What Medication is Prescribed After a Hip Replacement? A Full Breakdown

October 14, 2025 •

4 min read

In the U.S., over 544,000 hip replacements are performed annually [1.7.1]. A crucial part of recovery involves understanding what medication is prescribed after a hip replacement to manage pain, prevent complications, and ensure proper healing.

Quick Summary

After hip replacement surgery, patients are prescribed several medications. This typically includes a combination of pain relievers, anticoagulants to prevent blood clots, antibiotics to prevent infection, and stool softeners.

Key Points

Pain Management is Multimodal: A combination of opioids, NSAIDs, and acetaminophen is used to effectively control pain while minimizing side effects [1.3.2].
Blood Clot Prevention is Crucial: Anticoagulants like aspirin or Xarelto are prescribed for several weeks to prevent dangerous blood clots like DVT and PE [1.4.2, 1.4.4].
Antibiotics Prevent Infection: Antibiotics are given during surgery and may be required before future dental or medical procedures to protect the new joint [1.5.1, 1.5.6].
Opioids are for Short-Term Use: Strong pain relievers like oxycodone are intended for immediate post-surgical pain and should be tapered off as soon as possible [1.2.6].
Stool Softeners Combat Side Effects: Narcotic pain medications cause constipation, making stool softeners like Colace an essential part of the regimen [1.6.1, 1.2.2].
NSAIDs Reduce Inflammation: Medications like meloxicam reduce swelling at the surgical site, which is a primary source of pain [1.2.4].
Follow Instructions Exactly: Adhering to the prescribed timing and dosage for all medications is critical for a safe and effective recovery.

Navigating Your Recovery: Post-Hip Replacement Medications

Undergoing a total hip replacement is a significant step towards regaining mobility and living a pain-free life. With over 2.5 million Americans living with a total hip replacement, the procedure is one of the most successful in modern medicine [1.7.4]. A critical component of a successful recovery is the carefully managed medication regimen prescribed by your surgeon. This plan is designed to manage post-surgical pain, prevent potentially dangerous complications like blood clots and infections, and ease discomfort during the healing process. Understanding the purpose of each medication is key to a smooth and safe recovery.

Multimodal Pain Management: Tackling Pain from All Angles

Orthopedic surgery involves extensive work on bone, which naturally results in significant post-operative pain [1.3.4]. Modern pain management follows a multimodal approach, using a combination of different types of medications to control pain effectively while minimizing side effects [1.3.2]. Your regimen will likely include a mix of the following:

Opioids: These are powerful pain relievers, such as oxycodone, hydromorphone, or tramadol, used for severe, short-term pain immediately following surgery [1.3.1]. They work by changing how the brain perceives pain. Due to the risk of side effects like constipation, drowsiness, and the potential for dependence, opioids are typically prescribed for a short duration and patients are encouraged to wean off them as soon as pain becomes manageable with other options [1.2.2, 1.2.6].
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): Medications like meloxicam (Mobic), celecoxib (Celebrex), or ibuprofen (Advil) are used to reduce swelling and inflammation at the surgery site, which in turn helps to decrease pain [1.2.3, 1.2.4]. They are a cornerstone of post-operative pain control and are often taken on a schedule for several weeks [1.2.1].
Acetaminophen (Tylenol): This common over-the-counter pain reliever is a foundational part of post-surgical pain control. It works well on its own and also enhances the effects of other pain medications [1.2.6]. It is often recommended on a fixed schedule, every 8 hours, to provide consistent relief [1.2.2].
Nerve Pain Medications: Drugs like gabapentin (Neurontin) or pregabalin (Lyrica) specifically target nerve-related pain and can reduce the overall need for opioids [1.3.2, 1.2.1].
Muscle Relaxers: Sometimes, medications like cyclobenzaprine are prescribed to manage muscle spasms around the new joint, which can be a source of pain [1.2.2].

Preventing Blood Clots: The Role of Anticoagulants

One of the most serious risks after major orthopedic surgery is the formation of blood clots, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the legs or a pulmonary embolism (PE) in the lungs [1.4.2]. To mitigate this risk, virtually all patients are placed on a blood thinner (anticoagulant) for a period of time, often for 10 to 35 days post-surgery [1.4.4, 1.4.5].

Commonly prescribed anticoagulants include:

Aspirin: Often prescribed twice daily for several weeks for low-risk patients [1.2.1, 1.2.2].
Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs): This newer class of blood thinners includes drugs like rivaroxaban (Xarelto) and apixaban (Eliquis). They work by directly inhibiting specific clotting factors in the blood and are widely used after hip replacement [1.4.2, 1.4.3]. For instance, after a hip replacement, a patient might take Xarelto for 35 days [1.4.2].
Injectable Anticoagulants: In some cases, an injectable medication like enoxaparin (Lovenox) may be used [1.2.3, 1.4.4].

Other Essential Medications

Beyond pain and clot prevention, your post-op medication list will likely include:

Antibiotics: An IV antibiotic like cefazolin is typically administered right before surgery to prevent infection at the surgical site [1.5.6]. Some protocols may include a short course of oral antibiotics after the procedure [1.2.2]. For at least the first two years after surgery, you will likely need to take a prophylactic antibiotic before certain dental or medical procedures to prevent bacteria from traveling to your new hip joint [1.5.1, 1.5.5].
Stool Softeners and Laxatives: Opioid pain medications are notorious for causing constipation [1.2.2]. To counteract this, stool softeners like docusate sodium (Colace) or laxatives like MiraLAX are almost always recommended while you are taking opioids [1.2.1, 1.6.3].
Stomach Protectants: If you are taking an NSAID and aspirin concurrently, a stomach-protection pill like pantoprazole (Protonix) might be prescribed to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal side effects [1.2.1].

Medication Comparison Table


Medication Type	Common Examples	Primary Purpose	Key Considerations
Opioids	Oxycodone, Tramadol, Hydromorphone [1.3.4]	Severe, short-term pain relief	High risk of constipation and drowsiness; use for the shortest time necessary [1.2.2].
NSAIDs	Meloxicam (Mobic), Ibuprofen, Celecoxib (Celebrex) [1.2.4]	Reduce inflammation and pain	Take with food to avoid stomach upset; not recommended for those with kidney disease or a history of ulcers [1.2.1, 1.2.4].
Anticoagulants	Aspirin, Rivaroxaban (Xarelto), Apixaban (Eliquis) [1.2.3]	Prevent blood clots (DVT/PE)	Follow dosage schedule strictly; increased risk of bleeding [1.4.2, 1.8.3].
Stool Softeners	Docusate Sodium (Colace), Senna [1.2.1, 1.2.3]	Prevent and treat constipation from opioids	Take with plenty of water; essential while using narcotic pain medication [1.6.1].

Conclusion

Following your prescribed medication regimen is a vital part of your hip replacement recovery. Each drug plays a specific role, from managing your pain with a multimodal approach to protecting you from serious complications like blood clots and infections. Always take your medications exactly as instructed by your healthcare team, communicate any side effects you experience, and never hesitate to ask questions. Proper medication management, combined with physical therapy and rest, will put you on the best path to a successful and speedy recovery.

For more in-depth information, you can visit the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons' patient information site. [This is not a real link but an example of an authoritative outbound link as requested.]

Frequently Asked Questions

Most patients take a blood thinner for at least 10 to 14 days, but the duration can be extended up to 35 days depending on your individual risk factors and the specific medication prescribed [1.4.4]. For example, a common regimen for Xarelto is 35 days [1.4.2].

Opioids like oxycodone, hydromorphone (Dilaudid), and tramadol are the strongest pain medications prescribed for severe, acute pain immediately following surgery [1.3.1, 1.3.4].

Opioid (narcotic) pain medications, which are commonly used after hip surgery, are known to cause constipation. A stool softener is prescribed to prevent this uncomfortable and potentially painful side effect [1.2.2, 1.6.1].

Tylenol (acetaminophen) is a core component of post-surgical pain management and is often taken on a regular schedule [1.2.2]. However, it is usually part of a multi-drug approach, and by itself, it may not be sufficient to control the pain, especially in the early days after surgery [1.3.2].

Meloxicam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) prescribed to reduce inflammation and swelling in the joint after surgery, which helps to decrease pain. It may be prescribed for several weeks post-operatively [1.2.1, 1.2.4].

While the primary course of antibiotics is usually given around the time of surgery, you will likely need to take a dose of antibiotics before any future dental procedures or certain medical procedures for at least two years to prevent infection in your new joint [1.5.1, 1.5.5].

Yes, a multimodal pain management plan relies heavily on non-opioid options. These include NSAIDs (like ibuprofen or celecoxib), acetaminophen (Tylenol), nerve pain medications (like gabapentin), and muscle relaxers [1.3.2, 1.9.4].