Tramadol and Tapentadol are narcotic painkillers. These are used to manage acute to severe pain in individuals. Specifically, pain issues affect millions of American people, which impacts patient’s daily lives, relationships, and overall well-being. These are two different drugs and they can be used to manage mild to severe pain conditions. But they work in different ways and have different characteristics.
In this blog, we will share some similarities and comparisons of Tramadol vs Tapentadol.
A Brief Introduction of Tramadol vs Tapentadol
Here is the definition of these two drugs:
Tramadol
Tramadol is an FDA-approved drug and it is used for treating direct to modestly extreme inveterate pain. It is moreover approved for numerous Off-label conditions like headaches, fibromyalgia, anxious leg disorder, and so on.
This medicine is sold by different brand-name drugs: ConZip, Qdolo, Ultram, and Ultram ER. It is a narcotic drug and it has a place in the Schedule IV Controlled Substance Act.
Tapentadol
This medication has FDA approval for treating direct to extreme severe torment and chronic pain. It is also a cure for non-approval treatment, such as neuropathic torment and cancer pain.
This drug is marketed under the two branded medicines Nucynta and Nucynta ER. Tapendatol is categorized as a Schedule II Controlled Substance Act.
Tramadol vs Tapentadol: Comparison
Based on the following aspects, the differences between these medicines can vary that are listed below:
Tramadol vs Tapentadol: Functions
- Tramadol activates descending inhibitory pathways, reducing pain transmission.
- Tapentadol’s combined mu-opioid receptor agonism and NRI provide synergistic analgesic effects.
- Both cross the blood-brain barrier, targeting CNS pain processing centers.
Tramadol vs Tapentadol: Uses
These are narcotic drugs that can be used for various pain management, like:
Tapentadol
This medicine helps treat:
- Mild to severe pain
- Chronic pain management
- Neuropathic pain
- Cancer pain management
- Palliative care
- Chronic kidney disease-related pain
- Musculoskeletal pain
Tramadol
Use of Tramadol:
- Moderate to severe pain relief
- Chronic pain management
- Neuropathic pain
- Post-operative pain relief
- Cancer pain management
- Migraine and headache treatment
- Muscle relaxation
Tramadol and Tapentadol: Dosage Strengths
Some dosage strengths of these two medicine are listed below:
Tramadol
It contains several forms with different dosage strengths, such as injection, IR tablet, IR capsule, ER capsule, ER tablet, etc. Its strengths are:
- 50 mg
- 75 mg
- 100 mg
- 150 mg
- 200 mg
- 300 mg
- and more.
Tapentadol
The availability of this medicine can vary. It is available in IR tablets, ER tablets, and many more.
- 50 mg
- 75 mg
- 100 mg
- 150 mg
- 200 mg
- 250 mg
- And many more
Similarities between Tapentadol and Tramadol
These chemical compounds have several similarities which are given below:
- They are mu-opioid receptor agonists.
- Both are CNS depressants and can cause sedation.
- These two drugs are effective in pain management.
- They have the potential for misuse and habit-forming.
- Both are centrally-acting synthetic opioids.
Tapentadol and Tramadol: Potential Effects
After taking both two drugs you may experience some potential risks. Here is a list of some mild to severe side effects.
- Noisy breathing
- Sighing
- Shallow breathing
- Breathing that stops
- Dry mouth
- Agitation,
- Feeling hot
- Severe drowsiness or dizziness
- Confusion
- Problems with speech
- Seizure
- Constipation
- Nausea or vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Headache
- Feeling tired
- Loss of appetite
- Agitation
- Hallucinations
- Fever
- Fast heart rate
- Muscle stiffness
- Twitching
- Loss of coordination
- Diarrhea
Tapentadol and Tramadol: Precautions
Here are some precautions for Tapentadol and Tramadol.
- Do not take these pills with alcohol, it may lead to genuine side effects.
- Avoid taking these drugs, if you have taken MAO inhibitors in the last two weeks.
- Before beginning the treatment with these two medications, you can share your medical history with a doctor.
- If you use Tapentadol and Tramadol in pregnancy, it may impact unborn babies.
- You can swallow whole tablets before or after a meal.
Patients who may suffer allergic reactions after using these two medicines must consult your healthcare specialist.
Conclusion
Pain is a common health issue in today’s individuals. These two opioid medicine can also manage several pain-related health problems. In this blog, we mentioned certain differences between two pain medicines Tramadol and Tapentadol.