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Drug Formulation Advances in Extended-Release Medications for Pain Control

  • Other Pain (N Vadivelu and A Kaye, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Pain and Headache Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Prescription opioid abusers frequently tamper with opioid tablets in order to either accelerate the delivery of the euphoria-inducing agent or to alter the route of delivery, such that it may be delivered intranasally or intravenously. As one strategy to combat the opioid epidemic in the USA, drug manufacturers have begun to explore formulations which resist such tampering by abusers. Techniques to prevent tampering consist of physical barriers to crushing, chewing, and drug extraction, or aversive or antagonistic agents, incorporated within the formulation itself. Recent years have seen the development of numerous extended-release opioid agents, which are described in this review. This article provides a comprehensive summary of the pharmacology, benefits, risks, and processes behind the development of currently available extended-release opioid drugs, as well as a glimpse into promising future formulations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Mark R. Jones & Martin J. Carney

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME, USA

    Rachel J. Kaye

  3. Department of Anesthesiology, LSU School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Amit Prabhakar & Alan D. Kaye

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  1. Mark R. Jones
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  2. Martin J. Carney
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Correspondence to Alan D. Kaye.

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Mark R. Jones, Martin J. Carney, Rachel J. Kaye, Amit Prabhakar, and Alan D. Kaye declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Jones, M.R., Carney, M.J., Kaye, R.J. et al. Drug Formulation Advances in Extended-Release Medications for Pain Control. Curr Pain Headache Rep 20, 36 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-016-0565-9

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