European perspectives on upcoming analgesics: What do they have that we don't—and what do they think about them?

Abstract

Regulatory climate, medical culture, and history have created geographic distinctions in analgesics. In particular, Europe has experience with many commercially available analgesics that have recently been introduced or may soon be introduced to the USA market. The authors selected 4 analgesics widely used in Europe that may be less familiar to American clinicians: transdermal buprenorphine, essential oxygen oil, tapentadol ER, and intravenous diclofenac. These agents are far from the only such agents worthy of consideration but were selected as they range from a new formulation for a familiar drug, an over-the-counter topical product, an oral opioid, and a very popular nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent. The clinical studies performed on these agents can help inform physician prescribing choices, when these drugs are available in the USA.