Talwin Side Effects

Generic name: pentazocine

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Oct 29, 2022.

Note: This document contains side effect information about pentazocine. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Talwin.

Applies to pentazocine: oral tablets.

Warning

Benzodiazepines

Concomitant use of opiates with benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants, including alcohol, may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death.⁴¹⁶ ⁴¹⁷ ⁴¹⁸ ⁷⁰⁰ ⁷⁰¹ ⁷⁰² ⁷⁰³
Reserve concomitant use of opiate analgesics and benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants for patients in whom alternative treatment options are inadequate; use lowest effective dosages and shortest possible duration of concomitant therapy and monitor closely for respiratory depression and sedation.⁷⁰⁰ ⁷⁰³ (See Specific Drugs and Laboratory Tests under Interactions.)

REMS:

FDA approved a REMS for pentazocine to ensure that the benefits outweigh the risk. The REMS may apply to one or more preparations of pentazocine and consists of the following: medication guide and elements to assure safe use. See the FDA REMS page ([Web]).

Side effects include:

Dizziness, lightheadedness, euphoria, sedation, nausea.

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to pentazocine: injectable solution.

General

The most commonly occurring adverse reactions have included nausea, dizziness or lightheadedness, vomiting, and euphoria.

Dermatologic

Postmarketing reports: Soft tissue induration, nodules and cutaneous depressions at injection sites; ulceration (sloughing), severe sclerosis of the skin and subcutaneous tissues and, rarely, underlying muscle; diaphoresis, sting on injection, flushed skin including plethora, dermatitis including pruritus^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Postmarketing reports: Anaphylaxis, facial edema, toxic epidermal necrolysis^[Ref]

Nervous system

Serotonin syndrome has been reported during concomitant use of opioids with serotonergic drugs.^[Ref]

Postmarketing reports: Dizziness, lightheadedness, sedation, headache, weakness, flushing, syncope, tremor, paresthesia

Opioids:

Postmarketing reports: Serotonin syndrome^[Ref]

Psychiatric

Postmarketing reports: Depression, euphoria, confusion, disorientation, disturbed dreams, insomnia, irritability, excitement, hallucinations^[Ref]

Respiratory

Postmarketing reports: Respiratory depression, dyspnea, transient apnea (in infants whose mothers received this drug during labor)^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Postmarketing reports: Circulatory depression, shock, hypertension, tachycardia, syncope^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Postmarketing reports: Nausea, vomiting, constipation, dry mouth, taste alteration, diarrhea and cramps^[Ref]

Hematologic

Depression of the white blood cell count is usually reversible.^[Ref]

Postmarketing reports: Depression of the white blood cell count (especially granulocytes), moderate transient eosinophilia^[Ref]

Other

Postmarketing reports: Tinnitus, chills^[Ref]

Ocular

Postmarketing reports: Visual blurring and focusing difficulty, blurred vision, diplopia, miosis, nystagmus^[Ref]

Genitourinary

Postmarketing reports: Urinary retention, alteration in rate or strength of labor contractions^[Ref]

Endocrine

Opioids:

Postmarketing reports: Adrenal insufficiency, Androgen deficiency

Cases of adrenal insufficiency have been reported with opioid use, generally use greater than 1 month. Cases of androgen deficiency have been reported with chronic opioid use.