Last reviewed 2026-04-19 · How we verify

Acute postoperative pain

Approved treatments

• Celebrex · Pfizer Inc. (originally Searle/Pharmacia)
  Celecoxib works by inhibiting COX-2 to reduce prostaglandin synthesis, thereby decreasing pain, inflammation, and fever.
• Dilaudid-Hp · Fresenius Kabi
  Hydromorphone binds primarily to mu-opioid receptors, producing analgesia without a ceiling effect.
• Subutex · Indivior
  Buprenorphine is a partial agonist at mu-opioid receptors and antagonist at kappa-opioid receptors.
• Fentanyl (F2) · Oslo University Hospital
• Valecoxib
• OxyContin · Purdue Pharma
• Xapit
• Duragesic · Johnson & Johnson (Janssen Pharmaceutica)
  Synthetic opioid 50-100x more potent than morphine that binds mu-opioid receptors, providing potent analgesia and anesthesia.
• Subutex · Purdue Pharma Lp
  Buprenorphine binds to mu-opioid receptors as a partial agonist and kappa-opioid receptors as an antagonist.
• Remifentanyl · Kocaeli University
• MS Contin · Generic (multiple manufacturers)
  The prototypical opioid agonist that binds mu-opioid receptors in the CNS, providing potent analgesia and serving as the reference standard for all opioids.
• Advil · Generic (originally Boots Group)
  Ibuprofen inhibits prostaglandin synthetase, reducing pain, fever, and inflammation.
• Toradol
• Dilaudid-Hp · Fresenius Kabi
  Full mu-opioid receptor agonist providing analgesia through CNS opioid receptor activation.
• Duramorph Pf · Pfizer
  Duramorph Pf works by binding to opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord, mimicking the natural pain-relieving chemicals in the body.
• OXYCONTIN® · Mundipharma (China) Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd
  OxyContin is a medication that works by binding to opioid receptors in the brain, altering the way the body perceives pain.
• celebrex · POZEN

Clinical guidelines

• FDA label — 2L
  Hydromorphone hydrochloride is indicated for the management of pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatments are inadequate.
• FDA label — 2L
  Hydromorphone hydrochloride is indicated for the management of pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatments are inadequate.
• FDA label — 2L
  Hydromorphone hydrochloride is indicated for the management of pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatments are inadequate.
• FDA label — 2L
  Hydromorphone hydrochloride is indicated for the management of pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatments are inadequate.
• FDA label — 2L
  Hydromorphone hydrochloride is indicated for the management of pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatments are inadequate.
• FDA label — 1L
  Morphine sulfate tablets are indicated for the management of acute pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatments are inadequate.
• FDA label — 2L
  Morphine sulfate tablets are indicated for the management of chronic pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatments are inadequate.
• FDA label — 2L
  Morphine sulfate tablets are indicated for the management of chronic pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatments are inadequate.
• FDA label — 1L
  Morphine sulfate tablets are indicated for the management of severe pain that requires an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatments are inadequate.

Competitive intelligence

For the full treatment-landscape CI brief — marketed leaders side-by-side, pipeline by phase, recent regulatory actions, sponsor landscape:

• Acute postoperative pain patent landscape — cliff calendar, originator estates, attackable patents
• Acute postoperative pain treatment landscape brief
• Acute postoperative pain treatment updates RSS

Frequently asked questions about Acute postoperative pain

Related

• Treatment landscape: Acute postoperative pain patent cliff · Acute postoperative pain CI report
• Treatment: Celebrex · Pfizer Inc. (originally Searle/Pharmacia)
• Treatment: Dilaudid-Hp · Fresenius Kabi
• Treatment: Subutex · Indivior
• Treatment: Fentanyl (F2) · Oslo University Hospital
• Treatment: Valecoxib
• All diseases: Browse the disease index · Disease landscape hub

Primary sources · FDA · ClinicalTrials.gov · EMA · SEC EDGAR · ChEMBL · Wikidata · full sourcing