New combo tackles chronic pain without opioids

NCT ID NCT04395001

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: Wake Forest University Health Sciences Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested whether combining a non-opioid pain medication (duloxetine) with an online pain-coping skills program helps people with long-term muscle and joint pain. 280 adults with daily pain for at least 3 months took part. The goal was to see if this approach reduces pain severity and improves physical function better than either treatment alone.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: duloxetine (a non-opioid pain medication) and web-based cognitive behavioral therapy (pain-coping skills training)
What this could lead to: If successful, this combination could offer a more effective, non-opioid way to manage chronic pain and improve daily function.
What could go wrong: This is a Phase 4 study, so the drugs are already approved, but the combination may not prove significantly better than either alone. Side effects from duloxetine (e.g., increased blood pressure) are possible.

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.

Chronic Pain chronic pain syndrome

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

CHRONIC PAIN

Contacts and locations

Locations

Wake Forest Baptist Health Department of Rheumatology

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157, United States

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