Sublingual Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain



Status:Completed
Conditions:Chronic Pain, Chronic Pain, Pain
Therapuetic Areas:Musculoskeletal
Healthy:No
Age Range:18 - 70
Updated:4/2/2016
Start Date:April 2009
End Date:August 2009
Contact:Russell K Portenoy, MD
Email:Rportenoy@bethisrael.org
Phone:212-844-1505

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Sublingual Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain in Patients at Risk for Drug Abuse

The purpose of this study is to develop and pilot test clinical guidelines for the use of
buprenorphine for the treatment chronic pain among patients with substance abuse histories.
Buprenorphine, an opioid medication, holds promise as a treatment of chronic pain because,
compared to most other opioid analgesics, it has a high safety profile, a low level of
physical dependence, and mild withdrawal symptoms on cessation. Moreover there are promising
reports from Europe of its use as a skin patch to treat chronic pain as well as clinical
reports in the U.S. that it may be effective when used sublingually (placed under the
tongue). This study will test the sublingual formulation.


Inclusion Criteria:

Undergoing treatment for moderate-severe chronic pain for at least six months at either an
ambulatory practice of the Department of Pain and Palliative Medicine Beth Israel Medical
Center in New York City or the the Peter Kruger Clinic at the same institution.

Either

1. On opioid therapy (any dose) and observed to have had at least four of the aberrant
drug-related behaviors described in (Passik et al. Clin J Pain; 22(2):173-81 2006)
during the past six months, or

2. Considered a candidate for long-term therapy by the pain specialist and a history of
a substance use disorder, as determined by DSM-IV criteria, but no longer meeting
criteria for at least one year.

Age 18-70

Exclusion Criteria:

- Meets DSM-IV criteria for current opioid dependence or other substance use disorder
including alcohol abuse.

- Currently being treated for opioid dependence with methadone.

- Currently maintained on naltrexone (e.g., for alcohol dependence).

- Taking benzodiazepines on a daily basis.

- A history of moderate-severe cardiopulmonary disease or symptoms or signs consistent
with moderate-severe cardiopulmonary disease.

- Elevated liver function test (LFT) results (> 2.5 above normal).
We found this trial at
2
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305 1st Avenue # Dazian 7
New York, New York 10003
(212) 420-2806
Beth Israel Med Ctr The physicians and staff of Mount Sinai Beth Israel's Heart Institute...
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305 1st Avenue # Dazian 7
New York, New York 10003
(212) 420-2806
Beth Israel Med Ctr The physicians and staff of Mount Sinai Beth Israel's Heart Institute...
?
mi
from
New York, NY
Click here to add this to my saved trials