Nonopioid Analgesia Is as Effective as Opioids Following Minor or Moderate Surgeries

Prescribing opioids for postoperative pain relief is common in the U.S. and contributes to opioid overuse, dependence, and illicit diversion. Elsewhere in the world, nonopioid drugs are prescribed commonly for postop pain relief, but the comparative effectiveness of opioid and nonopioid postoperative analgesia remains uncertain.

In a meta-analysis, researchers reviewed 47 randomized trials in which researchers compared the effectiveness of multidose opioid and opioid-free postoperative analgesia in 6600 adolescents and adults (age, ≥15) following surgeries described as minor (e.g., dental or skin procedures) or moderate (e.g., minimally invasive orthopedic surgeries). Most trials (85%) involved day surgeries, and half involved outpatient pro…