Suzetrigine: A Novel Non-Opioid Analgesic for Acute Pain Management—A Review

Suzetrigine represents a groundbreaking advancement in acute pain management as the first FDA-approved selective Nav1.8 inhibitor. This comprehensive review synthesizes data from clinical trials, pharmacological studies, and prescribing information to evaluate its mechanism, efficacy, safety, and clinical implications. With demonstrated superiority over placebo in pivotal trials (SPID48: 29.3-48.4; p < 0.0001) and a favorable safety profile devoid of opioid-like addiction risks, suzetrigine offers a much-needed alternative in the opioid crisis era. However, its modest effect size compared to full-dose opioids, CYP3A-mediated drug interactions, and limited long-term data warrant judicious use. This article provides a balanced perspective on suzetrigine's role in modern pain management protocols.