Evidence Supports Continuing Buprenorphine for Acute Pain in Those With Opioid Use Disorder
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, March 31, 2025 -- For patients with opioid use disorder (OUD), evidence supports continuation of buprenorphine during episodes of acute pain, but overall evidence for pain outcomes in these patients is low, according to a review published online March 18 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Michele J. Buonora, M.D., from the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, and colleagues conducted a systematic review to examine the benefits and harms of acute pain interventions among patients with OUD. A total of 17 trials, 20 controlled observational studies, and 78 uncontrolled observational studies met the criteria for eligibility.
The researchers found that based on cohort studies conducted primarily in perioperative settings, there may be an association for continuing use of buprenorphine during acute pain episodes with similar or improved pain-related outcomes compared with discontinuation. In adults not prescribed medications for OUD, oral clonidine, intramuscular haloperidol and midazolam with intravenous morphine, and intraoperative intravenous lidocaine may improve pain outcomes based on single well-conducted randomized controlled trials in emergency department or perioperative settings; these findings warrant further study in diverse patient populations. Methadone and the effect of interventions on OUD outcomes were only assessed in a small percentage of studies.
"The effects of acute pain management interventions on OUD outcomes have not been well characterized and merit urgent study in light of the ongoing crisis of opioid-related overdoses and other harms," the authors write.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted March 2025
Read this next
Stigma of Substance Use Disorder Varies by Condition, Provider
WEDNESDAY, July 30, 2025 -- Health care provider stigma toward substance use disorder (SUD) varies by condition and provider, according to a study published online July 23 in...
Perioperative Counseling Reduces Opioid Use After ACL Reconstruction Surgery
TUESDAY, July 29, 2025 -- Opioid-limiting pain management education and counseling reduce opioid consumption with no increase in postoperative pain among patients undergoing...
Substance Use Disorder Linked to Higher Risk for Unplanned Readmissions
TUESDAY, July 29, 2025 -- People with any type of substance use disorder (SUD) face a higher risk for having an unplanned, 30-day hospital readmission compared with those without...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.