The invention features devices and methods for the systemic delivery of
fentanyl or a
fentanyl congener (e.g.,
sufentanil) to treat pain. In the present invention, a
drug formulation comprising
fentanyl or a fentanyl congener is stored within a
drug delivery device (e.g., contained in a reservoir or impregnated within a matrix within the controlled
drug delivery device). The drug formulation comprises an amount of drug sufficient for treatment and is stable at body temperatures (i.e., no unacceptable degradation) for the entire pre-selected
treatment period. The
drug delivery devices store the drug formulation safely (e.g., without
dose dumping), provide sufficient protection from bodily processes to prevent unacceptable degradation of the formulation, and release the drug formulation in a controlled fashion at a therapeutically effective rate to treat pain. In use, the
drug delivery device is implanted in the subject's body at an
implantation site, and the drug formulation is released from the
drug delivery device to a delivery site. The delivery site may be the same as, near, or distant from the
implantation site. Once released at the delivery site, the drug formulation enters the
systemic circulation and is transported to the
site of action in the body to modulate the pain response (e.g., the brain or other pain sensory location).