Novel opioids in postoperative pain management

Postoperative pain management remains unsatisfactory. Thus, searching for new methods of adequate pain control is still important. This review is devoted to novel opioids for postoperative analgesia. These opioids have comparable and even greater effectiveness compared to traditional opioid analgesics with lower rate of adverse side effects. This is achieved due to new capabilities, i.e. antagonism with β-arrestin (oliceridine), noradrenaline reuptake inhibition (tapentadol), impact on nociceptin/orphanin receptors (cebranopadol), significant prolongation of duration of action (dinalbuphine), high selectivity to type 1 µ-receptors (tafalgin), impact on concentration of endogenous opioid peptides (DENKIs, CYT-1010). Data from experimental and clinical studies are presented for each drug. Despite development of opioid-sparing techniques, opioid analgesics keep their place in the treatment of pain after surgery. Some novel opioids (tapentadol, tafalgin) are available In Russia.