New cocktail of pain drugs aims to slash opioid use after major cancer surgery
NCT ID NCT04246697
First seen Jul 07, 2026 · Last updated Jul 08, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether a combination of gabapentin, ketorolac, and a nerve block, along with scheduled Tylenol, can reduce the need for opioid painkillers after head and neck cancer surgery involving free flap reconstruction. Half of the 30 participants will receive the standard approach (scheduled Tylenol plus opioids as needed), while the other half will receive the enhanced combination. Researchers will compare opioid use and pain scores between the two groups to see if the new regimen cuts opioid consumption by at least 30% while maintaining good pain control.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Gabapentin, Ketorolac, Tylenol, Bupivacaine
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this approach could reduce reliance on opioids for pain control after major head and neck cancer surgery, potentially lowering side effects and addiction risk.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase study with only 30 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The added drugs also carry their own risks, such as kidney injury or bleeding.
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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
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Locations
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University of Kansas Medical Center
Kansas City, Kansas, 66160, United States
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