Postoperative pain
Supplements studied for postoperative pain.
Overview
Melatonin (WA 56; low effect size, very high evidence, medium trust) has low-strength evidence across 13 studies suggesting it may slightly reduce postoperative pain and analgesic need, though benefits appear small and may not be clinically meaningful. Caffeine (WA 52; low effect size, high evidence, medium trust) may enhance common painkillers after surgery, increasing good pain relief by about 5–10% when added at doses of at least 100 mg.
Beta-Glucan (WA 44; low effect size, low evidence, medium trust) reduced bloating and pain after polyp surgery in one early study. Olive Oil (WA 44; low effect size, low evidence, medium trust) cream applied after Caesarean section reduced pain in one small trial. The heatmap and evidence reviews below compare outcomes.
Effect graph
Relevant supplements
Relevant supplements sorted by DEX Score.
| Melatonin | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Caffeine | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Olive Oil | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Beta-Glucan | ★★★★★ | Low |
Studies
Find individual evidence reviews for supplements sorted by DEX Score.
4 supplements for rated at least stars. All purchase bands. No minimum star filter.
MelatoninView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- It is unclear if melatonin really helps with pain after surgery.
- Research suggests it may slightly reduce pain and the need for pain medicine, but the benefits are small and may not matter much in real life.
- Studies have used 1–10 mg daily for up to 3 weeks, usually starting the night before surgery, across many types of operations such as C-section, back surgery, eye surgery, gallbladder removal, and dental extractions.
Browse 13 studies·3 meta-analyses
MetaEfficacy and Safety of Preoperative Melatonin for Women Undergoing Cesarean Section: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trials2023
A meta-analysis found preoperative melatonin reduced post-cesarean pain and anxiety versus placebo without increasing adverse events.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Women
RCTAtomised intranasal dexmedetomidine versus oral melatonin in prevention of emergence delirium in children undergoing ophthalmic surgery with sevoflurane: A randomised double-blind study2022n=120
In 120 children undergoing sevoflurane ophthalmic surgery, intranasal dexmedetomidine 2 μg/kg prevented emergence delirium more effectively than oral melatonin 0.5 mg/kg.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Dose
- 0.5 mg/day
- Population
- Children/adolescents
- Participants
- 120
RCTThe Effect of Preoperative Oral Melatonin on Postoperative Pain after Lumbar Disc Surgery: A Double-Blinded Randomized Clinical Trial2022n=80
In 80 lumbar discectomy patients, preoperative melatonin 3–10 mg reduced postoperative pain scores versus lower doses or placebo.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Dose
- 5 mg/day
- Population
- Adults undergoing lumbar disc surgery
- Participants
- 80
- Ages
- 35–70
MetaEffect of Melatonin on Postoperative Pain and Perioperative Opioid Use: A Meta-analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis2021n=1,102
A meta-analysis found melatonin reduced postoperative pain scores and opioid consumption versus placebo across surgical trials.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Surgical patients
- Participants
- 1,102
RCTEffects of preoperative melatonin on postoperative pain following cesarean section: A randomized clinical trial2021n=204
In 204 cesarean section patients, preoperative melatonin reduced postoperative pain intensity versus placebo under spinal anesthesia.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Dose
- 5 mg/day
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 204
- Ages
- 20–40
RCTAnalgesic Efficacy of Melatonin: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trials2020n=1,967
A meta-analysis of 30 RCTs (1,967 participants) found melatonin significantly reduced chronic pain (SMD −0.65) but showed no significant benefit for acute postoperative pain in high-quality trials.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 1,967
RCTThe effects of melatonin prophylaxis on sensory recovery and postoperative pain following orthognathic surgery: a triple-blind randomized controlled trial and biochemical analysis2020
In 30 orthognathic surgery patients, melatonin for 21 days improved sensory recovery and reduced postoperative pain versus placebo.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 21 days
- Population
- Orthognathic surgery patients
RCTEffect of melatonin and gabapentin on anxiety and pain associated with retrobulbar eye block for cataract surgery: a randomized double-blind study2013n=30
In 130 cataract patients, melatonin 6 mg reduced preoperative anxiety similarly to gabapentin 600 mg and better than placebo.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Dose
- 6 mg
- Population
- Cataract surgery patients
- Participants
- 30
- Ages
- 35–85
RCTThe effects of melatonin on anxiety and pain scores of patients, intraocular pressure, and operating conditions during cataract surgery under topical anesthesia2013n=60
In cataract surgery patients, sublingual melatonin 3 mg reduced preoperative anxiety and intraocular pressure versus placebo.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Dose
- 3 mg/day
- Population
- Cataract surgery patients
- Participants
- 60
- Ages
- 25–80
RCTEffects of preoperative oral melatonin medication on postoperative analgesia, sleep quality, and sedation in patients undergoing elective prostatectomy: a randomized clinical trial2010n=26
In 52 prostatectomy patients, preoperative melatonin 6 mg improved postoperative analgesia and sleep quality versus placebo alongside tramadol PCA.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Dose
- 6 mg
- Population
- Men undergoing prostatectomy
- Participants
- 26
RCTMelatonin provides anxiolysis, enhances analgesia, decreases intraocular pressure, and promotes better operating conditions during cataract surgery under topical anesthesia2009n=40
In 40 cataract surgery patients, melatonin 10 mg premedication reduced anxiety, pain scores, and intraocular pressure versus placebo.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Dose
- 10 mg/day
- Population
- Cataract surgery patients
- Participants
- 40
RCTPreoperative anxiolytic effect of melatonin and clonidine on postoperative pain and morphine consumption in patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study2009n=20
In 59 abdominal hysterectomy patients, preoperative melatonin was as effective as clonidine and both reduced postoperative pain better than placebo.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Dose
- 5 mg
- Population
- Women undergoing hysterectomy
- Participants
- 20
RCTThe clinical impact of preoperative melatonin on postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy2007n=17
In 33 hysterectomy patients, melatonin 5 mg improved anxiolysis and circadian rest-activity rhythm versus placebo without major adverse effects.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Dose
- 5 mg/day
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 17
CaffeineView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Caffeine can enhance the effectiveness of common painkillers, especially for relieving pain after surgery.
- Studies show that adding caffeine (at least 100 mg) to standard pain medications increases the number of people who get good pain relief by about 5 to 10 percent.
- For instance, combining caffeine with ibuprofen not only improves pain relief but also makes it work faster and last longer.
Browse 3 studies
MetaSingle dose oral ibuprofen plus caffeine for acute postoperative pain in adults2015n=1,501
A Cochrane review of 5 studies (1,501 adults) found single-dose ibuprofen 200 mg plus caffeine 100 mg significantly increased postoperative pain relief versus placebo, with NNT ~2.1 for ≥50% pain relief.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Dose
- 100 mg/day
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 1,501
MetaCaffeine as an analgesic adjuvant for acute pain in adults2014n=12,500
A Cochrane review of 20 studies (7,238 participants) found adding ≥100 mg caffeine to analgesics increased patients achieving ≥50% pain relief, with NNT ~14; evidence supports caffeine as an analgesic adjuvant for acute pain.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Dose
- 130 mg/day
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 12,500
RCTEffect of caffeine on ibuprofen analgesia in postoperative oral surgery pain1991
In 298 postoperative dental pain patients, ibuprofen 50–200 mg plus caffeine 100 mg was 2.4–2.8 times more potent than ibuprofen alone, with faster onset and longer duration of analgesia.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Dose
- 100 mg
Beta-GlucanView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- It is uncertain if beta-glucans help reduce abdominal pain after intestinal polyp surgery.
- One early study found that eating bread with barley beta-glucans daily for 3 months reduced bloating and pain compared to bread without beta-glucans.
Browse 1 study
RCTImpact of beta-glucan on the faecal microbiota of polypectomized patients: a pilot study2011
In polypectomized adults, 3 months of 3 g/day barley beta-glucan in bread altered coliform counts and short-chain fatty acid ratios and reduced bloating/abdominal pain versus placebo, without major microbiota shifts.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 3 months
- Dose
- 3 g/day
- Population
- Adults
- Avg age
- ~58
Olive OilView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- It is not certain if putting olive oil cream on the skin reduces pain after surgery.
- In a small study, women who applied a cream with 2% virgin olive oil twice a day after Caesarean section felt less pain than those using a placebo cream or no cream.
Browse 1 study
RCTThe effect of olive cream on pain and healing of caesarean section wounds: a randomised controlled clinical trial2022n=35
An RCT in 103 women after caesarean section found topical olive cream twice daily for 8 days reduced pain and improved wound healing scores versus placebo or no treatment.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 8 days
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 35
Evidence visualised
Same ratings as above, aggregated so you can see coverage and imbalance.
| Supplement | DEX | Studies | Meta-analyses | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melatonin | ★★★★★56% | 13 | 3 | 72% |
| Caffeine | ★★★★★52% | 3 | 0 | 17% |
| Beta-Glucan | ★★★★★44% | 1 | 0 | 6% |
| Olive Oil | ★★★★★44% | 1 | 0 | 6% |