Effectiveness and tolerability of tapentadol sustained release in the Australian setting

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effectiveness and tolerability of tapentadol sustained release (SR) following its introduction to the Australian private market.

Design: A retrospective audit of routine clinical practice with data collection beginning 2 months after the first tapentadol SR prescription.

Setting: A multidisciplinary Australian pain clinic.

Patients: Fifty patients who were prescribed tapentadol SR as part of routine clinical management at the pain clinic.

Interventions: Trial of tapentadol SR with subsequent dose titration if the patient was satisfied with or tolerant of the medication.

Main outcome measures: Patient-reported pain outcome, side effects, medication adherence, and concomitant analgesic medications.

Results: Sixty-eight percent of patients reported major reductions in pain. Seventy-two percent of patients tolerated and adhered to treatment and 76 percent reported no side effects. Pain outcome was independent of pain type and prior opioid exposure; however, patients taking tapentadol in combination were more likely to report a positive outcome (Pearson χ(2) = 9.867, n = 46, p = 0.0072).

Conclusions: Tapentadol was effective and generally well tolerated in the majority of patients for neuropathic, nociceptive and mixed pain types and this was regardless of prior opioid use.