Tapentadol and Nausea: What Users Say

• Luc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 27, 2014

For Pain "I was just given Nucynta 50 mg twice a day for Peripheral Neuropathy following a botched surgical procedure by my PCP. The pain was constant and burning. It disrupted my life and is wrecking my relationship with my husband. He doesn't understand the pain of Neuropathy, Neuritis, and Neuralgia. I have been in pain for more than a year and I have tried many different pain medications such as Vicodin, Ultram, Percocet. Nothing worked! I have only taken 2 pills and I noticed that the pain is much improved. It went from a 7 to a 4. That is HUGE! I did get nauseated and my breathing was shallow. I also stumble a bit and I am not able to verbalize complete sentences. That is disturbing, but it's worth it if I can experience less pain."

• nin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 12, 2013

For Pain "This medicine is a lifesaver! I have lupus and have been having extreme hip and back pain lately. I have been on numerous medicines and am allergic to codeine, Vicodin, and Percocet, so it's difficult to find adequate pain relief without other side effects like nausea, vomiting, and lightheadedness. Nucynta does not give me a 'high' feeling, and I have not experienced nausea with this medicine. The only downside to this medicine is it's expensive! I encourage people to call the company and apply for the savings card. I'm awaiting mine, and if it goes through, you will pay no more than $25 a refill. Hope some others get relief with this medicine like me. Right now, I could kiss my orthopedic surgeon for prescribing me Nucynta!"

• ste...
• March 10, 2016

For Pain "I had 17 surgeries on hands, arms, elbows, and shoulders, 11 on the right side, the rest on the left side. I have very chronic pain nerve damage on both hands, elbows, arms, and shoulders. I take 1 Nucynta and 2 Roxicodone every 6 hours, the pain is about a 10, really bad. When I take these meds, it goes down to around 5 or 6. It helps a lot. I would recommend this. I'm disabled, it helps me to function. I wish it would help more, but it doesn't have too many side effects. I've been taking them for a few years. You get some nausea, but I take Zofran for that. What I don't like is the government trying to tell us to cut down. I take 4 Nucyntas and 6 Roxicodone a day. That's the most I can cut down to because of my chronic pain. The people that are hurt are the ones that suffer."

• Rit...
• September 24, 2019

For Pain "I don't want to give this medication a high rating. My husband was put on this medication last week. At first, he thought it was great, but then trouble came. He had problems focusing, broke out with a rash, had constipation, could not eat, and always felt like he was going to throw up. When I saw the rash on his leg, I immediately called the pharmacist, and the pharmacist told him to stop taking this medication. On top of that, he is on antidepressants and blood thinners."

• tir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 6, 2018

For Pain "Just started taking this, was on Oxycodone 10/325 4 times a day, was willing to give it a shot. It's horrible. I keep wanting to throw up all day long, it feels like I am going through withdrawals, foggy as heck, missing work. Never had these issues before. They are making the opioid issue so bad that people who really need the pain meds are having to take things like this. I have had 4 neck surgeries so far, the pain is ridiculous. Before I found the Oxy, I was barely able to move around, once I got on that regimen, I was able to work every day, function like normal. Now I'm back to just feeling sick every day, foggy as heck, not wanting to do anything, just cry. This sucks."

• Dkw...
• February 19, 2013

For Pain "Nucynta - started off with 50mg 2-3 times daily. Had pretty weird side effects, talked with doctor who encouraged me to stick with it for a week. Also was on 5mg oxycodone 4 times daily. After about the 5th day, all of the nausea and side effects dissipated, with the exception of increased anxiety (which runs in my family to the point of being debilitating), so I simply increased my 0.5mg Xanax to 1.0mg as needed, which worked out fine. At the next visit, I was increased to Nucynta 100 mg 3-4 times daily. I felt like I was 19 again. Two months later, changed my dosing to 100mg Nucynta extended release 2 times daily and decreased my anxiety problems. Also increased my oxycodone to 10mg 4 times daily due to end-stage osteoarthritis in my back, neck, knees, shoulders, etc."

• Lul...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 13, 2016

For Pain "I have 4 slipped discs and a self-fusing spine, and I'm only 36. I have terrible OA in my spine that's hereditary. I failed epidural injections. The nerve pain kept me in bed crying most days, and I couldn't be a wife or mom. I started on Norco, then moved to Oxycodone. They added Neurontin, and nothing took care of the burning, shooting pain that was at the base of my skull and down my left arm. I got intermittent relief for one year. I changed doctors, and they put me on Nucynta ER 250 mg once a day! I can honestly say I am pain-free. I only take this and an anti-inflammatory. I will say the consistent side effect is nausea, vomiting, and no appetite. I don't mind it, as I'm finally pain-free, and I just eat small meals!"

• Ghe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 1, 2016

For Pain "I'm not sure why this medication is considered a Schedule II 'narcotic.' Perhaps having been prescribed Oxycodone, Hydromorphone, and Fentanyl in the past is a factor in forming this opinion, but I have been fortunate enough to find a specialist willing to treat fibromyalgia-related pain with Nucynta. This medication does not give me any of the usual negative opioid side effects, nor the weird SSRI/SNRI type mental side effects of Tramadol. Nausea is rare and possibly unrelated, no itching, or lack of mental clarity. I can see why it would be inadequate for post-surgical or trauma-induced pain, but it works perfectly for my current state of managing physical therapy after a long period of inactivity."

• kit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 10, 2019

For Pain "I was given this medication 2 weeks ago, 50 mg 3 times a day. On week 1, I felt significant relief from pain, but in the second week, 7 days later, I became stomach sick, vomiting and diarrhea, nauseous, and my back pain (3 fractured lumbar) came back with a vengeance, feeling the worst pain ever, and I'm still taking the prescribed dose. What's up with that??? I'm so disappointed because I thought, after 8 years of suffering from chronic pain day after day, that I finally found something to address this pain. But no, it lasted all of 3-4 days and now I'm feeling more pain and less relief from the same drug... back again to see the doctor."

• Pea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 31, 2019

For Pain "Nucynta is the worst! I've suffered from chronic pain for years and have tried many different pain meds. Long-acting, short-acting, brand, generic, tabs, caps, patch, etc., but nothing I've tried has ever made me feel as lousy as Nucynta! Nausea, fatigue, dizziness, headache, and achy. It didn't suppress my pain the way I had expected it to considering it cost $1,071.69 for 120 tabs! Thank goodness my deductible was met so it cost me $0, but I'm feeling some kind of way about my insurance paying this much money for something so useless and ineffective! I feel a refund is in order! I'd much rather go back to my Percocet 10 mg × 4/day, which was way more effective and less expensive! If you're prescribed this drug and are unable to tolerate it, be sure to have a standby available! Plus, this drug is not readily available at any pharmacy and has to be ordered. A prior authorization from the insurance is required, and there is no generic equivalent. Kudos to those Nucynta IR provides even minimal relief, and congrats to those it actually works well for!"

• kel...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 22, 2017

For Pain "This drug has been a game changer for me. Previously, I was maxed out on Norco 10/325 (6 a day), and it barely touched my pain (herniated disk blew out, compressed my sciatic nerve, had emergency surgery to correct that because I'd lost function in my right leg and foot; foot works now, but left with chronic severe pain), and my ability to work or even to do regular housework was severely impacted. Nucynta to the rescue! I started on 4x50mg/day, which was increased to 6 per day. After I was stable on that, I was switched to 2x100mg Nucynta ER per day, with 2x50mg Nucynta immediate release for breakthrough pain. The first couple of days, I was nauseated and a bit spacey, but soon those issues went away along with most of my pain. I love it!"

• Mom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 10, 2019

For Pain "My doctor put me on Nucynta 50 mg 2x a day for pain. I still have the back pain and no relief, it did, however, make me sleep for 30+ hours, make me sick to my stomach, gave me diarrhea, and did not help. I took this Saturday night at 11:00 pm. It is now Monday morning at 11:30 am, and I just want to sleep. I have no appetite. I haven’t eaten anything since 5:00 pm Saturday, and I’m still not hungry. This medicine is the WORST."

• Him...
• March 2, 2014

For Pain "I was given a single dose of Nucynta for pain after hip replacement surgery. The side effects were just weird, a feeling of being disconnected from my body and mental confusion. I was also nauseous with vomiting. I never had this effect with Demerol, Percocet, or Valium. Maybe I was allergic to it."

• vel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 9, 2012

For Pain "I was prescribed Nucynta 100 mg IR and 150 mg ER. I have been taking Oxycodone 10 mg and tramadol for breakthrough pain. I was on Percocet but developed resistance, and then my PM doctor added the Nucynta. Nucynta is excellent as it took most of my pain away. The bad part of it is that the Nucynta made me nauseous, gave me headaches, and made me feel wired. I also experienced palpitations and anxiety. Nucynta worked really well, it's just the side effects outweighed the pain relief. Anyone else have the same reactions?"

• YYC...
• May 1, 2017

For Pain "These pills are a blessing! I started with 50 mg ER twice a day, then increased to 2 x 50 mg twice a day. Three days ago, it was increased again to 150 mg ER twice a day and 75 mg for breakthrough pain. I think the ER dosage will get increased once more to reduce the amount of the 75s I'm taking throughout the day as I've had to take them every 6 hours. I have quite a few side effects: hot flashes, sweating, incredibly itchy, very shaky, decreased appetite, nausea, and today for the first time, vomiting. BUT, I'm about 80% pain-free, and to me, that's a win. I'll take the side effects (maybe not so much the vomiting), especially the decreased appetite LOL. I have tried Dilaudid, naproxen, Percocet, and a couple others that I can't remember the names."

• Jam...
• January 4, 2017

For Pain "Was put on Nucynta 100 mg every six hours for a two week trial after 60 mg of morphine long-term use and tolerance. I have had major hot flashes, headaches, nausea. At first, I thought maybe the conversation wasn't done correctly, but this medicine just flat out does not work for me at all. I woke up with night sweats, had to go to the bathroom and couldn't go. I'd rather go back on the morphine and adjust the dosage up. They can have this drug."

• Lad...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 24, 2016

For Pain "I have been on so many hydrocodone and oxycodone strengths and combinations that have given me, on a scale of 0 to 10, a 3 at best. I have degenerative disc disease, bulging discs, and hip/SI joint pain from ankylosing spondylitis. I don't take it every day, but as I need to. That should say something right there! I take the 50 mg, up to 2 times a day. It didn't make me sick to my stomach either. I will add one caveat - I have not gotten any migraine relief, which is what it was originally prescribed for."

• rag...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 22, 2017

For Pain "I have chronic pain from a defective knee implant, which is scheduled to be revised in a few months. The pain was successfully managed with Opana ER/IR. Because the FDA forced the manufacturer to remove Opana from the market, my pain management doctor switched me to Nucynta 200 mg twice daily. Within a few days, I started to experience severe side effects - constipation, nausea, stomach pain, headache, confusion, lightheadedness, inability to think clearly, joint and muscle pain, restlessness, insomnia. And the pain was only about 50% controlled. After 5 days, my doctor switched me to the fentanyl patch. Within a few days, all of the side effects went away, and my pain is much better controlled. In my opinion, Nucynta is a terrible drug."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 29, 2016

For Pain "This drug gave me a bad reaction from the very first dose. My doctor thinks I had serotonin syndrome from taking this with an antidepressant. I got a fast heart rate, flushed face, restless, like taking some kind of stimulant. They cut my antidepressant dose in half, which helped some, but I still couldn't stand the side effects. Lots of nausea too. Pain relief was okay, but not great."

• HJB...
• February 17, 2013

For Pain "My pain level was 10, most of the pain from severe back problems down my left leg into my foot. After many medicines, which made me groggy, sick to my stomach, and not able to really function. My doctor prescribed Nucynta ER. I can function without most side effects. The only side effect seemed to be like a light recall problem when carrying on a conversation. Example: names, places, times. I could go all around what I wanted to say, then finally it would come to me."

• Anonymous
• July 26, 2012

For Pain "On Norco-10 for 4 years - C4-C5 herniated disc. I went from 3/day to 4 or 5 a day as my tolerance built. 18-20 months ago, my doctor suggested Nucynta 100 3x a day. The max pain relief was just as good as the Norco-10, but I told the doctor that I wanted to go back to Norco because the Nucynta would 'crash' me between doses - fell off VERY quickly the last couple of hours. Got to two months ago. My doctor sends me to a PM specialist because he's not happy with all the acetaminophen. She puts me on tramadol and tells me to slowly back off the Norco. First, tramadol didn't work for pain, 2nd it nauseated me BADLY. I told her my history with Nucynta and she put me on 150 mg ER 2x/day. All GOOD 3 weeks later BUT with 1 or 2 Norco as supplements for breakthrough pain."

• Ugh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 11, 2017

For Pain "I was prescribed Nucynta, 75 mg, for chronic pain. I was instructed to stop tramadol, 300 mg XR, and take Nucynta instead. Doc said I would not experience withdrawal symptoms because the two drugs are in the same family. I’ve been taking it for five days and have experienced these side effects: nausea, headache, frequent urination, shakiness, feelings of worthlessness, fever and chills, irritability, diarrhea, occasional dizziness, withdrawal symptoms, stomach upset, and no difference in pain levels. Is this normal?"

• Wam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 8, 2019

For Pain "Multiple herniated discs, severe osteoarthritis in my spine, and severe degenerative disc disease, my neck and lower back are the worst for me. I've tried percs, Butrans 20 mg patches, and now Nucynta 400 mg a day. Been on it for 6 months now. Helps, but certainly not a cure-all! The breakthrough pain is awful, and all I can take for it is arthritic acetaminophen, which does nothing. Don't miss the constipation, buzz, or nausea of the other options. Biggest downside is it stops all ambition and drive!"

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 17, 2021

For Pain "Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to take pain meds; however, my doctor prescribed me Nucynta, and it has been a lifesaver. The problem is, I’m in my 40s and have been disabled for over 10 years. Most pain meds make me nauseated or cause migraines, all in all intolerable. Finally, one that helps. (I have several complicated medical conditions/diagnoses... constantly being told I am “rare.”) With Med Part D, it’s $357.07. How am I supposed to live, pay the $1200 in scripts, $146 or whatever Medicare is, $55.99 for supplemental, $27 for drug prescription, and a $2600 deductible? I was told I make approx $70 too much per month for assistance."

• Anonymous
• May 9, 2012

For Pain "I'm a 47-year-old female and was born with spina bifida, also, my spinal cord is tethered. I have scoliosis as well. I don't even remember a day of not being in pain. I have been on just about all the typical narcotic medications. In June 2011, I finally had to quit my job after 24 years because of the severe pain. My family doctor prescribed Nucynta until I can get an appointment with PM. I've been on Nucynta for 3 days, and even though the pain relief seems better than any of the other medications, the side effects are making me evaluate whether to stay on it or not. I've been getting waves of nausea, headaches, dizziness, and feeling as if I am overheated. I'm going to keep taking it and hope that the side effects will subside."