Kids' painkiller mystery: anesthesia may change how oxycodone works

NCT ID NCT03054831

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study looks at how general anesthesia changes the way children process liquid oxycodone, a common painkiller used after surgery. Researchers will give the drug to 40 children aged 2-8 at different times during anesthesia and measure its levels in the blood. They will also check if certain genes affect how the drug is broken down. The goal is to understand how to dose oxycodone more safely in kids.

What this could mean

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

Active substance
liquid oxycodone
What this could lead to
If successful, this could help doctors give safer, more effective pain relief to children during and after surgery.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-phase study with only 40 children. It focuses on drug levels, not on proving pain relief or safety. Results may not apply to all kids.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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As listed by the trial registrant

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

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Boston Children Hospital

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States