Buprenorphine transdermal system utilization

To evaluate utilization patterns in patients initiating buprenorphine transdermal system (BTDS), CIII, and estimate the proportion decreasing their total opioid dose over time.

This retrospective cohort study used data from the Truven Health Analytics MarketScan® Commercial Claims and Encounters Database from 1 January 2011 through 31 December 2015. Eligible individuals were adults aged 18-64 years newly dispensed BTDS (index prescription) who had at least six months of insurance coverage prior to (baseline period) and following (study period) the index prescription.

Back and neck pain was the most common pain condition in the study population (n = 31,533) and 88% were dispensed opioids in the baseline period. Nearly half (48%) received BTDS in a strength of 10 mcg/hour as their index prescription. Most (80%) patients prescribed BTDS had concomitant prescriptions for other opioids, chiefly immediate-release (IR) opioids (77%). During the baseline period, median opioid dose among patients prescribed opioids was 50 morphine-equivalent doses (MED), with 33% of patients using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and 44% adjuvant analgesics. During the study period, BTDS use lasted a median 30 days and mean 100 days. Median dose of BTDS remained largely constant, and median dose of all opioids during continuous use of BTDS was 65.6 units MED. However, 24% of patients reduced total units MED from the baseline period (median mean dose, 74.5 units MED) until the end of the study period (42.8).

Most patients initiating treatment with BTDS had a history of treatment with IR opioids. Though the average change in total opioid daily dose after patients were prescribed BTDS was modest, an important subpopulation of approximately one-quarter of patients were able to markedly reduce their total units MED compared with prior opioid therapy. BTDS should be investigated as an option to help patients step down from higher opioid doses.