Last reviewed 2026-04-23 · How we verify

Placebo for Oxycodone

A placebo contains no active pharmaceutical ingredient and produces therapeutic effects solely through the patient's expectation and psychological response.

A placebo contains no active pharmaceutical ingredient and produces therapeutic effects solely through the patient's expectation and psychological response. Used for Control arm in oxycodone efficacy trial for pain management.

At a glance

Mechanism of action

Placebos are inert substances used as controls in clinical trials to measure the true efficacy of an active drug by accounting for the placebo effect—the measurable improvement in symptoms resulting from belief in treatment rather than pharmacological action. In this Phase 3 trial, the placebo serves as the comparator arm to evaluate the actual analgesic efficacy of oxycodone beyond psychological expectation.

Approved indications

• Control arm in oxycodone efficacy trial for pain management

Common side effects

• Placebo effect (symptom improvement without active drug)

Key clinical trials

• Open-label Placebo for Pain Management in Adolescents and Young Adults Undergoing Bernese Periacetabular Osteotomy (NA)
• Open-label Placebo (COLP) for Pain in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) Surgery+Surgical Treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis (NA)
• A Study of Cebranopadol for the Treatment of Acute Pain After Bunionectomy (PHASE3)
• PF614 Analgesic Activity in Acute Postoperative Pain (PF614-301) (PHASE3)
• Opioid-Sparing Joint Replacement (PHASE3)
• Opioid-Sparing and Pain-Reducing Properties of Syntocinon: A Dose-Effect Determination (EARLY_PHASE1)
• Low-dose Buccal Buprenorphine: Relative Abuse Potential and Analgesia (PHASE4)
• Prescription Opioids, Brain Structure, and Cognition in Older Adults With Chronic Pain (PHASE2)

Primary sources

Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.