title: Evaluation of the Tolerability of Switching Patients on Chronic Full μ-Opioid Agonist Therapy to Buccal Buprenorphine.
abstract: Assess whether patients with chronic pain receiving 80 to 220 mg oral morphine sulfate equivalent of a full Μ: -opioid agonist could be transitioned to buccal buprenorphine at approximately 50% of their full dose without inducing opioid withdrawal or sacrificing analgesic efficacy.
  
  
  
  A randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, active-controlled, two-period crossover study in adult patients receiving around-the-clock full opioid agonist therapy and confirmed to be opioid dependent by naloxone challenge. Study doses were substituted at the time of the regular dose schedule for each patient. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with a maximum Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale score ≥ 13 (moderate withdrawal) or use of rescue medication.
  
  
  
  35 subjects on ≥ 80 mg morphine sulfate equivalent per day were evaluable for opioid withdrawal. One patient during buccal buprenorphine treatment and two during 50% full Μ: -opioid agonist treatment experienced opioid withdrawal of at least moderate intensity. The mean maximum Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale scores were similar, and numerically lower on buccal buprenorphine. There were no significant differences in pain ratings between treatments. The most frequent adverse events with buccal buprenorphine were headache (19%), vomiting (13%), nausea, diarrhea, and drug withdrawal syndrome (each 9%), and with full Μ: -opioid agonist were headache (16%), drug withdrawal syndrome (13%), and nausea (6%).
  
  
  
  Chronic pain patients treated with around-the-clock full Μ: -opioid agonist therapy can be switched to buccal buprenorphine (a partial Μ: -opioid agonist) at approximately 50% of the full Μ: -opioid agonist dose without an increased risk of opioid withdrawal or loss of pain control.
authors.affiliation: *PRA Health Sciences, Salt Lake City, Utah lrwebstermd@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.affiliation: St. Louis Clinical Trials, a Subsidiary of Evolution Research Group.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gruener
authors.affiliation: Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc., Malvern, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kirby
authors.affiliation: Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc., Malvern, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Qinfang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.affiliation: Former Employee of Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc.
authors.forename: Evan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tzanis
authors.affiliation: BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc, Raleigh, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Finn
keywords: Buprenorphine Buccal Film; Chronic Pain; Opioid