What is tapentadol?
Tapentadol is an opioid pain medication. An opioid is sometimes called a narcotic.
Tapentadol is a prescription medicine that is used to treat moderate to severe pain.
Tapentadol extended-release form (Nucynta ER) is for around-the-clock treatment of pain that is not controlled by other medicines. The extended-release form of tapentadol is not for use on an as-needed basis for pain.
If you use tapentadol while you are pregnant, your baby could become dependent on the drug. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after it is born. Babies born dependent on habit-forming medicine may need medical treatment for several weeks.
Ask a doctor before using opioid medicine if you are breastfeeding. Tell your doctor if you notice severe drowsiness or slow breathing in the nursing baby.
Do not give tapentadol to a child.
How should I take tapentadol?
Take tapentadol exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides. Never use tapentadol in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed. Tell your doctor if you feel an increased urge to take more of tapentadol.
Never share opioid medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug addiction. MISUSE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH. Keep the medicine where others cannot get to it. Selling or giving away this medicine is against the law.
Stop taking all other medications that contain tapentadol or tramadol when you start taking tapentadol extended-release tablets.
Take tapentadol with a full glass of water at the same times each day, with or without food.
Do not crush, break, or open an extended-release pill. Swallow it whole to avoid exposure to a potentially fatal dose.
Tapentadol can cause constipation. Talk to your doctor before using a laxative or stool softener to treat or prevent this side effect.
Never crush a pill to inhale the powder or inject it into your vein. This could result in death.
You may have withdrawal symptoms if you stop using tapentadol suddenly. Ask your doctor before stopping the medicine.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep track of your medicine. You should be aware if anyone is using it improperly or without a prescription.
Do not keep leftover opioid medication. Just one dose can cause death in someone using this medicine accidentally or improperly. Ask your pharmacist where to locate a drug take-back disposal program. If there is no take-back program, flush the unused medicine down the toilet.
Dosing information
Usual Adult Dose for Pain:
Individualize therapy taking into consideration severity of pain, response to therapy, prior analgesic treatment experience, and risk factors for addiction, abuse, and misuse:
Immediate-Release:
Initial dose: 50 to 100 mg orally every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain
-Day 1: A second dose may be administered as soon as 1 hour after the first dose if needed
-Subsequent dosing: 50, 75, or 100 mg orally every 4 to 6 hours; adjust dosing to maintain adequate analgesia with acceptable tolerability
Maximum dose: 700 mg on day 1; 600 mg/day on subsequent days
Comments:
-Use the lowest effective dosage for the shortest duration consistent with individual patient treatment goals.
-Monitor closely for respiratory depression, especially within the first 24 to 72 hours of initiating therapy and with each dose increase.
-Due to risks of addiction, abuse, and misuse, even at recommended doses, reserve use for patients for whom alternative treatment options (e.g., non-opioid analgesics or opioid combination products) have not been tolerated, or are not expected to be tolerated, or have not provided adequate analgesia, or are not expected to provide adequate analgesia.
