Tapentadol Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Tapentadol Tablet (generic name: tapentadol) is a strong prescription opioid analgesic used to manage moderate to severe pain in adults. It works on opioid receptors and increases noradrenaline levels to relieve pain. Tapentadol is available only with a doctor's prescription and must be used exactly as directed due to serious risks, including dependence and breathing problems.

What is Tapentadol Tablet

Tapentadol is a strong prescription pain medicine that belongs to the opioid (narcotic) family. It is used to treat moderate to severe pain and only becomes available with a doctor's prescription.

Tapentadol Tablet uses

• Management of moderate to severe acute pain in adults
• Relief of severe pain when other pain medicines have not worked well enough or cannot be used
• Around-the-clock treatment of pain that needs daily, ongoing management (extended-release form)

Benefits of Tapentadol Tablet

• Provides strong pain relief for moderate to severe pain
• May cause fewer typical opioid side effects because it also increases noradrenaline levels
• Can be used when non-opioid pain relievers are not effective or not tolerated

How Tapentadol Tablet works

Tapentadol works in two ways: it acts directly on opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord to reduce pain signals, and it also raises levels of a brain chemical called noradrenaline, which helps block pain and may reduce typical opioid side effects.

Tapentadol Tablet dosage

Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor; do not take more, more often, or for longer than directed. Tapentadol can be taken with or without food. Swallow tablets whole with enough liquid; do not cut, break, crush, chew, or dissolve them, especially controlled-release or extended-release tablets. Take at the same times each day. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. Do not stop taking suddenly after prolonged use; your doctor will guide you on tapering the dose gradually. Never give your tapentadol to another person or take tapentadol prescribed for someone else.

Available forms and strengths

• Oral tablet (immediate-release)
• Oral tablet (controlled-release / extended-release / sustained-release)
• Oral solution

Side effects of Tapentadol Tablet

Common

• Constipation
• Headache or dizziness
• Fatigue or drowsiness, especially right after a dose
• Loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting
• Dry mouth
• Itching
• Increased sweating
• Stomach pain or discomfort
• Insomnia

Serious

• Life-threatening or fatal breathing problems (respiratory depression), especially when starting treatment or after a dose increase
• Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) with rash, hives, swollen face, throat tightness, trouble breathing or swallowing
• Seizures
• Serotonin syndrome (agitation, hallucinations, fever, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness or twitching, loss of coordination, diarrhea)
• Severe constipation or bowel blockage
• Adrenal gland problems (adrenal insufficiency) with nausea, vomiting, weakness, dizziness, low blood pressure
• Severe low blood pressure, dizziness or fainting
• Physical dependence, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms after stopping
• Opioid use disorder, misuse, and addiction
• Overdose leading to slow or stopped breathing, loss of consciousness, or death

Warnings and precautions

• Because opioids carry a risk of addiction, abuse, and misuse even at recommended doses, and can cause fatal overdose, tapentadol should only be used when non-opioid pain medicines are not effective, not tolerated, or not suitable.
• Tablets must be swallowed whole. Cutting, breaking, crushing, chewing, or dissolving the tablet can cause dangerous effects including death.
• Even a single dose taken accidentally by someone else, especially a child, can be fatal.
• Using tapentadol together with benzodiazepines, alcohol, or other central nervous system depressants can cause profound sedation, breathing problems, coma, and death.
• Do not combine tapentadol with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) or use it within 14 days of stopping an MAOI, due to potentially dangerous interactions.
• Suddenly stopping tapentadol can cause withdrawal symptoms.
• Tapentadol is not recommended during pregnancy. Using it during pregnancy can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the newborn baby, including with prolonged use.
• Tapentadol should not be used while breastfeeding, as it passes into breast milk and can cause life-threatening breathing problems in a nursing infant.
• People with severe kidney problems should not use tapentadol, and those with milder kidney problems may need a lower dose and closer monitoring.
• Tapentadol should not be used by people with severe liver problems, and those with moderate liver problems need a lower, less frequent dose under a doctor's care.
• Do not drink alcohol or use products containing alcohol while taking tapentadol, as this combination can cause dangerous, sometimes fatal, side effects.
• Tapentadol can make you drowsy, dizzy, or lightheaded, and may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery safely, especially when starting treatment or after a dose change.

Storage

• Store at room temperature between 15°C and 30°C
• Protect from moisture
• Keep out of the reach and sight of children and pets
• Store in a safe, secure place to prevent theft or misuse
• Do not keep unused tapentadol 'just in case'; return unused medicine to a pharmacy for safe disposal
• Never throw medicines into household trash or flush them down the toilet unless instructed to do so

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency help right away if breathing becomes slow, weak, or stops, or if a person is unresponsive or cannot be woken up.
• Seek immediate medical attention for signs of overdose, such as extreme sleepiness, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, or pinpoint pupils.
• Call your doctor immediately if you notice signs of an allergic reaction, such as rash, hives, swollen face, lips or throat, or trouble breathing or swallowing.
• Seek medical help immediately if you have a seizure while taking this medicine.
• Get medical help right away if a baby born to a mother who took this medicine shows signs of withdrawal, such as breathing changes, being very hard to comfort, tremors, or fever.
• Contact your doctor if your pain is not well controlled, or if you experience new, unexpected, or unwanted side effects.
• Call your doctor right away if you notice symptoms of serotonin syndrome, such as agitation, hallucinations, fever, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness or twitching, or loss of coordination.

Alternatives

• Tramadol
• Hydromorphone
• Codeine