Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain: A Patient’s Guide
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention more than 50 Million adults in the US have chronic pain.
Working closely with healthcare providers to find effective treatment for chronic pain is important. This informational guide is designed to aid patients and their medical providers in their discussion about treatment options.
Chronic pain can affect sleep, lead to anxiety and fear, or weaken daily life coping strategies. Chronic pain can also affect family, coworkers and friends.
People living with chronic pain can experience stigma. This is when others do not think their pain is real, blame them for their pain, or feel the person just wants drugs.
Buprenorphine is a medication developed in the late 1960s. It was
first approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for chronic
pain in 1981 and for opioid use disorder (OUD) in 2002. Studies show it is
safer than other opioids. Today it is used to treat moderate to severe
chronic pain and OUD.