[Sublingual buprenorphine tablets: initial clinical experiences in long-term therapy of cancer pain]

Buprenorphine sublingual tablets (0.2 mg) were investigated in therapy of cancer pain. In 67 patients there was a good analgetic effect in 60%, even in those cases treated with other opiates before. The induction time was quite long (60 min.) but is no problem in chronic administration. Effective pain relief was obtained even in final stages of cancer. The mean daily dose of buprenorphine had been 1.2-1.7 mg, the mean duration of analgesia being 6-8 hours with a single dose of 0.2-1.0 mg buprenorphine. Typical opiate-side-effects were registered and well tolerated after some days' treatment. There was no respiratory depression. Buprenorphine sublingual tablets are certainly a good alternative in orally available opioids.