Long-term management of noncancer pain with transdermal therapeutic system-fentanyl

Transdermal therapeutic system-fentanyl (TTS-F) has been extensively studied in cancer pain management. However, few studies have addressed the long-term management of noncancer pain, especially when it relates to neuropathic pain. A total of 529 patients were recruited into this prospective open-label study to determine the safety and effectiveness of TTS-F in relation to quality-of-life (QOL) stratified according to pain type and etiology. TTS-F significantly improves QOL within 28 days, and pain management within 48 hours. The frequency of side effects rapidly decreases over time, and patients not experiencing adequate pain management are identified within 28 days. The median duration of therapy for effective pain management was 10 months, and 90% of patients sustained such efficacy. TTS-F offers statistically significant increases in QOL-Short Form 12 (including the Physical Component Scale and Mental Component Scale measures) and pain control (Greek Brief Pain Inventory) from one time point to the next (P <.0001). These improvements are not influenced by pain type or etiology. TTS-F is a safe and effective pain management system independent of patient characteristics and demographic factors. What is of most importance is that in those patients with neuropathic pain, for whom opioids have long been thought to be ineffective, similar effectiveness is demonstrated when compared to patients with nociceptive pain.