title: Buprenorphine: a unique opioid with broad clinical applications.
abstract: The analgesic potential of buprenorphine, a high-affinity partial mu agonist, has been a subject of study for several decades. The drug is now widely recognized as being extremely effective in relieving perioperative pain, with little of the addictive potential or risk associated with pure I agonists. Studies have suggested that buprenorphine produces adequate analgesia via almost any route of administration, including transdermal and subcutaneous. It has also been used, with positive results, in the treatment of opioid addiction, and potential remains for research into other roles, e.g., as an anti-inflammatory agent or an antihyperalgesic medication.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
authors: Nalini
authors: N
authors: Vadivelu
authors: Roberta L
authors: RL
authors: Hines
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta / Q000187:drug effects; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000819:agonists*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D002047:Buprenorphine