Direct rotation from a fentanyl patch to a buprenorphine patch in a patient with chronic pain.

ABSTRACT

Transitioning a patient with chronic pain from a fentanyl patch to a buprenorphine patch has not been well described in the literature. Even after a patient removes their fentanyl patch, the residual fentanyl in the skin continues to be absorbed for hours. Due to the risk of precipitated withdrawal when initiating buprenorphine, this transition is a more challenging opioid rotation to plan safely. We report a case of a patient who had been using a fentanyl patch for over 10 years and was successfully rotated directly to a buprenorphine patch.