Best Opioid Agonist for postoperative pain
Top-rated pick: Dilaudid — pharmaranks score 68/100, the highest of the 6 Opioid Agonist drugs used for postoperative pain, ranked by our independent FDA recall-safety score. Compare them with all treatments for postoperative pain or the full Opioid Agonist class. Not medical advice — always consult a professional.
Quick answer: Of the 6 opioid agonist drugs we rate for postoperative pain, all are available as lower-cost generics, and most are injectable. Our ranking reflects each drug’s FDA recall-safety record — not clinical effectiveness for postoperative pain; the right choice depends on your situation, so confirm it with your prescriber.
How opioid agonist work
Opioid agonists bind opioid receptors (mainly mu receptors) on nerves in the brain and spinal cord, dampening the release of pain-signaling chemicals so fewer pain messages reach the brain, which relieves moderate to severe pain.
Other drug classes for postoperative pain
Top opioid agonist for postoperative pain: 1. Dilaudid · 2. Dilaudid-Hp · 3. Hydromorphone Hydrochloride
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 68/100 | Prescription | Injectable | Generic | $1 | View → | |
| 2 | 68/100 | Prescription | Injectable | Generic | $1 | View → | |
| 3 | 44/100 | Prescription | Suppository | Generic | $1 | View → | |
| 4 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $0 | View → | |
| 5 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $0 | View → | |
| 6 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Capsule | Generic | $0 | View → |
Full ranking · 6 drugs
dilaudid
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Dilaudid (Hydromorphone Hydrochloride) is an opioid agonist used to treat Cough, Postoperative Pain.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.17· 8 forms Save up to 91% in classdilaudid-hp
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Dilaudid-Hp (Hydromorphone Hydrochloride) is an opioid agonist used to treat Cough, Postoperative Pain.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.17· 8 forms Save up to 91% in classhydromorphone hydrochloride
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Hydromorphone Hydrochloride is an opioid agonist used to treat Cough, Postoperative Pain.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.17· 8 forms Save up to 91% in classoxycontin
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Oxycontin (Oxycodone Hydrochloride) is an opioid agonist used to treat Postoperative Pain.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.07· 2 forms Save up to 33% in classroxybond
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Roxybond (Oxycodone Hydrochloride) is an opioid agonist used to treat Postoperative Pain.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.07· 2 forms Save up to 33% in classxtampza er
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Xtampza ER (Oxycodone) is an opioid agonist used to treat Postoperative Pain.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.07· 2 forms Save up to 33% in classFrequently asked
- What is the best opioid agonist for postoperative pain?
- By our independent recall-safety rating — not an efficacy measure — dilaudid ranks highest among Opioid Agonist drugs used for postoperative pain. Always consult a professional.
- Which opioid agonist drugs treat postoperative pain?
- pharmaranks lists 6 Opioid Agonist products used for postoperative pain, per NIH RxClass drug-classification data — each independently rated and ranked above.
- How are these ranked?
- By our independent score, currently based on FDA regulatory recall-safety data (the methodology blends additional sources as they come online). See the How we rate page.