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Review
. 2019 Dec;8(2):187-201.
doi: 10.1007/s40122-019-0126-0. Epub 2019 May 17.

Pain Control in Latin America: The Optimized Role of Buprenorphine in the Treatment of Cancer and Noncancer Pain

Joseph V Pergolizzi Jr  1 , Robert Taylor Jr  1 , Jo Ann LeQuang  2 , Argelia Lara  3 , Andres Hernandez Ortiz  3 , Miguel A Ruiz Iban  4
Affiliations
Review

Pain Control in Latin America: The Optimized Role of Buprenorphine in the Treatment of Cancer and Noncancer Pain

Joseph V Pergolizzi Jr et al. Pain Ther. 2019 Dec.

Abstract

Pain is a terrible health problem that transcends borders and nationalities, although there may be significant differences among regions regarding pain management. In Latin America (LatAm, composed of the many nations of Central America, South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean), access to healthcare, pain management, and opioid analgesics can vary. Despite an international U.S.-led trend toward greater control in opioid prescribing, the role of opioids in the management of severe pain in LatAm is probably smaller than it should be, as opioid consumption in LatAm overall is low. Buprenorphine is a strong opioidwith certain characteristics that make it a potentially useful analgesic agent in LatAm: it has a unique pharmacology that allows for transdermal administration and a favorable safety profile with a ceiling effect for respiratory depression. It has a well-studied low risk potential for misuse, and there is strong evidence for its safety and efficacy in managing both cancer and noncancer pain in adults. Caregivers and policy makers in LatAm may learn from the U.S. experience with opioids in order to develop protocols to better and safely manage pain, and it is possible that buprenorphine will play a key role.

Keywords: Latin America; Opioid; Opioid use in Latin America; Pain control.

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Conflict of interest statement

Joseph V. Pergolizzi, Jr. is a member of the journal's Editorial Board. Robert Taylor, Jr., Jo Ann LeQuang, Argelia Lara, Andres Hernandez Ortiz and Miguel A. Ruiz Iban have nothing to disclose.

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