Economic and Treatment Burden of Chronic Low-Back Pain Patients Transitioning from Short-Acting to Long-Acting Opioids or Buprenorphine Buccal Film: US Claims Analysis

Filip Stanicic; Dimitrije Grbic; Vladimir Zah

doi:10.1007/s40122-026-00815-0

February 8, 2026Pain and TherapyOpen Access

Economic and Treatment Burden of Chronic Low-Back Pain Patients Transitioning from Short-Acting to Long-Acting Opioids or Buprenorphine Buccal Film: US Claims Analysis

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Key Points

This research aims to evaluate the economic and treatment burden on chronic low-back pain patients transitioning between opioid treatments.
Analyzed US claims data from chronic low-back pain patients transitioning from short-acting opioids to either long-acting opioids or buprenorphine buccal film.
Compared healthcare expenditures and resource utilization between the two transition groups.
Healthcare expenditures were similar for patients transitioning to buprenorphine buccal film and long-acting opioids.
Initiating buprenorphine buccal film may lead to lower healthcare resource utilization and reduced further short-acting opioid use.

Implication

Findings show similar healthcare costs for transitioning chronic low-back pain patients, suggesting potential savings with buprenorphine buccal film.

Abstract

Study findings demonstrated similar healthcare expenditures between patients with cLBP transitioning from SAO to BBF and to LAO. Yet, initiating BBF may have lowered healthcare resource utilization and decreased further SAO utilization.

Discussion

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Cite This Study

Stanicic et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/698c1c53267fb587c655eaa7 https://doi.org/10.1007/s40122-026-00815-0

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Economic and Treatment Burden of Chronic Low-Back Pain Patients Transitioning from Short-Acting to Long-Acting Opioids or Buprenorphine Buccal Film: US Claims Analysis

Key Points

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Economic and Treatment Burden of Chronic Low-Back Pain Patients Transitioning from Short-Acting to Long-Acting Opioids or Buprenorphine Buccal Film: US Claims Analysis

Key Points

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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