Use of Buprenorphine in Managing Cancer Pain and Transition to Survivorship

The management of cancer-related pain can often be challenging because clinicians must balance comfort with the potential side effects of prescribed treatments. Buprenorphine, a partial mu-opioid receptor agonist, offers a lower side effect profile compared to full agonist opioid medications. This makes buprenorphine a viable option for treating cancer-related pain as well as facilitating opioid tapers. Particularly for patients with a history of opioid use disorder or medication misuse, buprenorphine is a strategy to manage cancer-related pain while supporting the transition to survivorship.At a GlanceBuprenorphine is a partial mu-opioid receptor agonist approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for opioid dependence as well as acute and chronic pain management.The side effect profile of buprenorphine is lower in comparison to traditional opioid medications.Clinicians may prescribe buprenorphine for the management of cancer-related pain.