Tapentadol and Oxycodone are similar recommended painkillers and analgesics that handle moderate to severe pain. Although they have the same property of easing pain, they vary in their mechanisms of action, strength, side effects, and other considerations. Knowledge of these differences is important for health care professionals and patients to decide which drug is most suitable. ‘Tapentadol vs Oxycodone’, this can be determined by the nature of pain, your history, and how your body responds to opioids. Tapentadol might be more appropriate for pain associated with nerves and those who worry about side effects from opioids. Oxycodone and tapentadol are opioid pain medicines that can be prescribed for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. Oxycodone mainly acts on opioid receptors in the brain. Tapentadol has a two-pronged action, also blocking the reuptake of norepinephrine, which may provide advantages for pain due to nerves.
Difference Between Tapentadol and Oxycodone
In the session of ‘Tapentadol vs Oxycodone’, we have differentiated the two in every term by potency, efficiency, side effects, contradictions, and precautions below. Have a look;
Tapentadol vs Oxycodone: Mechanism of Action
Oxycodone: Oxycodone is a semi-synthetic Painkiller that primarily exerts agonist action at the mu-opioid receptor in the central nervous system, as it binds to such receptors and prevents the transmission of pain messages, decreasing the perception of pain. It is also a weaker agonist at kappa and delta opioid receptors.
Tapentadol: It is a more recently enhanced, centrally acting analgesic with a dual mechanism of action. Tapentadol is an agonist at the opioid receptor, like oxycodone, but with less intrinsic capacity. It also blocks the reuptake of norepinephrine, a pain-relieving neuromodulator. This dual mechanism is accepted to offer synergistic pain relief, possibly rendering it useful for both nociceptive and neuropathic pain
Potency and Efficacy
Research indicates that tapentadol is weaker than oxycodone in mu-opioid receptor binding affinity. Tapentadol has been reported to be roughly five times weaker than oxycodone. Clinical trials, though, have suggested that tapentadol can be as effective as oxycodone in the treatment of different acute and chronic painful conditions when administered at effective doses. Tapentadol’s norepinephrine reuptake inhibition could be responsible for its ability, especially in neuropathic pain, where opioids are less effective.
Side Effects of Oxycodone and Tapentadol
Oxycodone and tapentadol are equally known to induce typical opioid-associated Outcomes, including:
- Sickness and vomiting
- Constipation
- Sedation and drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Headache
But studies are showing that tapentadol has a lowered risk of certain gastrointestinal Outcomes, notably sickness and constipation, relative to oxycodone. The improved tolerability may be clarified by its lesser mu-opioid receptor binding affinity and added norepinephrine reuptake blockade.
Critical side effects, explained as not as frequent, may happen with both and include:
- Respiratory depression (reduced or shallow breathing)
- Risk of addiction, abuse, and misuse
- Accidental overdose
- Serotonin syndrome (particularly with concomitant use of serotonergic agents, more applicable to tapentadol given its norepinephrine reuptake inhibition)
Contraindications and Precautions
Both tapentadol and oxycodone have contraindications and should be used with careful consideration in some patient groups. These include:
- Important respiratory depression
- Acute or status asthmaticus
- Gastrointestinal ileus (including paralytic ileus)
- Hypersensitivity to the medication
Other precautions for both drugs include a history of drug abuse, head trauma, elevated intracranial pressure, extreme liver or kidney impairment, and concurrent use of other central nervous system depressants.
Tapentadol has an added chance of serotonin syndrome with concomitant use of other medicines altering serotonin or norepinephrine steps, like some antidepressants.
Which Is Better Tapentadol Or Oxycodone?
The choice between oxycodone and tapentadol should be personalized, keeping in mind several factors, including:
- Pain type and intensity: The dual mechanism of action of tapentadol could have an edge in neuropathic pain.
- Medical history of patient: Past conditions and other drugs may affect the selection.
- Risk factors for side effects: Individuals with increased risk for opioid-induced nausea or constipation may be helped by tapentadol.
- Risk factors for addiction: Both drugs are potentially abusable, and this must be evaluated in all patients.
- Individual response to treatment: Certain patients are likely to get improved pain relief or fewer side effects with one drug compared to the other
Conclusion
oxycodone and tapentadol are potent opioid analgesics for the therapy of moderate to severe pain, but they each have unique qualities. Oxycodone, a long-standing opioid, is an essentially mu-opioid receptor-active agent with high-potency analgesic activity. Tapentadol, a relatively new drug, has a dual mechanism because it also suppresses norepinephrine reuptake, and it may have an advantage in neuropathic pain and potentially fewer occurrences of some gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea and constipation, in certain patients. Considerations include the nature and severity of pain, the patient’s history, the risk profile for side effects (such as respiratory depression, addiction, and serotonin syndrome with tapentadol), possible drug interactions, and patient-specific response, all factor into the selection of the best treatment. Tapentadol can be more appropriate for patients who are opioid-sensitive or require long-term pain management with fewer gastrointestinal disturbances.