Allergic contact dermatitis from buprenorphine and oral tolerance to other opioid derivatives in three patients

Abstract

Transdermal buprenorphine (TDB) is a widely used analgesic for moderate pain. TDB is generally well tolerated, but both irritant and allergic contact dermatitis occur at patch application sites. Oral opioid tolerance in patients with allergic contact dermatitis to TDB remains controversial. Here, we describe 3 patients with allergic contact dermatitis to TDB who subsequently used oral opioid derivatives without adverse reactions. Thus, oral intolerance to opioid derivatives is not a rule in patients with allergic contact dermatitis to TDB, but the possibility should be taken into consideration.