Tapentadol Withdrawal and Detox

By The Recovery Village

Updated on 11/02/20

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What Is Tapentadol?

Tapentadol is a medication prescribed to patients to help relieve severe short-term pain, such as the type caused by injury or surgery. Specifically, it is classified as an opioid analgesic. Tapentadol reduces patients’ pain thanks to its ability to change how the brain and body experience and react to pain.

Beginning treatment with Tapentadol may produce certain side effects, just like starting any new medication. Common Tapentadol side effects include nausea, vomiting, constipation, dizziness, and drowsiness. If these typical Tapentadol side effects worsen over time, notify your doctor.

Although serious side effects from Tapentadol are uncommon, it is important to be able to recognize them in the case of an emergency. Serious Tapentadol side effects are confusion, stomach or abdominal pain, trouble urinating, loss of appetite, unusual tiredness, and weight loss. Talk to your doctor right away if any of these serious side effects become noticeable.

Seek medical attention promptly if you experience slow or shallow breathing, fainting, seizures, severe drowsiness or difficulty waking up after taking Tapentadol.

If you would like to discontinue Tapentadol treatment, set up a meeting with your doctor to discuss options. In most cases, doctors will lower a patient’s Tapentadol dose gradually over time to allow the patient’s body enough time to adjust to less and less of the medication. This is called a “tapering off” approach. Do not abruptly stop taking Tapentadol, as this can produce unwanted withdrawal symptoms. Under no circumstances should you adjust your Tapentadol treatment schedule or dosage levels without your doctor’s permission.

What Are Common Tapentadol Withdrawal Symptoms?

Common Tapentadol withdrawal symptoms are anxiety, sweating, insomnia, rigors, pain, nausea, tremors, diarrhea, upper respiratory symptoms, piloerection, and hallucinations.

Remember, never abruptly stop taking Tapentadol as the aforementioned withdrawal symptoms may be enhanced.

Tapentadol Withdrawal Timeline and Symptom Durations

The Tapentadol withdrawal timeline and symptom durations vary from patient to patient due to every individual’s unique physiology. While some patients may be relieved of Tapentadol withdrawal symptoms within a few days, other patients may take longer. Several factors affect how your body will respond to Tapentadol, such as your age, metabolism, organ function, how long you have taken Tapentadol and the dosage levels.

Managing Withdrawal Symptoms of Tapentadol

If you are having trouble managing Tapentadol withdrawal symptoms, you may want to enter a medically assisted detoxification program. Here, patients will have access to medical professionals while Tapentadol is safely cleansed from their body. It is important to remember that not everyone responds to Tapentadol withdrawal in the same way. Do not be afraid to seek help during the detoxification process as needed.

Tapentadol Medications and Detox

Always keep an updated list of your medications, including any herbal supplements or over the counter drugs you take, and share this with your doctor. Some substances may interact with Tapentadol, which is why it is important for your doctor to have the full list.

Substances that are known to cause an interaction with Tapentadol include pentazocine, nalbuphine, butorphanol, naltrexone, isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, safinamide, selegiline, and tranycypromine.

The risk of serotonin syndrome or toxicity will increase if the patient takes additional substances that also increase serotonin. Examples of these substances include street drugs like MDMA, St. John’s wort, fluoxetine, paroxetine, duloxetine, venlafaxine, and more.

You may also increase the risk of Tapentadol side effects if you take other products which cause drowsiness or breathing issues. Notify your doctor if you take products such as codeine, hydrocodone, alcohol, cannabis, sleep drugs, anxiety medications, muscle relaxants or antihistamines.

How to Choose a Tapentadol Center

Finding a Tapentadol center to suit your situation and needs is an important step in every patient’s recovery journey. Set up a meeting with your doctor to discuss the features you should look for in a Tapentadol rehab center. Factors such as your length of Tapentadol treatment as well as your Tapentadol dosage levels should be considered when making this important decision.

If you or someone you love is suffering from Tapentadol addiction or another substance use disorder, it’s not too late to get help. The Recovery Village has many resources and treatment program options to help those looking to recover from substance use disorder.

Medical Disclaimer: The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.

Tapentadol Withdrawal and Detox

Tapentadol is a medication prescribed to patients to help relieve severe short-term pain, such as the type caused by injury or surgery. Specifically, it is classified as an opioid analgesic.

What Is Tapentadol?