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Side Effects of Tapentadol And Alcohol
On its own, alcohol can produce various dangerous side effects, but it can also enhance the side effects of other drugs in unpredictable ways. Oftentimes, mixing alcohol with other drugs is so dangerous that doctors will advise their patients to avoid drinking completely for the duration of their treatment. The same is true for opioid medications like tapentadol. Below is more information on the side effects of mixing tapentadol and alcohol.What Is Tapentadol (Nucynta)?
Tapentadol is an opioid analgesic (or narcotic) that’s prescribed to treat pain severe enough to require opioid treatment or when other pain medications have been ineffective in treating the individual’s symptoms or could not be tolerated. Tapentadol is prescribed under the brand names Nucynta and Nucynta ER, the latter of which refers to the extended-release formulation of the drug. Depending on the individual, tapentadol may be prescribed as an oral solution or tablet. Nucynta is the short-acting version of the drug that kicks in quicker and lasts a shorter amount of time, while Nucynta ER is the long-acting version of the drug that lasts for 12 to 14 hours and is therefore only taken once daily. People should not take tapentadol once in a while or “as needed.” Rather it should only be used as often and according to the doses prescribed by a doctor. Tapentadol can be addictive or habit-forming if misused, so it’s important to stick with the prescribing doctor’s plan when taking the medication.Can I Drink Alcohol While Taking Nucynta?
While tapentadol produces fewer and less severe side effects compared to other opioids, it can lead to dangerous side effects if misused, such as being taken in higher doses than prescribed or combined with alcohol. Combining tapentadol and alcohol is one of the main things that doctors advise patients against. When taken alone, opioids can lead to drowsiness, sedation, slurred speech, and even respiratory problems because of the impact they have on the chemical noradrenaline. Noradrenaline stimulates energy, heart rate, breathing, and other functions. Alcohol also produces a drowsy and sedative effect on the central nervous system (CNS) by targeting a chemical called GABA, which inhibits nerve cell communication in the brain. Therefore, when someone takes Nucynta and alcohol together, they may experience elevated side effects of sedation, drowsiness, and respiratory depression, which can be fatal without medical support.Common side effects of mixing tapentadol with alcohol include:
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- Abnormal behavior
- Slowed heart rate
- Changes in blood pressure
- Dehydration
- Dizziness or loss of coordination
- Drowsiness
- Sedation
- Impaired judgment and confusion
- Irregular heart rate and rhythm
- Loss of consciousness
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Respiratory arrest or depression
- Coma
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