FDA-Approved Non-Opioid Suzetrigine Now Used in Texas Hospital

A major step forward in pain management is underway in Texas, where UT Health San Antonio’s Multispecialty and Research Hospital has begun using suzetrigine, a newly FDA-approved non-opioid painkiller, for post-surgical care.

This move allows physicians and patients to address surgical pain with powerful relief while avoiding the risks and side effects often associated with opioid narcotics.

Suzetrigine, marketed as Journavex, is not classified as a controlled substance. Its arrival comes amid rising concern over opioid addiction and a growing demand for safer alternatives.

The new medication signals a “multimodal” pain management shift, integrating novel drugs with physical therapy and other opioid-sparing approaches.

UT Health San Antonio is the first in the state to list suzetrigine as a primary option for orthopedic and podiatric surgery patients.

What Sets Suzetrigine Apart From Traditional Opioid Painkillers?

Suzetrigine differs fundamentally from opioid medications by the way it targets pain. While drugs like morphine or hydromorphone act on the brain and central nervous system, suzetrigine works through the peripheral nervous system.

This strategy avoids typical side effects of opioids, such as sedation, confusion, respiratory depression, constipation, and high risk of dependence or addiction.

The non-narcotic nature of suzetrigine means it is not subject to the strict regulatory controls that govern opioid prescribing and can be administered with more flexibility.

For many surgery patients, it offers a potent new pain control option without most narcotic drawbacks, which can interfere with early recovery and overall patient well-being.

Did you know?
FDA approval for suzetrigine marks the first significant non-opioid advance for acute surgical pain since the 1990s.

How Is Texas Hospital Implementing the New Medication?

As the first facility in Texas to make suzetrigine available for routine inpatient pain control, UT Health San Antonio is setting an example for hospitals nationwide.

The hospital’s pain protocols now prioritize non-opioid medications, including suzetrigine, alongside established practices such as regional nerve blocks and supervised physical therapy.

A multidisciplinary team of surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and pharmacists ensures proper patient selection and monitoring.

By adding suzetrigine to its formulary for orthopedic and podiatric cases, the hospital aims to reduce both acute pain and long-term opioid exposure, aligning with broader efforts to address the opioid epidemic.

What Are the Clinical Benefits for Post-Surgical Patients?

Suzetrigine gives patients access to rapid, effective pain relief following surgery, particularly major orthopedic interventions that have historically required strong opioid medication.

Experts at UT Health San Antonio say that patients feel the same strength as hydromorphone, but without the sleepiness, addiction, or slow recovery that usually comes with narcotic drugs.

The new approach helps accelerate early mobilization and rehabilitation. Patients benefit from fewer medication-related complications, less risk of confusion or falls, and a smoother progression to post-surgical outpatient care.

Nurses and rehabilitation professionals emphasize that combining medical advances with hands-on care methods produces the strongest patient outcomes.

ALSO READ | Why Is This Camera a Game-Changer for Medical Diagnostics?

How Does Suzetrigine Work in the Body?

Suzetrigine acts on sodium channels in the peripheral nerves, dampening the transmission of pain signals from the site of injury or surgery before those signals ever reach the brain or spinal cord.

This mechanism differs fundamentally from the way opioids block pain at the central level, allowing patients to remain clear-headed while managing discomfort.

National studies such as those using bunion surgery as a model confirm that suzetrigine’s efficacy can match some leading opioid medications without their inherent downsides.

Since FDA approval in January 2025, clinicians have gained growing confidence in using the drug for moderate-to-severe acute pain following surgery.

What’s Next for Non-Opioid Pain Management in Healthcare?

The adoption of non-opioid options like suzetrigine reflects a wider evolution in pain care strategy. Beyond UT Health San Antonio, other hospitals are closely watching clinical results and considering their adoption of this therapy.

State and national health agencies are evaluating policy changes to support wider access for complex surgical and trauma cases.

With mounting evidence of opioid harms and proven efficacy of new alternatives, a future in which surgery patients have effective, safer choices for pain relief is coming into view.

Innovations like suzetrigine may help hospitals nationwide rewrite the playbook for pain care, prioritizing recovery and reducing society’s dependence on narcotic drugs.