MTRAC, the Midlands Therapeutics Review & Advisory Committee, has issued its latest Commissioning Guidance report, covering buprenorphine transdermal patch (BuTrans and Transtec) for the treatment of chronic non-cancer pain (the committee did not consider guidance for the use of transdermal buprenorphine for cancer-related pain because this was considered to be restricted to specialist care).

The report summarises the clinical trial data for buprenorphine transdermal patches for chronic non-cancer pain and concludes that it is suitable for restricted prescribing under defined conditions. Buprenorphine should be initiated by a specialist or a specialist pain management service, given the range of alternative treatments available for the management of chronic non-cancer pain. Continued prescribing can then occur in primary care.

Please see link for details.