tapentadol hydrochloride at a glance
Medicine class
Strong opioid analgesic with additional noradrenaline reuptake inhibition.
Available forms
Immediate-release tablets, prolonged-release tablets and oral solution.
Food
Selected formulations may be taken with or without food.
Dependence risk
Repeated or prolonged opioid use can cause tolerance, physical dependence and opioid use disorder.
What is tapentadol hydrochloride used for?
Licensing differs by formulation. Selected products cover:
Moderate-to-severe acute pain in adults that can be adequately managed only with opioid analgesics, using immediate-release tablets.
Moderate-to-severe acute pain in adults and eligible children, using oral solution; paediatric use is restricted to hospital settings with respiratory-support facilities.
Severe chronic pain in adults and eligible children and adolescents that can be adequately managed only with opioid analgesics, using prolonged-release tablets.
How does tapentadol hydrochloride work?
Tapentadol activates mu-opioid receptors and inhibits noradrenaline reuptake. These actions reduce pain signalling. Its analgesic activity does not depend on a pharmacologically active metabolite.
tapentadol hydrochloride preparations and strengths
Modified-release tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg, 200 mg, 250 mg
How to take tapentadol hydrochloride
Follow the prescription and leaflet for your formulation. Do not take more than prescribed or share it with anyone.
Swallow prolonged-release tablets whole with sufficient liquid. Do not divide, crush or chew them.
Swallow immediate-release tablets with sufficient liquid.
Measure oral solution with the supplied pipette and adaptor. It may be taken undiluted or mixed with water or another non-alcoholic drink.
Selected formulations may be taken with or without food.
Avoid alcohol because it can increase sedation and breathing-related risks.
tapentadol hydrochloride side effects
Common or expected effects
- Nausea or vomiting
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Sleepiness
- Headache
- Dry mouth, sweating or itching
- Reduced appetite
Get urgent medical advice
- Slow, shallow or otherwise impaired breathing
- Extreme sedation, reduced consciousness or inability to wake
- Seizure
- Severe allergic reaction, including facial or throat swelling
- Possible serotonin syndrome: agitation, sweating, fever, muscle stiffness, tremor, overactive reflexes or jerking movements
- Dependence, problematic use or significant withdrawal symptoms
tapentadol hydrochloride in pregnancy
Human pregnancy information is very limited. Tapentadol should be considered only after a prescriber has weighed potential benefit against fetal risk. Prolonged opioid exposure can cause neonatal withdrawal, and use during or immediately before labour may cause breathing depression in the newborn.
tapentadol hydrochloride while breastfeeding
Selected product information advises against tapentadol during breastfeeding because human milk data are unavailable and a risk to the infant cannot be excluded.
tapentadol hydrochloride interactions
Important interactions include additive sedation, altered opioid effects, seizures and serotonergic toxicity.
Alcohol, benzodiazepines, sedating antihistamines, antipsychotics, other opioids and other CNS depressants
Can increase sedation, respiratory depression, coma and death.
Gabapentin or pregabalin
Can increase the risk of opioid overdose, respiratory depression and death.
Common questions about tapentadol hydrochloride
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is tapentadol hydrochloride used for?
It is used for moderate-to-severe acute pain or severe chronic pain when an opioid analgesic is required. The licensed use depends on the formulation.
Is tapentadol hydrochloride a strong opioid?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.