Could a common antidepressant ease pain after knee replacement?
NCT ID NCT05086393
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether the drug duloxetine, typically used for depression, can help reduce pain and the need for opioids after knee replacement surgery. Researchers enrolled 241 adults undergoing knee replacement and gave them either duloxetine or a placebo. The goal was to see if duloxetine improves recovery and lowers opioid use in the first two weeks after surgery.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- duloxetine
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a better pain management plan after knee replacement, reducing opioid use and improving recovery.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed Phase 4 trial with 241 participants, so results are available but may not apply to all patients. Duloxetine may cause side effects like nausea or dizziness.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Phase 4
Runs after approval, following long-term safety and how well the treatment works in everyday use.
- Participants
-
241 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Nov 2021
- Finished
-
Jul 2025
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 to 80 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Any patient undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty for osteoarthritis * Age ≥ 18 years old * Willingness to undergo randomization and return for all scheduled visits * English speaking Exclusion Criteria: * Age \> 80 years old * American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Score ≥ 4 * Prior use of SSRIs or SNRIs * Use of serotonergic drugs in the past 6 months with the exception of tramadol * Known psychiatric disorder (specifically: generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, type I or type II bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia) * Heavy alcohol consumption defined as ≥ 14 drinks per week for men and ≥ 7 drinks per week for women * Opioid tolerant patients defined as ≥ 60 morphine equivalents (MEQs) per day within 90 days prior to surgery * Renal impairment defined as a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) \< 30 mL/minute or creatinine \>1.3 mg/dL * Non-English speaking * Non-independent (i.e. requires a caretaker to make medical decisions on their behalf)
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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
-
Rush University medical Center
Chicago, Illinois, 60612, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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