Cough medicine may ease Post-Surgery pain and cut opioid use
NCT ID NCT05278494
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests whether a common cough suppressant, dextromethorphan, can reduce pain and the need for strong opioid painkillers after knee replacement surgery. About 160 adults will receive either dextromethorphan or a placebo before and after their operation. Researchers will measure how much opioid medication participants use and their reported pain levels.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Dextromethorphan (a common cough suppressant)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a safer, non-opioid option for managing pain after knee replacement surgery.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-stage trial with no phase designation, so results are uncertain. Dextromethorphan may not reduce pain or opioid use better than a placebo.
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
-
Keck School of Medicine of USC
RECRUITINGLos Angeles, California, 90033, United States
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