It is essential for clinicians to remain informed about emerging clinical trial opportunities and resulting data that may inform therapeutic strategies, affect clinical guidelines, expand treatment options, and ultimately improve patient quality of life.

Today, we’re looking at a selection of clinical trials focusing on strategies to reduce postoperative opioid use that have anticipated completion dates by the end of 2027. All trials featured today are Phase 3 or 4 and many are still actively recruiting. Trials are arranged by start date.

Quick View Table of Postoperative Opioid-Sparing Clinical Trials
Study TitlePhaseEstimated EnrollmentStart DateEstimated Primary Completion
Reducing Opioid Use After Upper Extremity Surgery: Testing Lower Prescriptions and Pill Quantity4260August 2024September 2026
Nonopioid Pain Control Regimen After Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Traumatic Fractures445October 2024September 2026
Methadone to Reduce Chronic Opioid Use After Major Spine Surgery: The MEND Pilot Feasibility Study (MEND)4120November 2025October 2027
Methadone for Post-operative Spine Surgery430June 2026April 2027
Precision Pain Management - A Randomized Clinical Trial Assessing the Efficacy of Suzetrigine on Postoperative Analgesia Among Surgical Patients at Higher Risk for Persistent Postoperative Opioid Use (POU)4100July 2026June 2027
Assessing Suzetrigine for Pain Reduction Following Ureteroscopic Surgery3100August 2026March 2027
Featured Clinical Trials

Reducing Opioid Use After Upper Extremity Surgery: Testing Lower Prescriptions and Pill Quantity

  • Sponsor: AdventHealth
  • Goal: The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate strategies for optimizing postoperative multimodal pain regimens and reducing opioid dependency in patients undergoing upper extremity surgery.
  • Interventions: Naproxen, acetaminophen, oxycodone, gabapentin
  • Primary Outcome Measures: Number of Participants Requesting an Additional Postoperative Pain Medication Refill; Postoperative Pain Score on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at 3 Days Post-Surgery.
  • Time Frames: Through two weeks post-surgery; Three days post-surgery.
  • Study Details
  • Source

Nonopioid Pain Control Regimen After Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Traumatic Fractures

  • Sponsor: Henry Ford Health
  • Goal:  To measure postoperative pain control in patients in two treatment arms of ORIF of the clavicle: a treatment group given a nonopioid pain control regimen, and a standard of care control group given standard opioid pain control regimen.
  • Interventions: Narcotic pain medication, nonnarcotic pain medications
  • Primary Outcome Measure: Pain Score
  • Time Frame: Pain scores will be recorded daily for the first two weeks, and then one a week until the six week post operative clinic visit.
  • Study Details
  • Source

Methadone to Reduce Chronic Opioid Use After Major Spine Surgery: The MEND Pilot Feasibility Study (MEND)

  • Sponsor: The Cleveland Clinic
  • Goal: This investigation will [observe] the safety and efficacy of postoperative methadone treatment in patients undergoing spine surgery and the opioid-sparing effects of methadone at 3 months after surgery.
  • Interventions: Methadone, placebo
  • Primary Outcome Measures: Feasibility and Acceptability-Participant Willingness/Recruitment; Feasibility and Acceptability-Provider Engagement; Feasibility and Execution-Protocol Compliance and Execution; Acceptability and Execution-Baseline Stratification Data; Feasibility and Execution-Follow-Up Completion.
  • Time Frames: Seven days; Seven days; Seven days; 18 months; 90 days.
  • Study Details
  • Source

Methadone for Post-operative Spine Surgery

  • Sponsor: Brandon Knopp
  • Goal: The goal of this prospective cohort study is to evaluate the clinical effects of post-induction methadone on perioperative pain control, opioid requirements, and recovery outcomes in adult patients undergoing elective spine surgery, with the goal of improving postoperative analgesia and enhancing recovery efficiency.
  • Interventions: Methadone, standard of care
  • Primary Outcome Measure: Perioperative opioid use in morphine equivalents (ME).
  • Time Frame: Perioperative until 72 hours postoperative.
  • Study Details
  • Source

Precision Pain Management - A Randomized Clinical Trial Assessing the Efficacy of Suzetrigine on Postoperative Analgesia Among Surgical Patients at Higher Risk for Persistent Postoperative Opioid Use (POU)

  • Sponsor: University of California, San Diego
  • Goal: The purpose of the study is to investigate the efficacy of suzetrigine for treatment of acute postoperative pain among surgical patients identified as high risk for persistent postoperative opioid use (POU).
  • Intervention: Suzetrigine, standard care (in control arm)
  • Primary Outcome Measure: Total opioid consumption over 14 days postoperatively.
  • Time Frames: From enrollment to 14 days postoperatively.
  • Study Details
  • Source

Assessing Suzetrigine for Pain Reduction Following Ureteroscopic Surgery

  • Sponsor: Bringham and Women’s Hospital
  • Goal: This study assesses the addition of suzetrigine to standard-of-care multimodal analgesia.
  • Interventions: Multimodal analgesia regimen without suzetrigine, suzetrigine
  • Primary Outcome Measure: Post-discharge opioid consumption (MME).
  • Time Frame: One to two weeks
  • Study Details
  • Source
Related Guidance:

Check out our other anesthesiology and pain content and be sure to sign up for alerts and stay informed on the latest published guidelines.