U.S. Pain Management Drugs Market (By Drug Class: NSAIDs, Opioids, Anesthetics, Antidepressants, Anticonvulsants, Others; By Indication: Arthritic Pain, Neuropathic Pain, Chronic Back Pain, Post-Operative Pain, Cancer Pain, Others; By Distribution Channel: Online Pharmacy, Retail Pharmacy, Hospital Pharmacy)) - Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2024-2033

U.S. Pain Management Drugs Market Size and Growth

The U.S. pain management drugs market size was valued at USD 31.12 billion in 2023 and is projected to surpass around USD 46.51 billion by 2033, registering a CAGR of 4.1% over the forecast period of 2024 to 2033.

U.S. Pain Management Drugs Market Key Takeaways

• By drug class, the opioids segment is expected to dominate the market over the forecast period.
• By indication, the arthritic pain segment is expected to capture the largest market share during the forecast period.
• By distribution channel, the hospital pharmacy segment held the largest share of the market in 2023. The segment is observed to sustain the position throughout the predicted timeframe.

U.S. Pain Management Drugs Market Overview

Pain is defined as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience conveyed to the brain by sensory neurons, which causes actual or potential tissue damage. The length of the pain can range from acute pain for short term to chronic pain for long term. Acute pain is a sudden onset of pain while chronic pain is caused by aged bone & joint conditions, nerve damage, or injury. Pain management involves reducing or treating pain by using a given range of medications. Pain management is a medical approach that draws on disciplines in science and alternative healing to study the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of pain.

The U.S. pain management drugs market was hampered during the lockdown period owning to disruption in supply chain of pain medications. During pandemic, decline in surgeries and delay in approval of various novel pain medications hampered the growth of U.S. pain management market

U.S. Pain Management Drugs Market Growth 

Growth & innovations in the pharmaceutical industry for the manufacturing of pain-relieving drugs owing to massive pool of health-conscious consumers creates an opportunity for the U.S. pain management drugs market. Also, the growth of the U.S. pain management drugs market is expected to be driven by rise in pain disorders, availability of improved healthcare infrastructure, increase in unmet healthcare needs, rise in prevalence of chronic diseases cases in geriatric population, and surge in demand for effective pain medicines with less side effects. Furthermore, the healthcare industry in the U.S. is developing at a significant rate, owing to rise in demand for enhanced healthcare services, significant investments by the government to improve healthcare infrastructure, and development of the medical tourism industry in various cities of the U.S.

As elderly people experience chronic pain due to joint disorders, various surgeries various pain medications are prescribed, which contributes to growth of U.S. pain management drugs market. In U.S., rise in number of diabetic neuropathies is observed, which leads to pain, thus, driving the market growth. For instance, according to an article published in National Library of Medicine 2021, increase in diabetic neuropathic cases was observed from 30 million in 2019 to 85 million in U.S. which drives the market growth.  

Further, increase in incidence of sport injuries is expected to fuel the growth of market. For instance, according to article published in National Library of Medicine 2021, stated that 3.5 million injuries were reported in 2020 with 21% being brain injuries. In addition, rise in prevalence of low back pain cases in adults is increasing contributing to market growth. For instance, according to article published in Springer 2022, stated that 54% adults suffer from back pain with 24 – 80% reoccurrence pain disorder in one year.

In addition, surge in government spending on pain management treatment further fuels the market growth. For instance, according to Journal of Pain 2020, spending on chronic pain in the U.S. in one year is usually $635 billion. Furthermore, various organizations along with the government provide funding for pain management, which is anticipated to contribute to market growth. For instance, according to article published, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs 2022, stated that funding of $250,000 is provided to support and promote innovative, high-impact research for the development and management of chronic pain.

Further, rise in prevalence of muscle strain disorders such as neck pain, shoulder, groin pain, and hamstring also require pain medications. For instance, according to article published in National Library of Medicine 2021, patients with muscle strain are prescribed NSAIDs and acetaminophen for 2 to 4 weeks, depending upon the pain condition. Thus, such muscle disorders fuel the growth of the market. In addition, rise in prevalence of acute appendicitis in the U.S. is anticipated to contribute to growth of pain management drugs market. For instance, according to article published in Single care 2021, stated that around 7 in 100 people in U.S., will experience acute appendicitis at some point and is usually common in age between 10 to 30.

Various organizations along with government are counselling people regarding the pain disorders with proper management. E-commerce (electronic commerce) has become a vital tool for small and large businesses globally, due to rise in preference of consumers for online shopping over traditional purchasing methods. Various animations through health apps to educate people regarding dose and frequency of pain medication has contributed to growth of this U.S. pain management drugs market. Moreover, increase in promotional activities by manufacturers and growth in awareness for proper treatment medications for pain disorders among the general population are expected to fuel their adoption in the near future.

Further, availability of various alternative therapies like pain management devices chiropractic manipulation and acupuncture is anticipated to hamper the growth of market. In addition, various side effects of drugs, misuse and habit-forming drugs restrain the market growth. Furthermore, various new advancements like innovative technologies and strategies to formulate drugs which are abuse-deterrent and having long duration effect provide lucrative opportunities to the market players.

The outbreak of COVID-19 has disrupted workflows in the health care sector around the world. The disease has forced a number of industries to shut their doors temporarily, including several sub-domains of health care. The U.S. pain management drugs market experienced a decline in 2021 due to global economic recession led by COVID-19. In addition, the COVID-19 outbreak disrupted the supply chain of pain drugs across various end-user industries like hospitals and pharmacies.

However, the market is anticipated to witness recovery in 2021, and show stable growth for U.S. pain management drugs market in the coming future. This is attributed to the increase in adoption of various pain medications with less side effects, rise in number of pending surgeries, increase diabetes disorders, proper counselling for post operative pain conditions and drug approvals for new pain disorders, drive the market growth.

U.S. Pain Management Drugs Market Report Scope

U.S. Pain Management Drugs Market By Drug Class Insights

The opioids segment is expected to dominate the market over the forecast period. Opioids are a class of potent analgesic medications derived from opium or synthesized to mimic opiate effects. They work by binding to specific receptors in the central nervous system to alleviate pain. Opioids are available in various formulations, including oral tablets, injectables, patches, and sublingual formulations.

This versatility allows healthcare providers to choose the most appropriate route and formulation based on the patient's condition and needs. These are highly effective in providing potent pain relief, especially for moderate to severe pain, such as postoperative pain, cancer-related pain, and pain associated with certain medical conditions. Besides, the antidepressants segment is expected to grow at a rapid rate over the forecast period. Antidepressants, particularly certain classes like tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), have found applications beyond mental health conditions.

They are increasingly prescribed for chronic pain, neuropathic pain, and certain types of musculoskeletal pain. They provide a non-opioid option for pain management, which can be beneficial in situations where opioid use may not be appropriate or when trying to avoid the potential risks associated with opioids. Thus, this is expected to drive the segment growth over the forecast period.

U.S. Pain Management Drugs Market By Indication Insights

The arthritic pain segment is expected to capture the largest market share during the forecast period. The market for arthritic pain management includes a range of medications, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), analgesics, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and biologics. This diversity allows healthcare providers to tailor treatment plans based on the specific needs and characteristics of each patient.

In Addition, ongoing research and development efforts in the field of rheumatology lead to the introduction of novel drugs and treatment modalities. These advancements aim to improve the efficacy of pain management while minimizing side effects. On the other hand, the chronic back pain segment is expected to grow substantially during the projected period. Chronic back pain is a common health issue, affecting millions of people in the U.S. The persistent nature of this condition leads to a consistent demand for effective pain management medications.

For instance, according to the Health Policy Institute, back discomfort has been reported by about 65 million Americans in the past. About 16 million individuals, or 8% of the adult population, suffer from chronic or persistent back pain, which limits their ability to do several daily tasks. Thus, the aforementioned stats are expected to propel the segment growth over the forecast period.

U.S. Pain Management Drugs Market By Distribution Channel Insights

The hospital pharmacy segment held the largest share of the U.S. pain management drugs market in 2023. The segment is observed to sustain the position throughout the forecast period. Hospital pharmacies are responsible for supplying pain management medications to patients admitted to hospitals for various reasons, including surgery, trauma, or acute medical conditions. Inpatient pain management often involves a combination of analgesics, opioids, and other medications tailored to individual patient needs.

Additionally, hospital pharmacies contribute to the implementation of multimodal pain management strategies. This involves combining different classes of medications, such as opioids, non-opioid analgesics, and adjuvant drugs, to achieve optimal pain control while minimizing side effects. Besides, the online pharmacy is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

Online pharmacies offer a convenient way for consumers to access pain management medications without the need to visit a physical store. Patients can browse and purchase medications from the comfort of their homes. Moreover, these pharmacies often compete on pricing, offering discounts and promotions on pain management medications. This can be attractive to consumers seeking cost-effective options for managing their pain. Thus, driving the market growth.

U.S. Pain Management Drugs Market Recent Developments

• In May 2023, Zoetis Inc. announced that LibrelaTM (bedinvetmab injectable) has been authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the management of pain in dogs suffering from osteoarthritis (OA). The first and only monthly anti-NGF monoclonal antibody medication for canine OA pain is called Librela, and it is both safe and effective in managing dogs' OA pain symptoms over the long term, which can enhance their mobility and general quality of life.

U.S. Pain Management Drugs Market Top Key Companies:

• Teva Pharmaceutical
• Pfizer
• Abbott
• Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals
• Endo International
• GlaxoSmithKline
• AstraZeneca
• Depomed
• Merck
• Novartis

U.S. Pain Management Drugs Market Report Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2021 to 2033. For this study, Nova one advisor, Inc. has segmented the U.S. Pain Management Drugs market.

By Drug Class

• NSAIDs
• Opioids
• Anesthetics
• Antidepressants
• Anticonvulsants
• Others

By Indication

• Arthritic Pain
• Neuropathic Pain
• Chronic Back Pain
• Post-Operative Pain
• Cancer Pain
• Others

By Distribution Channel

• Online Pharmacy
• Retail Pharmacy
• Hospital Pharmacy