Pain Management

The phase 3 findings support MR-107A-02's potential as a nonopioid option for certain patients with moderate to severe acute pain.

In an interview with Pharmacy Times, Claudia R. Morris, MD, lead author of the phase 3 STArT trial and professor of pediatrics and emergency medicine at Emory University School of Medicine, discusses findings from the phase 3 STArT trial of intravenous arginine for acute sickle cell pain, limitations of time to crisis resolution as a clinical trial end point, and opportunities for pharmacists to improve opioid-use data collection.

Suzetrigine postoperative pain data grows, but buprenorphine access gaps persist; naloxone patch and sickle cell pain trial reshape nonopioid care.

A nationwide study found that Black pregnant patients initiating buprenorphine had a 69% higher adjusted risk of treatment discontinuation during pregnancy than White patients.

The patch detected fentanyl and automatically delivered dose-responsive naloxone in laboratory and mouse studies, offering a potential strategy for addressing unwitnessed opioid overdoses.

A phase 4 study found that a suzetrigine-based multimodal pain regimen provided favorable postoperative pain control, with 76.1% of patients recovering without opioid rescue medication.

A new study found that first-prescription buprenorphine abandonment nearly doubled from 2020 to 2024.

In a phase 4 study, 90.9% of patients receiving preoperative suzetrigine-based multimodal therapy avoided opioid rescue after aesthetic or reconstructive surgery.

Suzetrigine prescriptions approached 1 million in the first half of 2026 as reimbursed access expanded, signaling growing adoption of nonopioid acute pain treatment.

A cone snail venom–derived peptide selectively inhibited the norepinephrine transporter and reduced inflammatory pain behavior without sedation in mice.

July 2026 brought advances in nonopioid drug development, opioid stewardship, procedural analgesia, cancer pain, pediatric medication safety, and understanding the genetic basis of fibromyalgia.

The FDA approved Tylenol with Naproxen, the first OTC fixed-dose combination of acetaminophen and naproxen sodium, for up to 12 hours of relief from minor aches and pains in patients 12 years and older.

In an interview with Pharmacy Times, Erin J. Walsh, PharmD, RPh, MS, MCST, discusses how VER-01 could reshape the role of cannabis-derived medicines in chronic pain care, the evolving role of pharmacists, and why pharmaceutical cannabinoids and whole-plant cannabis should be viewed as complementary therapeutic options rather than competitors.

Some commonly used treatments for chronic low back pain may offer limited benefit while increasing risks, underscoring the need for pharmacists to support evidence-based, patient-centered care.

Pharmacist-led pathways, multimodal analgesia, and patient-centered opioid stewardship may help improve acute pain management while balancing opioid safety, adequate pain relief, and access to emerging nonopioid options.

In an interview with Pharmacy Times, Brandon Kasberg, PharmD, discusses how pharmacists can help individualize multimodal acute pain regimens, reduce unnecessary opioid exposure, and support safer transitions from inpatient or postoperative care to the outpatient setting.

Emerging data on psychedelics demonstrate efficacy in preventing cluster headaches.

Kasey Malotte, PharmD, BCPS, discusses the new credential’s strengths and areas for growth as well as why a stronger training ecosystem is necessary for long-term impact.

A study published in JAMA Network Open of opioid-naive patients with acute pain found that opioids were typically used in low doses and for short periods, but pain often lasted longer than expected, and leftover medication was common.

Tanya J. Uritsky, PharmD, BCPP, FPPCP, FASHP, discusses multimodal analgesia, acute pain pathways, opioid-tolerant patients, suzetrigine, and pharmacist-led interventions across health systems with Pharmacy Times.

Pharmacy Times interviews Tanya J. Uritsky, PharmD, BCPP, FPPCP, FASHP, on how health systems can evaluate suzetrigine for acute pain pathways while balancing evidence, access, formulary sustainability, and pharmacist-led stewardship.

A systematic review of 23 randomized trials suggests melatonin may modestly reduce musculoskeletal pain and improve sleep, although pharmacists should emphasize uncertain dosing, supplement quality, and the need to use it only as an adjunct to individualized pain care.

Pharmacy Times interviews Tanya J. Uritsky, PharmD, BCPP, FPPCP, FASHP, on why effective opioid stewardship in acute pain care must extend beyond prescription reduction to include multimodal analgesia, patient-centered outcomes, and standardized health-system pathways.

Pharmacy Times interviews Tanya J. Uritsky, PharmD, BCPP, FPPCP, FASHP, on how multimodal, individualized care can improve acute pain management for opioid-tolerant patients and those receiving buprenorphine or methadone.

In an interview with Pharmacy Times, Caitlin Jones, PhD, discusses why high-risk, low-benefit treatments for chronic low back pain require greater scrutiny.