Application of a seven-day buprenorphine transdermal patch in multimorbid patients on long-term ibuprofen or diclofenac

• Published in: MMW Fortschritte der Medizin 2011-01, Vol.152 Suppl 4, p.125-132
• Main Authors: Böhme, K, Heckes, B, Thomitzek, K
• Format: Article
• Language: ger
• Subjects: Administration, Cutaneous; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Analgesics, Opioid - administration & dosage; Analgesics, Opioid - adverse effects; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - administration & dosage; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - adverse effects; Buprenorphine - administration & dosage; Buprenorphine - adverse effects; Chronic Disease; Diclofenac - administration & dosage; Diclofenac - adverse effects; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Substitution; Female; Humans; Ibuprofen - administration & dosage; Ibuprofen - adverse effects; Long-Term Care; Male; Middle Aged; Pain - drug therapy; Pain Measurement - drug effects; Prospective Studies
• ISSN: 1438-3276

The objective of this study was to evaluate the benefit of a seven-day buprenorphine transdermal patch for patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain previously receiving long-term treatment with ibuprofen or diclofenac alone. Data of a subgroup of 703 patients were analysed which were part of a multicenter observational study with 3,295 patients. These patients had previously received ibuprofen or diclofenac and were characterized by older age,the presence of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and renal risk factors and the existence of chronic musculoskeletal pain. The switch to the seven-day buprenorphine patch resulted in a clinically significant decrease of the mean pain intensity at rest during the day from 5.3 to 2.9, on physical effort during the day from 7.1 to 3.3, and at night from 4.9 to 1.9 at the end of the study (11-point NRS scale, p