Effect of Buprenorphine/Naloxone Continuation on Pain Control and Opioid Use

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is characterized by non-remitting cycles of remission and opioid abuse relapse. It is associated with a high rate of psychiatric and physical co-morbidity when left untreated. Buprenorphine and buprenorphine/naloxone are effective opioid maintenance therapy (OMT) for OUD, however, treatment of acute post-surgical pain in patients taking buprenorphine is perceived to be challenging. Although not substantiated in clinical studies, the combination of high receptor binding affinity, long half-life, and partial mu opioid receptor agonism with buprenorphine/naloxone are thought to inhibit the analgesic actions of full mu opioid receptor agonists, potentially making standard postoperative pain control strategies less effective. There is no evidence based standard of care for optimal acute pain management strategies for patients taking buprenorphine and most recommendations are based upon provider opinion- occasionally conflicting along specialty lines. Some providers, mainly consisting of surgeons and anesthesiologists, recommend that buprenorphine should be discontinued at least 72 hours prior to elective surgery and replaced with low dose opioid agonists, in the interim. Other providers, mainly comprising of psychiatrists, contend that these patients should be maintained on buprenorphine throughout the peri-operative period at either a full or reduced dose to prevent an indeterminate risk of substance abuse relapse that can occur as consequence to the abrupt termination buprenorphine in the highly stressful surgical period. This study aims to inform this important unresolved question in the clinical care of this growing population. The investigators seek to determine the effectiveness of managing postoperative pain in patients with OUD where buprenorphine/naloxone is continued perioperatively compared to patients where buprenorphine/naloxone is reduced to a lower dose. Longitudinally, the investigators also intend to determine if there is a difference in substance abuse relapse in patients where buprenorphine/naloxone is continued vs. held by using self assessments and communication with the participant's buprenorphine provider.