Tapentadol and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Sti...
• February 8, 2012

Tapentadol for Pain "I was prescribed Nucynta 100 mg 4x day after years of being on hydrocodone, tramadol, as well as oxycodone for back pain from 3 previous disc fusion surgeries. I have to say that Nucynta did relieve my pain, but for only maybe 1 1/2 hours at the most. The side effects are horrible: headache, stomach discomfort, 'trippy' feeling, just to name a few. I would also like to add that I was not in withdrawal from opiates when I took this medication, even though I was having mild withdrawals from the years of tramadol use, and Nucynta did help me with the withdrawal symptoms somewhat. Even though I do not want to continue opiate usage any longer, Nucynta is not the solution for my pain."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 29, 2012

Tapentadol for Pain "My doctor prescribed it when I developed an allergy to another medicine. After the first day brought no relief at all, I called and was told that the medicine would take 3-5 days to work. Well, it's day 8 now, and absolutely no pain relief. I did get a really nasty headache."

• Rub...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 22, 2018

For Pain "I have been on Palexia 150 mg twice a day for about 2 and a half years for severe neck, thoracic, and lumbar pain after a car accident. Surgery is not an option, unfortunately, due to the amount of spinal degeneration. I have also been prescribed Fentanyl 25 mg patches and OxyContin prior to Palexia but became tolerant to these. Switching to Palexia was very difficult, and the withdrawal and pain were very difficult for 2 weeks. I persevered and am glad I did. Pain is now better controlled, and tolerance builds much slower, and I still get some decent pain relief. Give it some time if switching. I almost gave up thinking it wasn’t working, but I now realize that I was withdrawing from other meds, and it takes time to build up in your system and start working. I have some side effects at times: headache, tiredness, sweating, and a bit of nausea, but still better than being in severe pain 24/7."

• Mom...
• January 26, 2021

Tapentadol "Nucynta is very disappointing. It doesn’t work for me, doesn’t relieve any pain. I have multiple sclerosis, and instead of relief, it gives me a horrible headache, high blood pressure, erratic heartbeat, insomnia, and constant thirst, which is horrible, horrible, horrible. I don’t advise taking the medication without talking to your doctor about the rest of the drug interactions."

• Sti...
• June 5, 2011

Tapentadol for Pain "Was prescribed Nucynta for pain associated with sciatica and herniated disk in L5/S1. Although it did relieve the pain, the side effects I've experienced are just not worth it. Horrible headache, itching, sweating, constipation, and depression."

• SS3...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 31, 2018

For Pain "I got switched from Oxycodone 10 mg (5x a day) to this garbage last week for a 20-week trial. Something to do with a 4-pill daily limit. My Nucynta dosage is 75 mg, 4x a day. I will call it maybe 20% effective over Oxycodone or Percocet. I also have anxiety, restlessness, and a headache now and then. I am calling my doctor today to get me off this with some luck. DO NOT try to take 1.5 or 2 of these and drive a car or operate machinery. AND it costs me $75 for a trial of 60 pills with insurance."

• inv...
• May 29, 2011

Tapentadol for Pain "I have had many back surgeries for degenerated disc disease and was put on Nucynta three days ago. My dose is 50 mg three times a day. It makes me feel high, gives me a severe headache, diarrhea, agitation, insomnia, dizzy, confused, and it only helps for an hour. I was taking methadone 5 mg two times a day, three on bad days, and that worked great, but this doesn't."

• lee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 17, 2016

For Pain "I have been taking 15 mg of OxyContin 3 times a day. Recently given Palexia 50 mg to replace a dose of OxyContin. Gives me a bad headache and nausea but seems to reduce the pain the same as the other meds. It stopped working, and I have continued with the midday dose of OxyContin and use Palexia to top up before bed. I often have to take ibuprofen to get rid of the headache. Not sure these are very helpful as morphine tends to make me more cranky than I would be on OxyContin."

• loo...
• January 28, 2012

Tapentadol for Pain "20 years in the evening for lupus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis, and now AVN (avascular necrosis, from steroid use and the SLE). I have been on Exalgo 16 mg, Nucynta 100 mg every 12 hours for breakthrough pain. The Exalgo was sufficient. Nucynta takes pain away for a short time and does make me sleepy, combined with the fatigue from lupus. Once in a while, I get headaches and jittery, don't know if it's from the Nucynta. (Better described like a painful spot in my head instead of a headache)."

• Nes...
• July 2, 2016

For Pain "Was skeptical when doctors swapped me from Endone to slow release (SR) tapentadol. Huge headache and nausea the first week. Over the next month, felt like the twice daily 50 mg would wear off in 5 hours. So, the specialist has doubled the dose to 4 times per day. I feel a bit weird for the first hour after taking it, but that's better than the up-and-down effect of Endone. I feel like the pain is better controlled now taking the dose 4 times per day. But the general doctor was reluctant to increase, so very glad I saw the specialist and he recognized that pain that SIJD causes."

• Jkf...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 28, 2018

For Pain "I'm 32 and have lived with undiagnosed chronic neck and shoulder pain for the majority of my life. This has been the first medication that I get pain relief from. About 80% of the time, it does an amazing job. I take the instant-release and the slow-release tablets. The only thing I've noticed is a slight hungover/headache feeling once the drug wears off, but you get over that easily compared to the chronic pain attacks. Really helped and will continue to use."

• Anonymous
• April 29, 2010

Tapentadol for Pain "Tried this medication and it did not work. Side effects were bad. Headache, upset stomach, could not sleep. This medication for 1 month cost over $300.00 and there is no generic."

• Nyc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 21, 2015

Tapentadol for Pain "Gave me a severe headache, insomnia, dizzy, confused, this medication is very dangerous. I have learned that the hard way. Stay away!!!"

• nic...
• January 8, 2012

Tapentadol for Pain "I tried Nucynta, it did not help the pain. I had a headache from it, and it made my right leg numb. I had a stroke 20 years ago."