Can a pinch of naloxone stop opioids from making pain worse?
NCT ID NCT03066739
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This small, early-phase study tested whether adding an ultra-low dose of naloxone to a strong opioid (remifentanil) could prevent the increased pain sensitivity that sometimes happens after surgery. The trial involved 8 adults undergoing spinal fusion surgery. The study was terminated early, so the results are not conclusive.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- naloxone (ultra-low dose) combined with remifentanil
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a way to prevent increased pain sensitivity caused by strong opioids during surgery.
- What could go wrong
- The trial was terminated early with only 8 participants, so results are very limited and may not be reliable. It is unclear if the approach works or is safe.
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
-
UC Irvine Medical Center
Orange, California, 92868, United States
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