What is tapentadol?
Tapentadol is an opioid pain medication. An opioid is sometimes called a narcotic.
Tapentadol is used to treat moderate to severe chronic pain.
Tapentadol may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about tapentadol?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to tapentadol, or if you have severe liver or kidney disease, if you are having an asthma attack, or if you have a bowel obstruction called paralytic ileus.
Do not use tapentadol if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects.
Tapentadol may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.
Do not drink alcohol while you are taking tapentadol. Dangerous side effects or death can occur when alcohol is combined with a narcotic pain medicine. Check your food and medicine labels to be sure these products do not contain alcohol.
Never take tapentadol in larger amounts, or for longer than recommended by your doctor. Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain.
This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how tapentadol will affect you.
Do not stop using tapentadol suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when you stop using tapentadol.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking tapentadol?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to tapentadol, or if you have severe liver or kidney disease, if you are having an asthma attack, or if you have a bowel obstruction called paralytic ileus.
Do not use tapentadol if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects.
To make sure you can safely take tapentadol, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, or other breathing disorders;
liver or kidney disease;
curvature of the spine;
a history of head injury or brain tumor;
epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
gallbladder disease or pancreas problems;
mental illness; or
a history of drug or alcohol addiction.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether this medication is harmful to an unborn baby. Tapentadol may cause breathing problems and addiction or withdrawal symptoms in a newborn if the mother takes the medication during pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Tapentadol can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medication.
Older adults may be more sensitive to the effects of this medicine.
Tapentadol may be habit forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Never share tapentadol with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it.
Do not give tapentadol to a child.