A comprehensive analysis of opioid medications for short-term pain has concluded that these drugs typically provide only modest and brief relief. The review, covering dozens of conditions, found that opioids often perform no better than placebos in many cases. Researchers from the University of Sydney led the effort and highlighted risks of side effects and dependence.
The study combined evidence from 59 systematic reviews involving more than 50 acute pain conditions in children and adults. It examined common opioids including codeine, morphine, oxycodone, and tramadol. The findings were published in the journal Drugs. Associate Professor Christina Abdel Shaheed noted that opioids did not deliver large or lasting relief compared with placebo for most conditions, with effects usually lasting only a few hours. Benefits appeared modest for certain situations such as dental surgery pain, stomach pain, and childbirth. No advantage over placebo was seen for kidney stone pain, some limb surgeries, or tonsil removal pain. The analysis also linked opioids to increased side effects like nausea and vomiting in several scenarios. Co-first author Dr. Stephanie Mathieson warned that dependence can develop quickly, sometimes within days of first use. The researchers advised doctors to prescribe the lowest effective dose for the shortest time and to inform patients of potential harms.