Opioid formulations in development designed to curtail abuse: who is the target?
BACKGROUND
Opioids are increasingly prescribed for chronic cancer and noncancer pain, and misuse, abuse, and diversion have risen dramatically. Formulations are being developed with the intent to curtail abuse through physical barriers that resist alteration, inclusion of excipients that antagonize opioid effects when altered, and other technologies.


OBJECTIVE
To examine various new drug formulations designed to curtail opioid abuse, their stages of development, their technologies, and the population targeted.


METHODS
The discussion encompasses formulations currently undergoing clinical trials in North America.


CONCLUSIONS
Emerging opioid formulations may prove useful to minimizing prescription opioid abuse, but the magnitude of their clinical utility and societal impact will be unknown until epidemiological studies can be conducted. Realistic expectations for what the new formulations can achieve are encouraged.
Webster
Lynn R
LR
Lifetree Clinical Research and Pain Clinic, 3838 South 700 East, Suite 200, Salt Lake City, Utah 84106, USA. lynnw@lifetreepain.com
Bath
Brad
B
Medve
Robert A
RA
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid