Tapentadol has proved more effective than placebo in arthrosis, lumbalgia and pain related to diabetic neuropathy.
However, the results should be interpreted with caution as there are important limitations.
No direct comparisons have been made with other opioids. There is only one analysis in which tapentadol did not show any differences when compared to oxycodone.
No studies are available on its use for pain in cancer patients. This drug has the same adverse effect profile as other opioid analgesics. The most frequent are nausea, constipation, dizzyness, somnolence and cefalea.