Tapentadol

Uses

Tapentadol is used for the relief of moderate to severe acute pain in patients 18 years of age or older.

Tapentadol is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathic Pain (DPN), Severe, Chronic Pain, Acute, moderate Pain, Acute, severe Pain, Chronic, moderate Pain

How Tapentadol works

Tapendadol causes large increases in levels of extracellular norepinephrine (NE) due to a dual mechanism of action involving mu opioid receptor (MOR) agonism as well as noradrenaline reuptake inhibition.

Dosage

Tapentadol dosage

As with many centrally-acting analgesic medications, the dosing regimen should be individualized according to the severity of pain being treated, the previous experience with similar drugs and the ability to monitor the patient.

The dose is 50 mg, 75 mg, or 100 mg every 4 to 6 hours depending upon pain intensity. On the first day of dosing, the second dose may be administered as soon as one hour after the first dose, if adequate pain relief is not attained with the first dose. Subsequent dosing is 50 mg, 75 mg, or 100 mg every 4 to 6 hours and should be adjusted to maintain adequate analgesia with acceptable tolerability.

Daily doses greater than 700 mg on the first day of therapy and 600 mg on subsequent days have not been studied and are not recommended.

Pediatric use: The safety and effectiveness of Tapentadol in pediatric patients less than 18 years of age have not been established.

Use in elderly patients: In general, recommended dosing for elderly patients with normal renal and hepatic function is the same as for younger adult patients with normal renal and hepatic function. consideration should be given to starting elderly patients with the lower range of recommended doses.

Use in Renal Disease: In patients with severe renal impairment, the safety and effectiveness of Tapentadol has not been established.

Use in Hepatic Disease: Tapentadol should be used with caution in patients with moderate hepatic impairment. Tapentadol has not been studied in patients with severe hepatic impairment.

Side Effects

The following treatment-emergent adverse events may happen: heart rate increased, heart rate decreased, visual disturbance, abdominal discomfort, impaired gastric emptying, irritability, edema, drug withdrawal syndrome, hypersensitivity, involuntary muscle contractions, sensation of heaviness, hypoesthesia, paresthesia, disturbance in attention, sedation, dysarthria, memory impairment, ataxia, presyncope, syncope, coordination abnormal, seizure, urticaria, blood pressure decreased etc.

Toxicity

Oral, rabbit: LD50 = 3200 mg/kg; Oral, mouse: LD50 = 300 mg/kg; Oral, rat: LD50: 980 mg/kg; The most common reasons for discontinuation due to adverse events were dizziness, nausea, vomiting, somnolence, and headache.

Precaution

Tapentadol should be administered with caution to patients with conditions accompanied by hypoxia, hypercapnia respiratory problems such as: asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease etc. Besides this in case of patient with sleep apnea syndrome, myxedema, kyphoscoliosis, central nervous system (CNS) depression should have to be cautious prior administration of Tapentadol. Patients receiving other mu-opioid agonist analgesics, general anesthetics, phenothiazines, other tranquilizers, sedatives, hypnotics, or other CNS depressants (including alcohol) concomitantly with Tapentadol may exhibit additive CNS depression.

Interaction

Increased risk of serotonin syndrome with other drugs that enhance monoaminergic neurotransmission (e.g. TCAs, triptans, SSRIs, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors). Enhanced sedative effect with benzodiazepines, barbiturates, antipsychotics, H1-antihistamines and other opioids. Increased potential for addiction with mixed μ-opioid agonists/antagonists (e.g. nalbuphine, pentazocine) or partial μ-opioid agonists (e.g. buprenorphine). Increased systemic exposure with strong inhibitors of UGT1A6, UGT1A9 and UGT2B7 isoenzymes. Decreased efficacy with strong enzyme inducers (e.g. rifampicin, phenobarbital).

Food Interaction

• Take with or without food. Food increases absorption, but not to a clinically significant extent.

[Moderate] GENERALLY AVOID: Alcohol may potentiate some of the pharmacologic effects of CNS-active agents.

Use in combination may result in additive central nervous system depression and
MANAGEMENT: Patients receiving CNS-active agents should be warned of this interaction and advised to avoid or limit consumption of alcohol.

Ambulatory patients should be counseled to avoid hazardous activities requiring complete mental alertness and motor coordination until they know how these agents affect them, and to notify their physician if they experience excessive or prolonged CNS effects that interfere with their normal activities.

Tapentadol Drug Interaction

Major: duloxetine, venlafaxine, amitriptyline, escitalopram, pregabalin, orphenadrine, oxycodone, desvenlafaxine, quetiapine, naloxone / oxycodone, diazepam, alprazolamModerate: albuterolUnknown: celecoxib, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, esomeprazole, acetaminophen, acetaminophen, cyanocobalamin, cholecalciferol

Tapentadol Disease Interaction

Major: impaired GI motility, infectious diarrhea, liver disease, prematurity, acute alcohol intoxication, drug dependence, gastrointestinal obstruction, hypotension, intracranial pressure, respiratory depressionModerate: biliary spasm, renal dysfunction, seizure disorders, urinary retention

Volume of Distribution

Following IV administration, volume of distribution is 540 ± 98 L.

Elimination Route

Bioavailability, immediate release (IR), 86 mg: 32%; Bioavailability, extended release (ER), 86 mg: 32%; Cmax, IR: 64.2 ng/mL; Cmax, ER: 22.5 ng/mL; T max, IR: 1.5 hours; T max, ER: 5.0 hours; Tapentadol accumulates following multiple repeat doses.

Half Life

Elimination half-life, IV: 4 hours.

Clearance

Total clearance = 1530 ± 177 ml/min.

Elimination Route

Tapentadol and its metabolites are excreted almost exclusively (99%) via the kidneys. Approximately 70% (55% O-glucuronide and 15% sulfate of tapentadol) is excreted in conjugated form. A total of 3% of drug was excreted in urine as unchanged drug.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding use

Pregnancy Category C. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. This preparation should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

Neonates whose mothers have been taking Tapentadol should be monitored for respiratory depression.

Contraindication

This drug is contraindicated in patients with impaired Pulmonary Function, It is also contraindicated in patients with acute or severe bronchial asthma or hypercapnia in unmonitored settings or the absence of resuscitative equipment. This drug is contraindicated in any patient who has or is suspected of having paralytic ileus.

Acute Overdose

Symptoms: Vomiting, miosis, CV collapse, consciousness disorders up to coma, convulsions and resp depression up to resp arrest.

Management: Re-establish a patent airway and institute assisted or controlled ventilation. GI decontamination with activated charcoal or by gastric lavage may be considered within 2 hr after intake. Pure opioid receptor antagonists (e.g. naloxone) may be given as antidote.

Storage Condition

Store in a cool and dry place, protected from light and moisture. Keep the medicine out of the reach of children.

Innovators Monograph

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