Study: Opioids Aren’t the Cheat Code for Most Short-Term Pain

Researchers found that opioids offer only limited pain relief for some pain conditions, such as dental surgery and traumatic limb pain. But they were not better than a placebo for things like kidney stone pain.

The findings were published in the journal Drugs.

Opioids vs. Placebos

Researchers at the University of Sydney studied the efficacy and risks of opioid pain relievers, morphine, codeine, oxycodone, and tramadol compared with a placebo for acute pain.

“Overall, oral opioids were only slightly better than placebo for acute musculoskeletal pain, which they are often prescribed for, in the six to 48 hours after starting treatment. Opioids also increased the risk of side effects when used for acute musculoskeletal pain, some types of post-surgical pain or traumatic limb pain,” said lead author Associate Professor Christina Abdel Shaheed, from the School of Public Health at the University of Sydney in a news release.

“By showing that the benefits are generally small, short-lived, absent for many common conditions, and sometimes harmful, our research challenges the widely held belief that opioids are the most effective ‘go-to’ option for acute pain.”  

Risks and Side Effects of Opioids

Not only are opioids highly addictive, but they also come with some unpleasant side effects,s including nausea and vomiting. Experts recommend using them for a very short period of time to reduce the risk of dependence.

The Placebo Effect

Pain is very complex, subjective, and personal. Doctors often use a scale system of one to 10 to help you indicate how much pain you are experiencing.

A study in Nature demonstrates that placebos are an effective way to help people feel less pain because the expectation of pain relief can reduce the experience of pain. An article published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) concluded that a placebo works for up to 50 percent of pain relief. More study is needed in this area, but it’s very promising to protect people from risk of dependence. Harvard Health experts say, “Your mind can be a powerful healing tool when given the chance.”