerated.