Can a single dose of methadone cut opioid use after surgery?
NCT ID NCT03726268
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study compared methadone to standard opioids like fentanyl for pain relief during and after outpatient surgery. Over 900 adults aged 18-65 having moderately painful procedures took part. The goal was to see if methadone could reduce the total amount of opioids patients used at home after discharge, lowering the risk of side effects and misuse.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Methadone
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could point toward a better way to manage pain after outpatient surgery while reducing the risk of opioid misuse.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed Phase 4 trial, but results may not apply to all surgeries or patients. Methadone itself carries risks like respiratory depression and requires careful dosing.
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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
-
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, North Carolina, 27710, United States
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