Sublingual Buprenorphine for Pediatric Cancer Pain: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Abstract

Pain is a common symptom in pediatric patients with cancer, and most patients in palliative care will receive opioids. Traditional opioids have several drawbacks, including their adverse effects, inconsistent or diminishing efficacy, and limited available routes of administration. Buprenorphine is an attractive option for pain management because of its safety profile, unique pharmacology, and availability in transdermal, buccal, parenteral, and sublingual (SL) dosage forms. Unfortunately, data supporting the use of buprenorphine in pediatric pain patients, particularly SL buprenorphine, are lacking. This case report describes the feasibility of SL buprenorphine use in pediatric patients with complex cancer-related pain.