Tylenol showdown: pill or IV after back surgery?
NCT ID NCT07203079
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study will test whether taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) by mouth works as well as getting it through an IV for pain after lumbar spine fusion surgery. About 180 adults will be randomly assigned to receive either oral or IV acetaminophen for 48 hours after their operation. The goal is to see if the simpler oral route can provide similar pain relief and help people recover faster.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- What this could lead to
- If oral acetaminophen works as well as IV, patients could avoid an IV line for pain relief after spine surgery, simplifying recovery.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase trial (180 people) comparing two forms of a common drug. The results may not apply to other surgeries or pain types.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Stanford University
Stanford, California, 94305, United States
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