Small Study Shows Existing Drug Could Reduce Opioid Administration After Surgery
A pilot study by researchers from the Medical University of South Carolina has revealed that an FDA-approved drug could help reduce the need for opioid administration after surgery. Scientists from the university’s Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine (MUSC) found that an already-approved drug called N-acetylcysteine (NAC) could reduce pain levels in patients after spinal surgery, thereby limiting the need for opioids. The pilot study involved spinal surgery patients who received traditional pain-relief treatments as well as NAC after surgery. The researchers found that these patients had lower pain scores and asked for fewer opioids after their spinal surgeries compared…