Opioid Use and Pain Resolution for Acute Pain Among Opioid-Naive Patients
Authors' conclusion
In this cohort study of opioid-naive patients with acute pain, opioid use was generally low dose and of short duration, although some patients reported prolonged opioid use; most reported achieving pain resolution within 3 weeks, with longer times for surgical and low back pain.
Study context
- Population
- Opioid-naive adults (and adolescents 15–17 y undergoing impacted molar extraction at 1 site) offered an opioid prescription for acute pain in emergency departments (EDs), primary care, dental practices, or after cesarean delivery or knee replacement; 5 US health systems, 2020–2023followed up for 180 days
- Participants
- 1,708 adults
- Outcome
- Time to pain resolution (3 consecutive reports of no pain)
Methodological detailsmulticentre
- Multicentre
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Time to pain resolution
Median time to pain resolution, all patients (IQR 8-88 days)
20 days
Surgical pain, median (IQR 30 days to not reached)
74 days
Low back pain, median (IQR 18 days to not reached)
69 days
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Opioid use duration
- Median time to opioid discontinuation, 1189 opioid users (IQR 2-31 days)
- 7 days
- Opioid use ≥90 days
- 10.0% (95% CI 7.7%-12.7%)
- Higher prolonged-use rates with frequent pain before enrollment
Treatment use in first 2 weeks
- Any opioid use (of 1482)
- 1153 (77.8%)
- Acetaminophen or ibuprofen use (of 1482)
- 1287 (86.8%)
Daily opioid dose, first 15 days
- Median daily MME (IQR 5-15), 619 reporting
- 10
Leftover opioids
- Reported leftover opioids
- 657 of 982 responding (66.9%)
Original publication
Opioid Use and Pain Resolution for Acute Pain Among Opioid-Naive Patients. JAMA Netw Open. Published 1 July 2026. doi:10.
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