[Long-term therapy of cancer pain. A controlled study on buprenorphine]

Sublingual tablets of buprenorphine (Temgesic sublingual) were given in a controlled trial of 41 patients for 2804 patient-days. With a mean starting dose of 1.09 mg and a final dose of 1.53 mg buprenorphine daily there was a good pain-relieving effect. The interval between doses was six to eight hours. The trial did not reveal any direct pointers as to tolerance or addictiveness after long-term intake of the drug. Because of its effectiveness and good duration of action, as well as the absence of negative long-term effects, the drug can be recommended in the long-term management of cancer pain.