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Video abstract of original research paper "The effect of transdermal opioid use on 'breakthrough' opioid and sedative prescribing for rural pain patients in North West Tasmania; a longitudinal study" published in the open access Journal of Pain Research by Henshaw J, Walker J, Geraghty D. Conclusion: There was a nonsignificant trend toward reduced prescribing of IR opioids with TD opioid-maintained, compared with oral SR opioid-maintained, CNCP rural patients. Benzodiazepine prescribing was similar for both groups. The rationale for use and the provision of breakthrough opioid analgesia for CNCP patients are complex, both for patients and their prescribers, while the regular use of benzodiazepines compounds the sedation from the subjects' maintenance opioid. The prolonged analgesic affect of TD opioids may benefit rural and remote CNCP populations and reduce the risk of diversion associated with oral opioids. Read this original research and sign up to receive Journal of Pain Research here: http://www.dovepress.com/the-effect-of-transdermal-opioid-use-on-breakthrough-opioid-and-sedati-peer-reviewed-article