Possible anaphylactic reaction to transdermal buprenorphine: a case report

Abstract

Figure 1. Allergic skin reaction to Norspan®. DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.13070/rs.en.1.860 Date 2014-06-04 Cite as Research 2014;1:860 License CC-BY Possible anaphylactic reaction to transdermal buprenorphine: a case report Georg Bollig1, 2 (georg dot bollig at helios-kliniken dot de) #, Andreas Gremmelt1 1 Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care, Palliative Medicine and Pain Therapy, HELIOS Klinikum Schleswig, Germany. 2 Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Norway # : corresponding author Transdermal buprenorphine has been used in pain therapy since 2001. In some patients allergic reactions to transdermal buprenorphine have been described in the literature. A case report of a severe allergic reaction to transdermal buprenorphine is presented and a review of the current literature on this topic is given. Allergic reactions to transdermal buprenorphine can occur and one should be aware of such side effects. Severe reactions do need close attention and should be registered. Introduction Buprenorphine has been used for the treatment of pain for many years and transdermal buprenorphine patches have been established as treatment for chronic pain in Europe since 2001. Transdermal buprenorphine has been used for both cancer and non-cancer patients as well as neuropathic pain [1] [2] [3]. Transdermal patches are available from different pharmaceutical companies with doses ranging from 5 μg/h up to 70 μg/h. Even high doses of transdermal buprenorphine up to 210 μg/h administered for pain management in cancer patients have been described to be well tolerated [4] [5]. Skin reactions as erythema, pruritus and contact dermatitis are known side effects with transdermal buprenorphine [1] [6]. To our knowledge severe systemic allergic reactions or anaphylaxis due to transdermal buprenorphine have not been reported previously. The aim of this case report is to describe a possible anaphylactic reaction due to transdermal buprenorphine and to provide an overview of allergic reactions to transdermal buprenorphine reported in the literature.