How does tapentadol work?
Tapentadol works directly on opioid receptors in the central nervous system and reduces feelings of pain by interrupting the way nerves signal pain between the brain and the body.
What forms of tapentadol are available?
Tapentadol is available as an oral tablet.
Some forms of tapentadol are ‘immediate-release’ (known as IR), meaning they start working straight away and their effects wear off more quickly. Others are ‘controlled-release’ (also called ‘sustained release’ or SR), which means that their effect is spread out over a longer period of time.
What are the possible side effects of taking tapentadol?
All opioids, including tapentadol, can have side effects including causing life-threatening or fatal breathing problems.
The risk of these is higher:
when you first take tapentadol
after a dosage increase
if you are older
if you have an existing lung problem
The side effects of tapentadol are similar to those of other opioids, and include:
constipation
headache or dizziness
fatigue or drowsiness (especially right after a dose)
loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting
The higher your dosage, the more likely you are to experience one or more side effects. Always take medicines exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
Warnings
Do not use tapentadol if you have used a MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, or tranylcypromine.
