Comparison of pharmacotherapeutic analgesic response and safety profile of tapentadol with other opioids

• Published in: Pharmazie Vol. 79; no. 9; p. 179
• Main Authors: Krtinic, D, Rankovic, G N, Cvetanovic, A, Conic, I, Mitic, M Todorovic, Radic, M, Prokin, A Lucic, Cevrljakovic, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01-10-2024
• Subjects: Analgesics, Opioid - administration & dosage; Analgesics, Opioid - adverse effects; Animals; Chronic Pain - drug therapy; Delayed-Action Preparations; Drug Interactions; Humans; Pain - drug therapy; Phenols - administration & dosage; Phenols - adverse effects; Tapentadol - administration & dosage
• ISSN: 0031-7144
• DOI: 10.1691/ph.2024.4591

Tapentadol is a unique opioid analgesic due to its dual mechanism of action. Compared to other opioids with a classical mechanism of action, its analgesic potential is not far behind them, and its advantages are: a better safety profile in terms of a lower potential for drug-drug interactions and a lower potential for causing adverse events, and it is safe to use in sensitive populations. Tapentadol in the form of a immediate release formulation is an adequate drug of choice for achieving a pharmacotherapeutic analgesic response in acute pain conditions, while in the form of a extended release formulation it is an adequate pharmacotherapeutic analgesic solution for chronic pain syndromes of various etiology. Due to the specificity of the mechanism of action, tapentadol adequately relieves both pain components - nociceptive and neuropathic, and has an indication area for mixed pain syndrome as well. Based on this, the need for the use of co-analgesics is reduced, and thus the incidence of possible interactions and adverse events is reduced.