Would an indirect comparison using frequentist or bayesian methods be the best approach? Are there any other tests to run, and if so, what software would be the best?
If you are only interested in comparing one analgesic against another, direct (i.e., head to head) comparisons provide the best information. You opt for indirect comparisons when there are no direct comparisons. Of course, you can combine the two, as in a network meta-analysis but I think most people would stick with direct comparisons. Any meta-analysis software can handle those.
I will recommend R software (R studio) if you want to compare multiple arms (compared to control/placebo). You can use bayesian methods or Frequentist method according to your data.