A review of sufentanil and the sufentanil sublingual tablet system for acute moderate to severe pain

Pharmacokinetic Characterisation and Comparison of Bioavailability of Intranasal Fentanyl, Transmucosal, and Intravenous Administration through a Three-Way Crossover Study in 24 Healthy Volunteers

Background

For more than 60 years, the synthetic opioid fentanyl has been widely used in anaesthesia and analgesia. While the intravenous formulation is primarily used for general anaesthesia and intensive care settings, the drug's high lipophilic properties also allow various noninvasive routes of administration. Published data suggest that intranasal administration is also attractive for use as intranasal patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). A newly developed intranasal fentanyl formulation containing 47 μg fentanyl, intravenous fentanyl, and oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate were characterised, and bioavailability was compared to assess the suitability of the intranasal formulation for an intranasal PCA product.

Methods

27 healthy volunteers were enrolled in a single-centre, open-label, randomised (order of treatments), single-dose study in a three-period crossover design. The pharmacokinetics of one intranasal puff of fentanyl formulation (47 μg, 140 mL per puff), one short intravenous infusion of 50 μg fentanyl, and one lozenge with an integrated applicator (200 μg fentanyl) were studied, and bioavailability was calculated. Blood samples were collected over 12 hours, and plasma concentrations of fentanyl were determined by HPLC with MS/MS detection.

Results

24 volunteers completed the study. The geometric mean of AUC_0-tlast was the highest with oral transmucosal administration (1106 h ∗ pg/ml, CV% = 32.86), followed by intravenous (672 h ∗ pg/ml, CV% = 32.18) and intranasal administration (515 h ∗ pg/ml, CV% = 30.10). C _max was 886 pg/ml (CV% = 59.38) for intravenous, 338 pg/ml (CV% = 45.61) for intranasal, and 310 pg/ml (CV% = 29.58) for oral transmucosal administration. t _max was shortest for intravenous administration (0.06 h, SD = 0.056), followed by intranasal (0.21 h, SD = 0.078) and oral transmucosal administration (1.20 h, SD = 0.763). Dose-adjusted absolute bioavailability was determined to be 74.70% for the intranasal formulation and 41.25% for the oral transmucosal product. In total, 38 adverse events (AEs) occurred. Fourteen AEs were potentially related to the investigational items. No serious AE occurred.

Conclusion

Pharmacokinetic parameters and bioavailability of the investigated intranasal fentanyl indicated suitability for its intended use as an intranasal PCA option.

Rapid Determination of Sufentanil in Human Plasma by UHPLC-QqQ-MS-MS

This paper presents a rapid, sensitive and precise method developed and validated for the quantification of sufentanil in biological samples using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with QqQ-MS-MS. Plasma samples were extracted with simple and fast liquid-liquid extraction (ethyl acetate, pH 9). Calibration curve showed linearity in the concentration range of 0.005-30 µg/L. The lower limit of quantification was 0.010 µg/L. The most important method features are low lower limit of quantification value, simple plasma extraction and small sample volume. This method is suitable not only for evaluation of the pharmacokinetics, toxicology, bioavailability and clinical pharmacology of sufentanil but also for the detection and identification of this compound in human plasma samples for forensic purposes.

Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA): Intravenous Administration (IV-PCA) versus Oral Administration (Oral-PCA) by Using a Novel Device (PCoA® Acute) for Hospitalized Patients with Acute Postoperative Pain-A Comparative Retrospective Study

Background

Acute postoperative pain delays recovery and increases morbidity and mortality. Opioid therapy is effective but is accompanied by adverse reactions. Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) enables self-administration of analgesics. Oral-PCA is a safe and beneficial alternative to intravenous (IV) PCA. We have developed a novel Oral-PCA device, which enables self-administration of solid pills to the patient's mouth. This is a retrospective study comparing the effectiveness and usability of this novel Oral-PCA with those of IV-PCA.

Methods

Medical records of patients who received PCA following gynecology and orthopedic surgeries were analyzed. The control cohort (n = 61) received oxycodone by IV-PCA. The test cohort (n = 44) received oxycodone by Oral-PCA via the PCoA Acute device. Outcome measures include the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) score at rest and movement, side effects, technical difficulties, bolus dose administered, and bolus dose requested.

Results

Patient demographics, initial NRS, and PCA duration were comparable between cohorts. NRS reduction in rest and movement was stronger in the Oral-PCA cohort (rest: 1.61 and 2.27, P = 0.077; movement: 2.05 and 2.84, P = 0.039), indicating better pain control and mobility for Oral-PCA. Side effect rates were comparable between cohorts (9% and 11% of patients who experienced side effects, P = 1.000). The rate of technological difficulties was higher in the Oral-PCoA cohort (19.7% and 36.4%, P = 0.056). The mean total bolus dose administered to patients was comparable in both cohorts (18.32 mg and 21.14 mg oxycodone, P = 0.270). However, the mean total boluses requested by patients during lockout intervals were lower in the Oral-PCA cohort (12.8 mg and 6.82 mg oxycodone, P = 0.004), indicating better pain control.

Conclusions

Oral-PCA by using PCoA® Acute provides pain control and usability which is noninferior to the IV-PCA, as well as superior to pain reduction in rest and movement. These results, along with the noninvasiveness, medication flexibility, and reduced cost, suggest the potential of Oral-PCA, by using PCoA Acute, to replace IV-PCA for postoperative analgesia.

Genetic Polymorphisms of Cytokines Might Affect Postoperative Sufentanil Dosage for Analgesia in Patients

Objective

To explore the effect of genetic polymorphisms of cytokines on the dosage of sufentanil for patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) after radical lung cancer surgery.

Methods

A total of 100 patients, aged 18 years and above, with ASA grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ and body mass index (BMI) 18.5 to 30, and who were scheduled for radical lung cancer surgery under total intravenous anaesthesia with PCIA of sufentanil from September 2015 to March 2016, were selected. DNA was collected from peripheral blood samples before surgery, and the iMLDRTM multiple single-nucleotide polymorphism typing kit was used to detect 16 related single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites of interleukin-1A (IL-1A), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-1RN (IL-1RN), interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8), interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumour necrosis factor (TNF), nuclear factor kappa-B1 (NFκB1), REL (REL proto-oncogene, NF-kB subunit), and nuclear factor kappa-B inhibitor alpha (NFκBIA). The general characteristics of patients, surgery and anaesthesia data, postoperative resting VAS pain scores, postoperative opioid dosages of sufentanil for PCIA and opioid-related adverse events were recorded. The effects of the examined genetic polymorphisms of the cytokines on the dosage of sufentanil were analysed.

Results

Eight of 100 patients withdrew for various reasons, and, eventually, 92 patients were included. The patients’ resting visual analogue scale (VAS) scores at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after surgery were 2.3 ± 1.2, 2.0 ± 0.9, and 1.9 ± 1.0, respectively. The total amounts of sufentanil used were 34.7 ± 10.5 μg, 65.2 ± 13.7 μg, and 94.7 ± 11.6 μg, respectively. We found that the TT genotype of NFκBIA rs696 had higher PCIA sufentanil dosages than the CC genotype and the CT genotype at 48–72 h postoperation (p=0.023, p=0.025, respectively).

Conclusion

The genetic polymorphisms of the cytokine NFκBIA rs696 might affect the dosage of sufentanil for PCIA after radical lung cancer surgery. The specific mechanism needs further study.

Real-world use of the sufentanil sublingual tablet system for patient-controlled management of acute postoperative pain: a prospective noninterventional study

Objective: To evaluate the real-life effectiveness, safety, tolerability and patient-reported outcomes (PRO) of the sufentanil sublingual tablet system (SSTS) for postoperative pain management (POPM).Methods: This prospective, multicenter, noninterventional, study included adults with acute moderate to severe postoperative pain who self-administered sufentanil using the SSTS. Main outcome measures were pain intensity at rest (numerical rating scale [NRS]: 0 [no pain] to 10 [most intense pain imaginable]); most intense pain intensity (0-10); 4-point patient assessment of the pain control method ("excellent", "good", "fair", "poor"); patient satisfaction with the pain control level and the method of administration of pain medication (6-point scale: "extremely satisfied", "very satisfied", "satisfied", "dissatisfied", "very dissatisfied", "extremely dissatisfied"). Adverse drug reactions were recorded.Results: The SSTS reduced resting pain intensity in patients (n = 341) from a mean ± SD NRS score of 5.2 ± 2.3 (at SSTS handover) to 1.8 ± 1.6 (3rd day after handover). The proportion of patients with severe pain (for the PRO measure "most intense pain") decreased steadily during the 72 hours of treatment. Overall, 87.1% of the patients reported the method of pain control to be "good" or "excellent"; 91.8% reported being "extremely/very satisfied" or "satisfied" with the level of pain control; and 95.9% were at least satisfied with the method of pain medication administration. SSTS safety and tolerability was typical for opioids and as described in the SSTS Summary of Product Characteristics.Conclusions: The SSTS is a valuable option for real-life POPM and is effective in a wide range of surgical procedures.

Sufentanil 30 µg Sublingual Tablet: A Review in Acute Pain

The sufentanil 30 μg sublingual tablet (hereafter referred to as the sufentanil ST) is approved in the EU for acute moderate to severe pain in adults (Dzuveo™) and in the USA for acute pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatments are inadequate (Dsuvia™). It is a single-strength tablet housed in a single-dose applicator (which may minimize the likelihood of dosing errors) and is strictly for use in medically supervised/monitored settings. It is administered by a healthcare professional and has a minimum re-dose interval of 1 h and no drug delivery setup requirements. In placebo-controlled or noncomparative phase 2 or 3 trials, the sufentanil ST provided effective analgesia for adults with moderate to severe acute pain due to surgery or trauma/injury, reducing the intensity of pain within 15-30 min after the first dose and maintaining analgesic benefit over the 2-24 h study periods. Such short-term use of the sufentanil ST was also generally well tolerated. Studies directly comparing the sufentanil ST with other opioids in terms of efficacy, tolerability, usability and cost effectiveness would be beneficial, as would analyses of its abuse potential, given sufentanil is considerably more potent than fentanyl or morphine. In the meantime, current data indicate that the sufentanil ST is a noninvasive, fast-acting, opioid formulation for managing moderate to severe acute pain in medically supervised/monitored settings that may be of particular use when oral or intravenous opioid analgesia is not possible/feasible.

CYP3A4 gene polymorphism is correlated with individual consumption of sufentanil

BACKGROUND

Pain is one of the major adverse clinical outcomes of cesarean section (CS). In the past few years, researchers and physicians have been optimizing post-operative analgesic modalities, but the results are still undesirable for the parturient. The cytochrome P-450 3A4 (CYP3A4) gene has been reported to contribute significantly to human liver microsomal oxidation of sufentanil and alfentanil.

METHODS

We detected the frequency of CYP3A4 mutant allele, which is associated with the metabolism of diverse drugs, including opioids used for anesthesia. We then investigated the correlation between sufentanil (an opioid analgesic) consumption and CYP3A4 genetic polymorphism.

RESULTS

We found the frequency of the CYP3A4∗1G (the mutant form of CYP3A) variant allele to be 0.279 in 71 parturients undergoing cesarean section and 137 age-matched parturients with vaginal delivery. Interestingly, the parturients with homozygous CYP3A4∗1G showed less sufentanil consumption compared with those having the wild-type genotype.

CONCLUSION

In summary, we found a correlation between CYP3A4 genetic polymorphism and sufentanil consumption. This might be helpful for optimizing the anesthesia strategies and reducing their side effects.

Non-invasive patient-controlled analgesia in the management of acute postoperative pain in the hospital setting

OBJECTIVE

Acute postoperative pain is experienced by the majority of hospitalized patients undergoing surgical procedures, with many reporting inadequate pain relief and/or high levels of dissatisfaction with their pain management. Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) ensures patient involvement in acute pain control, a key component for implementing a quality management system. This narrative article overviews the clinical evidence for conventional PCA and briefly discusses new, non-invasive PCA systems, namely the sufentanil sublingual tablet system (SSTS) and the fentanyl iontophoretic transdermal system (FITS).

METHODS

A Medline literature search ("patient-controlled analgesia" and "acute postoperative pain") was conducted to 1 April 2017; results from the main clinical trials are discussed. Additional literature was identified from the reference lists of cited publications.

RESULTS

Moderate to low quality evidence supports opioid-based intravenous PCA as an efficacious alternative to non-patient-controlled systemic analgesia for postoperative pain. However, despite the benefits of PCA, conventional intravenous PCA is limited by system-, drug- and human-related issues. The non-invasive SSTS and FITS have demonstrated good efficacy and safety in placebo- and intravenous morphine PCA-controlled trials, and are associated with high patient/healthcare practitioner satisfaction/ease of care ratings and offer early patient mobilization.

CONCLUSIONS

Evidence-based guidelines for acute postoperative pain management support the use of multimodal regimens in many situations. As effective and safe alternatives to conventional PCA, and with the added benefits of being non-invasive, easy to use and allowing early patient mobilization, the newer PCA systems may complement multimodal approaches, or potentially replace certain regimens, in hospitalized patients with acute postoperative pain.

New Advances in Acute Postoperative Pain Management

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Postoperative pain remains one of the most common challenges following inpatient and outpatient surgeries. With our advances in modern medicine, pain following surgical procedures still remains a challenge, though significant accomplishments have been made over the past few decades. This article highlights some of the promising new advances and approaches in postoperative pain management.

RECENT FINDINGS

Over the last decade, Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) pathways and protocols are becoming the benchmark standards for enhancing postoperative recovery. Multimodal analgesia (MMA) is an essential component of such care. Further, in the wake of serious and persistent concern on the opioid epidemic in the USA, there has been a recent renewal of interest in non-opioid alternatives or adjuncts in controlling postoperative pain, often in the context of MMA. Intravenous (IV) acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), magnesium, ketamine, dexmedetomidine, liposomal bupivacaine, and newer neuraxial and peripheral regional techniques as well as patient-controlled modalities are gaining importance. Gabapentinoids have become popular but recent meta-analytic reviews have cast doubt on their routine use in perioperative settings. Among opioids, sublingual sufentanil, IV oxycodone, and iontophoretic transdermal fentanyl hold promise. Acupuncture and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation may be useful as adjuncts in MMA packages. Genetic testing, derivatives of herbal preparations, and an extended role of acute pain services may emerge as potential areas of importance in the future. There are, however, critical gaps in good quality evidence in many of the practice guideline recommendations. In the era of opioid epidemic, several lines of evidence have emerged to support non-opioid-based drugs and approaches along with a few newer opioid formulations for postoperative pain management, although more research is needed to find the right balance of efficacy and safety.

Sufentanil sublingual tablet system for the management of postoperative pain

INTRODUCTION

Intravenous patient-controlled opioid analgesia has been an important improvement in addressing insufficient management of acute postoperative pain for over 40 years. However, there are number of weaknesses for intravenous patient-controlled analgesia, including operator and device error, intravenous line patency issues, and risk of catheter-related infection, all of which contribute to the complications and increase in cost of care. The sublingual sufentanil tablet system is a major evolution in both drug and technological management of postoperative pain. Areas covered: We reviewed the use of the sublingual sufentanil tablet system in management of moderate to severe postoperative pain in hospitalized patients, with a particular focus on the pharmacological properties of sufentanil and clinical use in different surgical patients. Expert opinion: The sublingual sufentanil tablet system can decrease intravenous opioid based patient-controlled analgesia related complications and safety issues. Current clinical studies have demonstrated this noninvasive-novel system to be safe and effective in management of acute pain in the postsurgical setting. Researchers should focus on comparing it with other available patient controlled analgesia modalities and evaluating the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the sublingual sufentanil tablet system.

Patients with CYP3A4*1G genetic polymorphism consumed significantly lower amount of sufentanil in general anesthesia during lung resection

CYP3A4, an isoform of cytochrome P450 enzymes, is responsible for the metabolism of 45% to 60% of currently prescribed drugs. It has been shown that CYP3A4*1G, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), affects the enzymatic activity of CYP3A4. Sufentanil, a synthetic opioid commonly used for the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia, analgesia, and sedation, is mainly metabolized by CYP3A4. So far, the impact of CYP3A4*1G on sufentanil metabolism has not been investigated. In the present study, we first determined the frequency of CYP3A4*1G polymorphism in patients of Chinese Han nationality who underwent lung resection, and then compared the amount of sufentanil used in general anesthesia during the surgical procedure between wild type and mutant patients.DNA sequencing was performed to genotype the CYP3A4*1G allele in 191 patients. The sufentanil dosages consumed in general anesthesia were recorded and compared between wild-type and mutant patients.The frequency of the CYP3A4*1G variant allele was 0.202 (77/382). No significant difference was observed in age, body weight, or operation time between wild-type and mutant patients. The amount of sufentanil consumed by patients with the point mutation was significantly lower than that in the wild type group. No significant difference in sufentanil dosages was observed between females and males within wild type or within mutant group.High frequency of CYP3A4*1G variants was detected in patients of Chinese Han nationality. Significantly lower amount of sufentanil was consumed in mutant patients compared with wild type subjects, likely a result of impaired CYP3A4 activity due to the point mutation. These findings suggest genotyping of CYP3A4 might be of value in providing guidance for the use of sufentanil.