Hypothesis: Long-acting transdermal buprenorphine (FDA-approved dose from 5 mcg to 20 mcg /week) in conjunction with oral tramadol (50mg-400mg) as needed for breakthrough pain would lead to significant reduction in mucositis-related pain in locally advanced head and neck cancer patients being treated with radiation therapy by the end of treatment and follow up period of 12 weeks.~This is a single-arm, interventional, supportive care clinical trial for head and neck cancer patients evaluating role of transdermal (TD) buprenorphine and tramadol combination in alleviating radiation-induced mucositis pain. This will generate preliminary data to test the feasibility and efficacy of study drug regimen. The study will also test the clinical usefulness of the smart phone pain app in recording and reporting radiation induced mucositis pain.
This is a single-arm prospective clinical trial to determine the safety and feasibility of using transdermal buprenorphine in alleviation of radiation induced mucositis pain in head and neck cancer patients.