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Suzetrigine, a selective sodium-channel blocker that inhibits nociceptive pain signaling in peripheral nerves, was approved by the FDA in January 2025 “for the treatment of moderate to severe acute pain in adults” (NEJM JW Gen Med May 1 2025 and N Engl J Med 2023; 389:393). We now have the published results of the two phase 3 studies that led to FDA approval.
The two studies involved 1100 patients each (mostly women without chronic pain; age range, 40–50) who were undergoing abdominoplasty or bunionectomy. Participants received suzetrigine (100-mg loading dose, followed by 50-mg doses every 12 hours), hydrocodone/acetaminophen (5 mg/325 mg every 6 hours), or placebo. Baseline pain scores averaged 7 on a 0-to-10 scale.
By 48 hours after surger…