Research led by the University of Sydney has unveiled that opioids provide minimal short-term relief for various acute pain conditions, challenging their prevalent use as a go-to treatment. The comprehensive study, published on March 15, 2026, in the journal Drugs, evaluated the effectiveness and potential harms of opioid analgesics such as codeine, morphine, oxycodone, and tramadol. It analyzed data from 59 systematic reviews covering over 50 acute pain conditions affecting both children and adults.
The findings indicate that while opioids are commonly prescribed for acute pain, they do not deliver significant or lasting relief compared to placebo treatments. Lead author Christina Abdel Shaheed, an Associate Professor at the University of Sydney’s School of Public Health, emphasized that the review represents the most extensive evidence to date regarding the efficacy of opioids for acute pain management.
The research highlighted that oral opioids provided only a slight improvement over placebo for acute musculoskeletal pain, typically lasting between six to 48 hours after administration. Furthermore, the study found that opioid use was associated with an increased risk of side effects, including nausea and vomiting, particularly in cases of acute musculoskeletal pain, post-surgical discomfort, and traumatic limb pain.
“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,” Abdel Shaheed stated.
Key Findings on Opioid Efficacy
The review’s key findings revealed that opioids offered only minor, temporary pain relief for conditions such as stomach pain, dental surgery, and post-childbirth pain. In several instances, including some limb surgeries and kidney stone pain, opioids showed no better efficacy than placebo. The evidence further indicated that opioids did not consistently provide benefits for heart-related pain or pain following hysterectomy.
The use of opioids also raised concerns regarding their safety. The risk of serious side effects, including misuse, overdose, hospitalization, and even death, grows with regular use. Co-first author Dr. Stephanie Mathieson from the University of Sydney’s Institute for Musculoskeletal Health and School of Pharmacy noted that persistent use can develop quickly, sometimes within days of initial administration.
“It is important that patients are informed about the potential harms from opioids when prescribed them, and that doctors prescribe these medicines judiciously,” Mathieson added, advocating for the lowest effective dose over the shortest duration.
Implications for Patients and Prescribers
The implications of this study extend beyond individual patients to doctors and healthcare policymakers. Co-first author Associate Professor Joshua Zadro from the University’s Institute for Musculoskeletal Health and School of Health Sciences emphasized the importance of these findings for all age groups experiencing acute pain.
As the opioid crisis continues to pose challenges globally, the research underscores the need for better reporting of adverse effects in clinical trials and calls for safer, more effective pain management alternatives. The study’s results indicate that regular opioid use for acute pain lacks sufficient support, highlighting the necessity for healthcare providers to reassess their prescribing practices.
The findings serve as a crucial reminder that while opioids may offer short-term relief, their potential risks and limited efficacy must be carefully considered in treatment decisions.
