Oral Abuse Potential, Pharmacokinetics, and Safety of Once-Daily, Single-Entity, Extended-Release Hydrocodone (HYD) in Recreational Opioid Users

Abstract Objectives. A once-daily, extended-release hydrocodone bitartrate tablet with abuse-deterrent properties (Hysingla ER [HYD]) is available for the treatment of chronic pain in appropriate patients. This study evaluated the oral abuse potential and pharmacokinetics (PK) of HYD intact, chewed, or milled to fine particles in comparison with hydrocodone solution or placebo. Design. Single-center, double-blind, randomized, five-period, five-treatment crossover study. Subjects. Healthy adult, nondependent, recreational opioid users. Methods. Forty subjects received orally administered treatments of hydrocodone 60 mg solution, HYD 60 mg intact, HYD 60 mg chewed, HYD 60 mg milled to fine particles, or placebo, separated by a five- to seven-day washout. Assessments over 36 hours postdose included subjective measures of drug liking and willingness to take drug again (assessed using visual analog scales [VAS]), pupillometry, PK, and safety measures. Results. Following oral administration, HYD intact, HYD chewed, and HYD fine particles led to significantly lower “at this moment” drug liking compared with hydrocodone solution. HYD intact and chewed were significantly different from hydrocodone solution on overall drug liking, take drug again, and good effects. Pupil constriction, as measured by pupillometry, occurred later with HYD intact and HYD chewed than with hydrocodone solution. Across treatments (hydrocodone solution, HYD fine particles, HYD chewed, and HYD intact, respectively), mean Cmax and rate of absorption (Cmax/Tmax) values decreased, respectively, and median Tmax values increased, respectively. Safety was consistent with the known effects of opioid agonists. Conclusion. HYD demonstrated reduced oral abuse potential compared with hydrocodone solution in healthy adult, nondependent, recreational opioid users.*