Buprenorphine for Cancer Pain in Patients With Nonmedical Opioid Use: A Retrospective Study at a Comprehensive Cancer Center

• Published in: American journal of hospice & palliative medicine Vol. 37; no. 5; p. 350
• Main Authors: Hansen, Eric, Nadagoundla, Chitra, Wang, Chong, Miller, Austin, Case, Amy Allen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.05.2020
• Subjects: Analgesics, Opioid - administration & dosage; Analgesics, Opioid - therapeutic use; Buprenorphine - administration & dosage; Buprenorphine - therapeutic use; Cancer Pain - drug therapy; Comorbidity; Female; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders - epidemiology; Middle Aged; Opioid-Related Disorders - epidemiology; Prescription Drug Overuse - statistics & numerical data; Retrospective Studies; cancer pain; buprenorphine; opioid misuse; substance use disorder; nonmedical opioid use; chemical coping; non-nociceptive pain

Outpatients with cancer commonly have nonmedical opioid use (NMOU) behaviors and use opioids to dull emotional and existential suffering. Buprenorphine is often used for cancer pain due to less reported euphoria when compared to other opioids. A retrospective review was done in patients who were pre...