TAPENTADOL HYDROCHLORIDE
Tapentadol tablets are indicated for the management of acute pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatments are inadequate in adults. Limitations of Use Because of the risks of addiction, abuse, misuse, overdose, and death, which can occur at any dose or duration [see Warnings and Precautions ], and persist over the course of therapy, reserve opioid analgesics, including tapentadol tablets for use in patients for whom alternative treatment options are inef...
Development Insights
Details
- Status
- Prescription
- First Approved
- 2026-01-26
- Routes
- ORAL
- Dosage Forms
- TABLET, SOLUTION
TAPENTADOL HYDROCHLORIDE Approval History
What TAPENTADOL HYDROCHLORIDE Treats
3 FDA approvalsOriginally approved for its first indication in 2026 . Covers 3 distinct patient populations.
- Other (3)
TAPENTADOL HYDROCHLORIDE Boxed Warning
SERIOUS AND LIFE-THREATENING RISKS FROM USE OF TAPENTADOL TABLETS Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse Because the use of tapentadol tablets exposes patients and other users to the risks of opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death, assess each patient’s risk prior to prescribing and reassess all patients regularly for the development of these behaviors and conditions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ]. Life-Threatening Respiratory Depression Serious, life-threatening,...
WARNING: SERIOUS AND LIFE-THREATENING RISKS FROM USE OF TAPENTADOL TABLETS Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse Because the use of tapentadol tablets exposes patients and other users to the risks of opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death, assess each patient’s risk prior to prescribing and reassess all patients regularly for the development of these behaviors and conditions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ]. Life-Threatening Respiratory Depression Serious, life-threatening, or fatal respiratory depression may occur with use of tapentadol tablets, especially during initiation or following a dosage increase. To reduce the risk of respiratory depression, proper dosing and titration of tapentadol tablets are essential [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ]. Accidental Ingestion Accidental ingestion of even one dose of tapentadol tablets, especially by children, can result in a fatal overdose of tapentadol [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ]. Risks From Concomitant Use With Benzodiazepines Or Other CNS Depressants Concomitant use of opioids with benzodiazepines or other central nervous system (CNS) depressants, including alcohol, may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death. Reserve concomitant prescribing of tapentadol tablets and benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants for use in patients for whom alternative treatment options are inadequate [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.3), Drug Interactions (7)]. Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS) Advise pregnant women using opioids for an extended period of time of the risk of Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome, which may be life-threatening if not recognized and treated. Ensure that management by neonatology experts will be available at delivery [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ]. Opioid Analgesic Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) Healthcare providers are strongly encouraged to complete a REMS-compliant education program and to counsel patient
Clinical Trial Registry
2 trials| Trial | Sponsor ID | Phase | Status | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT05999890 | KIMS/IEC/A035/D/2021 | Ph 4 | completed | Comparison of Postoperative Analgesia Between Intravenous Paracetamol and Intranasal Tapentadol |
| NCT01124604 results posted | CR016999 JNS024ER-JPN-N21 | Ph 2 | completed | An Efficacy and Safety Study for Tapentadol Extended Release (JNS024ER) in Chronic Pain Participants |
Active Pipeline
Ongoing clinical trials by development phase
Key Completed Trials
Completed studies with published results, ranked by significance
Trial Timeline
Full development history with FDA approval milestones
Understanding FDA Approval Types
| Count | Type | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| - | ORIG | Original approval - drug first enters market |
| - | SUPPL - Efficacy | New indication (new disease/condition approved) |
| - | SUPPL - Labeling | Label text changes (warnings, dosing updates) |
| - | SUPPL - Manufacturing | Production changes (new facility) |
| - | SUPPL - Chemistry | Formulation changes (new dosage strength) |
Green lines in the timeline show ORIG and Efficacy approvals - the clinically meaningful milestones.
TAPENTADOL HYDROCHLORIDE FDA Label Details
Indications & Usage
Tapentadol tablets are indicated for the management of acute pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatments are inadequate in adults. Limitations of Use Because of the risks of addiction, abuse, misuse, overdose, and death, which can occur at any dose or duration [see Warnings and Precautions ], and persist over the course of therapy, reserve opioid analgesics, including tapentadol tablets for use in patients for whom alternative treatment options are ineffective, not tolerated, or would be otherwise inadequate to provide sufficient management of pain. P...
WARNING: SERIOUS AND LIFE-THREATENING RISKS FROM USE OF TAPENTADOL TABLETS Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse Because the use of tapentadol tablets exposes patients and other users to the risks of opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death, assess each patient’s risk prior t...
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NUCYNTA
Full clinical data, patents, trials, and competitive landscape for tapentadol hydrochloride.
Data Sources
Data sourced from official FDA and NIH databases. Click links to verify on original sources.
How We Calculate These Metrics
Trial Activity Stage
Measures the current development activity pattern based on trial phases, status, and trends. Important: This measures R&D activity, not commercial lifecycle.
Trial statuses: "Active" means recruiting or ongoing. "Completed" means reached planned endpoint. "Terminated" means stopped early—often due to safety, efficacy, or business reasons.
- Growth: High proportion of early-phase trials (Phase 1/2), active development
- Expansion: Significant Phase 3 activity, approaching or pursuing approvals
- Mature: Substantial Phase 4 post-marketing studies
- Stable: Mixed phase distribution, steady development
- Declining: Low active trial ratio, reduced R&D investment