buprenorphine and Renal-Insufficiency--Chronic

Impairment of renal function is common among elderly patients due to an age-related decline in renal excretory function. In addition, many diseases such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus are associated with an accelerated decline in renal function. Renal dysfunction affects the metabolism of compounds and thus has important therapeutic consequences for drug safety. For pain patients who have reduced renal function such as those in palliative care, most opioids used for chronic pain treatment should be administered at reduced dosages, with increased dosage intervals, or not at all because of the risk of accumulation of the parent compound or its metabolites. For instance, for morphine or codeine, active metabolites are formed in the liver and cleared by the kidney and may therefore accumulate in cases of renal dysfunction. In contrast, buprenorphine can be administered at normal doses in patients with renal dysfunction because it is mainly excreted through the liver. In patients undergoing regular haemodialysis treatment, removal of an opioid during dialysis varies between individuals based upon a number of factors including the dialysis technique used. Morphine appears to be difficult to process in haemodialysis patients due to possible 'rebound' of metabolites between dialysis sessions. By contrast, the pharmacokinetics of buprenorphine are unchanged in haemodialysis patients, which means that there is no need for dose-reduction with this drug. Thus, in patients with reduced renal function, chronic renal insufficiency and haemodialysis, buprenorphine appears to be a safe choice when opioid treatment is initiated.

Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Analgesics, Opioid; Buprenorphine; Contraindications; Humans; Kidney; Kidney Function Tests; Middle Aged; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Pain; Renal Dialysis; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic

This review evaluates current recommendations for pain management in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) with a specific focus on evidence for opioid analgesia, including the partial agonist, buprenorphine.. Recent evidence supports the use of physical activity and other nonpharmacologic therapies, either alone or with pharmacological therapies, for pain management. Nonopioid analgesics, including acetaminophen, topical analgesics, gabapentinoids, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, and TCA may be considered based on pain cause and type, with careful dose considerations in kidney disease. NSAIDs may be used in CKD and ESKD for short durations with careful monitoring. Opioid use should be minimized and reserved for patients who have failed other therapies. Opioids have been associated with increased adverse events in this population, and thus should be used cautiously after risk/benefit discussion with the patient. Opioids that are safer to use in kidney disease include oxycodone, hydromorphone, fentanyl, methadone, and buprenorphine. Buprenorphine appears to be a promising and safer option due to its partial agonism at the mu opioid receptor.. Pain is poorly managed in patients with kidney disease. Nonpharmacological and nonopioid analgesics should be first-line approaches for pain management. Opioid use should be minimized with careful monitoring and dose adjustment.

Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Buprenorphine; Fentanyl; Humans; Hydromorphone; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Oxycodone; Pain; Pain Management; Receptors, Opioid, mu; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic