Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluation of sublingual sufentanil in the treatment of post-operative pain

Introduction: Intravenous patient-controlled analgesia using opioids is frequently used to provide perioperative analgesia. However, there are a number of drawbacks for intravenous patient-controlled analgesia. The sufentanil sublingual tablet system is a major evolution in technology and drug development for postoperative pain management.Areas Covered: We reviewed the use of sublingual sufentanil in postoperative pain management, with a focus on chemistry, pharmacokinetics and clinical use in different surgical patients.Expert Opinion: The sufentanil sublingual tablet system can decrease intravenous patient-controlled analgesia-related safety issues. Current clinical studies have demonstrated this novel system to be safe and effective in postoperative pain management.