Nucynta ER vs. Oxycontin

• Are Nucynta ER and Oxycontin the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Nucynta ER?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Oxycontin?
• What is Nucynta ER?
• What is Oxycontin?
• What Drugs Interact with Nucynta ER?
• What Drugs Interact with Oxycontin?
• How Should Nucynta ER Be Taken?
• How Should Oxycontin Be Taken?

Nucynta ER (tapentadol) and Oxycontin (oxycodone hydrochloride) are opioid drugs used for the management of moderate to severe pain, usually for an extended time period.

Common side effects of Nucynta ER include:

• nausea,
• vomiting,
• constipation,
• dizziness,
• drowsiness,
• dry mouth,
• itching,
• increased sweating,
• headache,
• sleepiness,
• trouble sleeping (insomnia),
• anxiety,
• fatigue,
• indigestion,
• weakness,
• anxiety,
• decreased appetite,
• spinning sensation,
• hot flashes,
• tremor,
• chills,
• abnormal dreams,
• depression,
• blurred vision, and
• impotence.

Common side effects of Oxycontin include:

• constipation,
• nausea,
• stomach pain,
• loss of appetite,
• vomiting,
• sleepiness,
• tiredness,
• drowsiness,
• dizziness,
• lightheadedness,
• weakness,
• itching,
• headache,
• dry mouth,
• sweating, and
• decreases in the ability to feel pain.

Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Oxycontin including

• respiratory depression,
• apnea (stopped breathing),
• respiratory arrest,
• circulatory depression,
• hypotension (low blood pressure),
shock, and
• death.

Nucynta ER is:

• A strong prescription pain medicine that contains an opioid (narcotic) that is used to manage pain severe enough to require daily around-the-clock, long-term treatment with an opioid, when other pain treatments such as non-opioid pain medicines or immediate-release opioid medicines do not treat your pain well enough or you cannot tolerate them.
• Also used to manage pain from damaged nerves (neuropathic pain) that happens with diabetes and is severe enough to require daily around-the-clock, long-term treatment with an opioid, when other pain treatments such as non-opioid pain medicines do not treat your pain well enough or you cannot tolerate them.
• A long-acting (extended-release) 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.
• Not used to treat pain that is not around-the-clock pain.

Oxycontin is:

• A strong prescription pain medicine that contains an opioid (narcotic) that is used to manage pain severe enough to require daily around-the-clock, long-term treatment with an opioid, when other pain treatments such as non-opioid pain medicines or immediate-release opioid medicines do not treat your pain well enough or you cannot tolerate them.
• A long-acting (extended-release) 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.
• Not for use to treat pain that is not around-the-clock.
• Not for use in children less than 11 years of age and who are not already using opioid pain medicines regularly to manage pain severe enough to require daily around-the-clock long-term treatment of pain with an opioid.

Nucynta ER may interact with cold or allergy medicines, sedatives, other narcotic pain medicines, tranquilizers, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, other medicines that can make you sleepy or slow your breathing, and medicines for seizures, depression, or anxiety.

Do not stop using Nucynta ER suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

Oxycontin may also interact with pentazocine, nalbuphine, butorphanol, or buprenorphine.

Do not stop using Oxycontin suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

The starting dose of Nucynta ER is 50 mg orally twice daily (approximately every 12 hours). Nucynta ER tablets must be taken whole. Crushing, chewing, or dissolving Nucynta ER tablets will result in uncontrolled delivery of tapentadol and can lead to overdose or death.

Oxycontin (oxycodone hydrochloride) is available as controlled-release tablets in strengths of 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 60, 80, and 160 mg tablets (60 mg and above used only for opioid tolerant patients). The tablets must be swallowed whole because broken or chewed tablets release the drug too rapidly and because Oxycontin is rapidly adsorbed, too concentrated levels will be present in the body which can lead to death.