OBJECTIVE: This study examined medical resource consumption by patients with chronic and breakthrough pain (BTP) who were using transdermally-delivered fentanyl for the management of chronic pain. Patients were participants in a broader survey designed to collect clinical and economic information regarding their pain. METHODS: Surveys were administered to cancer and non-cancer patients with chronic and BTP to assess medical resources consumed in the past 30 days. Patients were identified from investigator practices and asked to participate in an interview. Data were collected for physician contacts, Emergency Department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, prescription use, patient work loss, and caregiver time and work loss. RESULTS: 102 patients were enrolled at the time of this analysis; 95 (93%) completed the survey. Forty (42%) were men and 55 (58%) were women. 42% reported calling and 44% visited their physician s office, averaging 1.05 telephone calls and 0.68 visits specifically because of BTP. Patients averaged 2.55 prescriptions for pain control during the period. Twelve patients (13%) reported 16 ED visits, and 11 patients (12%) reported 13 hospitalizations. Only 20 of the 95 patients (21%) were working in a paid job. Of these, 70% (14/20) reported lost work, an average of 36.9 hours during the prior 30 days, due to pain. Nearly 83% of patients reported having someone help with their personal and/or medical care. Caregivers spent an average of 77 hours helping patients. Twenty-four patients (25%) reported an average of 24 hours of caregiver work loss as a result. CONCLUSIONS: The magnitude of medical resource consumption due to pain is notable, and lost work time is high. Further research with a control group is needed to determine costs specifically attributed to BTP.