Over-the-counter pills better than opioids after dental surgery
In the journals
- Reviewed by Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Surgeons have found that combining over-the-counter pain relievers can be just as effective as opioids for pain relief, without the negatives of opioid side effects or addiction risk.
A study published online Jan. 5, 2025, by The Journal of the American Dental Association supports this approach to pain management by showing that taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) together after dental surgery controls pain better than prescription opioids.
Experts recruited about 1,800 patients undergoing surgery to remove impacted wisdom teeth. Over the week following surgery, patients took pain medication every four to six hours as needed for up to 20 doses. Half of them received 5 milligrams (mg) of the opioid hydrocodone and 300 mg of acetaminophen. The other half took acetaminophen (500 mg) and ibuprofen (400 mg). People given the combination of acetaminophen and ibuprofen experienced less pain and fewer side effects and slept better compared with those receiving hydrocodone and acetaminophen. According to the researchers, the over-the-counter medications provided superior pain relief during the peak pain period two days after surgery.
While the study involved younger adults, as wisdom teeth usually are removed from the teenage years to the early 20s, the researchers added that the combination drug approach might apply to any type of dental surgery and age group.
Image: © Viktoriya Skorikova /Getty Images
About the Author
Matthew Solan, Executive Editor, Harvard Men's Health Watch
About the Reviewer
Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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