Published on 01 September 2022

Is Tapentadol (Nucynta) A Controlled Substance?

Tapentadol is-tapentadol-nucynta-a-controlled-substance
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Neuropathic pain is a sudden pain in the nervous system due to nerve damage or injury. It is usually a  chronic condition; people with pain will experience a feeling like burning or shooting pain which is constant or intermediate pain for over a period. It will develop if untreated neuropathic pain leads to tissue damage, such as a foot ulcer.

You may feel pain in the nerves, numbness, tingling in the feet, throbbing pain, or burning in the sudden area. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) has declared more than 20% Million people have neuropathic pain in the USA.

Tapentadol has a 37% Pain reduction in neuropathic nerve damage and will effectively treat diabetic peripheral neuropathy and chronic pains.

Let us see more about the drug in detail, 

What is Tapentadol?

Tapentadol (Nucynta) is used to treat pain that is severe enough to go for opioid treatment and when other pain medicines become intolerant. Its extended-release form is used to treat severe pain, including that caused by nerve damage from diabetes.

Tapentadol belongs to the class of narcotic analgesics that act on the CNS to relieve pain. Taking Tapentadol for longer might be addictive (it can cause mental or physical dependence). Mental support is unlikely to occur when narcotics are used.

However, physical dependence may lead to withdrawal effects if treatment is discontinued abruptly. However, severe withdrawal adverse effects can usually be prevented by gradually decreasing the dose before treatment is stopped completely.

Working of Tapentadol

Tapentadol belongs to a class of opioid analgesics (aka narcotic analgesics) that act on the central nervous system. It relieves pain by explicitly working on the spinal cord and brain nerve cells. It is a mu-opioid receptor (MOR) agonist and a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (NRI). Analgesia in animal models is derived from both of these properties.

Frequently Asked Questions

You would suffer from overdose problems leading to extreme sweating, blurred vision, confusion, and muscle weakness.
You are likely to suffer from weight loss when you have consumed Tapentadol medicine.
Tapentadol is a group of Central nervous system depressant drugs. If the person consumes it for a higher dose, it will slow the heart rate, causing extreme drowsiness, confusion, blurred vision, slow heart rate, and weakness in the muscle.

This drug may be available under multiple brand names and in several forms. Any specific brand name of this drug may not be available in all the forms or approved for all the conditions discussed here. 

Your doctor might recommend this medication for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles or medical guides. If you are unsure why you are taking this medication or have not discussed this with your doctor, talk to your doctor. Do not discontinue this medication without consultation with your doctor.

Also, do not self-medicate or give this medication to anyone, even if they have symptoms similar to yours. It can harm people to take this medication if their doctor has not prescribed it. 

Is Tapentadol Controlled?

  • Tapentadol is a federally controlled substance (C-II) because it can be abused and misused. Keep this drug in a safe place to prevent theft. Selling or giving away Tapentadol may harm others and is against the law.
  • Consult your doctor if you have ever abused or been dependent on alcohol, prescription medicines, or street drugs.

NUCYNTA® is a prescription medicine for adults >=18 years to help treat moderate to severe pain that lasts for a shorter period because of the risk of Abuse, withdrawal symptoms, and addiction if used longer. Tapentadol should be avoided if you-

  • Have a gastrointestinal problem called paralytic ileus 
  • Have severe lung problems
  • Do not take this drug unless your healthcare practitioner has prescribed it.
  • I have taken any Monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) in the last 14 days. 
  • Take Tapentadol precisely as prescribed by your doctor.
  • Do not alter the dose of NUCYNTA® unless your doctor tells you to. Your doctor may adjust your amount after seeing how the medicine affects you. Do not use NUCYNTA® more often than prescribed. 
  • Follow your doctor's instructions to stop taking NUCYNTA® to help lessen withdrawal symptoms slowly.

Is Tapentadol Addictive?

Tapentadol tablets expose patients and other users to opioid Abuse, addiction, and misuse risks, which can lead to overdose and death. It becomes crucial to assess each patient’s risk before prescribing this drug and regularly monitor all patients for developing these behaviors and conditions.

Taking Tapentadol for longer might be addictive (it can cause mental or physical dependence). Mental support is unlikely to occur when narcotics are used. However, physical dependence may lead to withdrawal effects if treatment is discontinued abruptly. However, severe withdrawal adverse effects can usually be prevented by gradually decreasing the dose before treatment is stopped completely.

The signs which indicate that you or any of your dear one is drug addicted are-

  • Tremor shakes or slurred speech.
  • Changes in behavior and personality like irritability, lack of motivation, and agitation
  • Frequent bloody noses and bloodshot eyes
  • Change in their daily routines
  • Lack of concern for personal hygiene
  • The unusual need for money, financial problems
  • Changes in friends and activities 

Side Effects

All medicines have side effects, including prescription, over-the-counter, vitamins, or natural treatments. 
After FDA approves any new drug FDA for market use, some testing still fails to reveal the drug's side effects. The number and intensity of side effects also depend on the age, frequency, dose, medical history, and manner of taking the medication. The common side effects of Tapentadol include-

Tiredness Abnormal
Dry Mouth Irritability
Headache Difficulty in Sleeping
Heartburn Anxiety 
Stomach Pain  Drowsiness

After taking Tapentadol, medical attention is immediately required if a person suffers from shallow breathing, seizures, fainting, or severe drowsiness. 

Bottom Line From Practical Anxiety Solutions

Tapentadol belongs to a class of opioid analgesics (aka narcotic analgesics) that act on the central nervous system. It relieves pain by explicitly working on the spinal cord and brain nerve cells. It is a federally controlled substance (C-II) because it can be abused and misused.

The primary cause of its addiction is that this drug is habit-forming and is difficult to stop, even with adverse consequences. While the drug should not be discontinued without the doctor's advice, if you wish to get out from the drug, speak to your doctor about your current health status; your healthcare provider will recommend how to get rid of the drug because sudden discontinuation of the drug leads to risks of withdrawal symptoms.  

  • Hartrick, C.T., Rozek, R.J. Tapentadol in Pain Management. CNS Drugs 25, 359–370 (2011). From https://doi.org/10.2165/11589080-000000000-00000 Obtain 29/08/2022
  • Prieto, I., et al. "Tapentadol to Alleviate Chronic Pain Secondary to Neck Fibrosis in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Treated With Surgery Plus Chemo-radiation Therapy." International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics 90.1 (2014): S561. From https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2014.05.1697 Obtain 29/08/2022
  • Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Justice. Schedules of controlled substances: placement of tapentadol into schedule II. Final rule. Fed Regist. 2009 May 21;74(97):23790-3. PMID: 19507329. From https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19507329/ Obtain 29/08/2022Â