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Tapentadol (Nucynta): Uses, Side Effects and Dosage

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Prescription (Rx) Controlled substance Schedule II Boxed warning
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50 mg, 75 mg, 100 mg
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Source: FDA drug labeling via NLM DailyMed · About this document

Patient information: uses, side effects, how to take - Tapentadol

Tapentadol tablets are:

  • A strong prescription pain medicine that contains an opioid (narcotic) that is used to manage short term (acute) pain in adults, when other pain treatments such as non-opioid pain medicines do not treat your pain well enough or you cannot tolerate them.
  • An opioid pain medicine that can put you at risk for overdose and death. Even if you take your dose correctly as prescribed you are at risk for opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse that can lead to death.

Important information about tapentadol tablets:

  • Get emergency help or call 911 right away if you take too much tapentadol (overdose) tablets. When you first start taking tapentadol tablets, when your dose is changed, or if you take too much (overdose), serious or life-threatening breathing problems that can lead to death may occur. Ask your healthcare provider about medicines like naloxone or nalmefene that can be used in an emergency to reverse an opioid overdose.
  • Taking tapentadol tablets with other opioid medicines, benzodiazepines, gabapentinoids (gabapentin or pregabalin), alcohol, or other central nervous system depressants (including street drugs) can cause severe drowsiness, decreased awareness, breathing problems, coma, and death.
  • Never give anyone else your tapentadol tablets. They could die from taking it. Selling or giving away tapentadol tablets is against the law.
  • Store tapentadol tablets securely, out of sight and reach of children, and in a location not accessible by others, including visitors to the home.

Do not take tapentadol tablets if you have:

  • severe asthma, trouble breathing, or other lung problems.
  • a bowel blockage or have narrowing of the stomach or intestines.

Before taking tapentadol tablets, tell your healthcare provider if you have a history of:

  • head injury, seizures ● liver, kidney, thyroid problems
  • problems urinating ● pancreas or gallbladder problems
  • abuse of street or prescription drugs, alcohol addiction, opioid overdose or mental health problems.

Tell your healthcare provider if you are:

  • noticing your pain getting worse. If your pain gets worse after you take tapentadol tablets, do not take more tapentadol tablets without first talking to your healthcare provider. Tell your healthcare provider if the pain that you have increases, if you feel more sensitive to pain, or if you have new pain after taking tapentadol tablets.
  • pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Prolonged use of tapentadol tablets during pregnancy can cause withdrawal symptoms in your newborn baby that could be life-threatening if not recognized and treated.
  • breastfeeding. Tapentadol tablets pass into breast milk and may harm your baby. Carefully observe infants for increased sleepiness (more than usual), breathing difficulties, or limpness. Seek immediate medical care if you notice these signs.
  • living in a household where there are small children or someone who has abused street or prescription drugs.
  • taking prescription or over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements. Taking tapentadol tablets with certain other medicines can cause serious side effects that could lead to death.

When taking tapentadol tablets:

  • Do not change your dose. Take tapentadol tablets exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Use the lowest dose possible for the shortest time needed.
  • For acute (short-term) pain, you may only need to take tapentadol tablets for a few days. You may have some tapentadol tablets left over that you did not use. See disposal information at the bottom of this section for directions on how to safely throw away (dispose of) your unused tapentadol tablets.
  • Take your prescribed dose every 4-6 hours as needed for pain, at the same time every day. Do not take more than your prescribed dose. If you miss a dose, take your next dose at your usual time.
  • Call your healthcare provider if the dose you are taking does not control your pain.
  • If you have been taking tapentadol tablets regularly, do not stop taking tapentadol tablets without talking to your healthcare provider.
  • Dispose of expired, unwanted, or unused tapentadol tablets by promptly flushing down the toilet, if a drug takeback option is not readily available. Visit www.fda.gov/drugdisposal for additional information on disposal of unused medicines.

While taking tapentadol tablets DO NOT:

  • Drive or operate heavy machinery, until you know how tapentadol tablets affect you. Tapentadol tablets can make you sleepy, dizzy, or lightheaded.
  • Drink alcohol or use prescription or over-the-counter medicines that contain alcohol. Using products containing alcohol during treatment with tapentadol tablets may cause you to overdose and die.

The possible side effects of tapentadol tablets:

  • constipation, nausea, sleepiness, vomiting, tiredness, headache, dizziness, abdominal pain. Call your healthcare provider if you have any of these symptoms and they are severe.

Get emergency medical help or call 911 right away if you have:

  • trouble breathing, shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, chest pain, swelling of your face, tongue, or throat, extreme drowsiness, light-headedness when changing positions, feeling faint, agitation, high body temperature, trouble walking, stiff muscles, or mental changes such as confusion.

These are not all the possible side effects of tapentadol tablets. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. For more information go to dailymed.nlm.nih.gov.

Pediatric use information is approved for Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc.’s NUCYNTA tablets. However, due to Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc.’s marketing exclusivity rights, this drug product is not labeled with that information.

This Medication Guide has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Distributed by:

Epic Pharma, LLC

Laurelton, NY 11413

OE2990

Rev. 12-2025-00

About this document

Source: FDA drug labeling via NLM DailyMed · Application number: ANDA 214378 · View the label on DailyMed

Revision date stated in the text: December 2025

Found a mistake? Write to us via the contact page.

The information on this site does not replace the advice of a doctor or pharmacist.

Drug information for Tapentadol

Rx or OTC
Prescription (Rx), Controlled substance?
  • This drug is available only with a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider.
  • This drug is a controlled substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act.
  • Rx
Controlled substance Schedule IISchedule II: high potential for abuse; abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
Boxed warning Yes – this drug has a boxed warning (also called a black box warning), the strongest warning of the FDA.
Drug class Opioid Agonist
Active ingredient Tapentadol hydrochloride
Dosage form Tablet, film coated
Route Oral
Marketing status listed in the FDA NDC Directory
Company (applicant) EPIC PHARMA LLC
FDA approval ANDA 214378Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) – generic drug Approved January 27, 2026
Therapeutic equivalence (TE) code ABCodes starting with A mean the FDA rates the drug therapeutically equivalent to its reference drug (Orange Book).
Generics Nucynta with the same TE code
Manufacturers 5 labelers list this drug on DailyMed
Packages (NDC)
Package
50 mg – 100 in 1 bottle NDC 42806-626-01
75 mg – 100 in 1 bottle NDC 42806-627-01
100 mg – 100 in 1 bottle NDC 42806-628-01

Source: FDA drug labeling via NLM DailyMed, data as of October 31, 2026. FDA data (DailyMed, Orange Book, Drug Shortages, enforcement reports). Not a substitute for the advice of a doctor or pharmacist.