Suzetrigine: A Novel Non-Opioid Treatment for Acute Post-Operative Pain

Abstract

Acute post-operative pain is a common clinical condition, typically ranging from moderate to severe in intensity. Current guidelines for pain management recommend multimodal analgesia to improve pain control, reduce adverse effects associated with high-dose monotherapy, and minimize opioid consumption, which may lead to dependence and central nervous system side effects. Suzetrigine is a novel non-opioid analgesic that selectively inhibits the sodium channel subtype Na_V 1.8 in peripheral sensory neurons, thereby blocking pain transmission while minimizing the risk of central nervous system side effects. The drug reaches its peak plasma concentration approximately three hours after oral administration and is primarily metabolized via the CYP3A enzyme to an active metabolite, M6-SUZ. Clinical studies in patients with acute post-operative pain have shown that suzetrigine provides superior pain relief compared to placebo. Furthermore, its efficacy is comparable to that of hydrocodone/acetaminophen. Common adverse events include dizziness, headache, constipation, nausea, vomiting, and rash. Suzetrigine has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of moderate to severe acute pain in adults. Its incorporation into multimodal analgesia regimens may enhance pain management while reducing the risks associated with central nervous system complications.