Long-term effectiveness and safety of once-daily, single-entity, extended-release hydrocodone in patients of ≥75 years of age with moderate to severe nonmalignant and nonneuropathic pain

In elderly (≥75 years) individuals, age-associated physiologic changes and a higher prevalence of comorbidities, polypharmacy, and increased susceptibility to medication-induced side effects complicate pain management. Hysingla® ER (HYD) is a once-daily, single-entity, extended-release hydrocodone formulation approved for the treatment of chronic pain that is insufficiently controlled by alternative treatments. In this post-hoc analysis of a previously reported study, the effectiveness and safety of HYD for the treatment of moderate-to-severe chronic pain among the elderly (≥75 years) for a 52-week duration was investigated. HYD dose administered during the maintenance period-remained relatively stable and provided clinically meaningful decreases in mean “pain over the last 24 h” and pain interference scores. Patients achieved pain control without additional non-study opioid use at the end of the study. Adverse events were typical of opioids. In summary, HYD provided clinically meaningful reduction of pain scores in elderly patients that were maintained over a 52-week period.