naproxen + oxycodone + acetaminophen

A pharmacological combination regimen used as the standard medical management arm in clinical studies for acute lumbar radiculopathy and intervertebral disc herniation, specifically at Montefiore Medical Center. This regimen consists of naproxen, a non-selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and a combination of oxycodone, a semi-synthetic opioid analgesic, and acetaminophen, a non-aspirin antipyretic and analgesic. Naproxen functions by inhibiting the enzymes cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), thereby reducing the production of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins. Oxycodone acts primarily as an agonist at the mu-opioid receptors in the central nervous system, modulating the perception of and emotional response to pain. Acetaminophen provides synergistic analgesia, likely through central inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis and modulation of serotonergic pathways. This multi-modal analgesic approach is designed to manage the severe pain and functional disability associated with nerve root compression and inflammation resulting from disc herniation.

Other names

Standard medical careNaproxen + Oxycodone/Acetaminophen