Effectiveness of Nucynta: It’s Dosage & Side Effects

Nucynta medicine can become habit forming even with usual dosages. Nucynta medicine is to be taken only as prescribed by a physician and not to be shared with anyone else. Misusing of this medicine can cause overdose, addiction or even instant death mainly in elderly people or in child who uses this medicine without prescription.

Effectiveness of Nucynta: It’s Dosage & Side Effects

How Effective is Nucynta?

Nucynta medicine is an opioid pain medication which is also known as narcotic medication. Nucynta medicine is used for the effective treatment of pain irrespective of it being moderate or severe.

Nucynta ER is the extended form of the Nucynta medicine which is used effectively for the round the clock pain treatment medication and is not controlled by any other drugs. This medicine is also not in use for on needed basis to get relief from pain.

Vital Details

If you have paralytic ileus otherwise known as bowel obstructions or other breathing problems, do not use Nucynta medicine.

If used a MAO inhibitor in the recent 2 weeks do not use Nucynta medicine. There are possibilities for dangerous medicine reactions in the body. This includes the use of medicines like phenelzine, isocarboxazid, tranylcypromine, methylene blue injection, selegiline, linezolid.

The extended release medicine can slow or cease breathing mainly when dosage is altered or you take the medicine for the first time. This Nucynta medicine is not to be taken when no longer required or even in larger amount. Do not break, crush or even open Nucynta medicine. It has to be swallowed as it is to make it safe and avoid exposure to dangerous dosage.

If pregnant inform your doctor. Nucynta medicine can cause life threatening and dangerous withdrawal symptoms to the child if the mother takes this medicine.

Having Nucynta medicine with alcohol or other drugs will cause fatal side effects like slow breathing or drowsiness.

Prior To Taking Nucynta Medicine

If allergic to Nucynta do not take this medicine or if you have:

  • Breathing problems or severe asthma
  • Blockage in stomach or intestines.

You are not supposed to take Nucynta in case you have used MAO Inhibitor not long ago, talk of last 2 weeks or so. This is because that will expose you to the risk of harmful drug interaction. MAO Inhibitors are such drugs as methylene blue injection, linezolid, phenelzine, isocarboxazid, tranylcypromine, rasagiline as well as selegiline.

Nucynta tends to form a habit. Note that you are not by any means supposed to share Nucynta particularly with people who have history of addiction or drug abuse. The medication should always be kept out of children reach and even if you are no longer using it, it is against health laws to share a drug, sell it to other people and Nucynta isn’t an exception.

There are medicines that may pose your life to danger if taken with Nucynta since they interact with the drug. They eventually cause serotonin syndrome. This is why it is imperative to consult your doctor if you are using other medications for instance mental illness, depression, serious infections, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s diseases , nausea & vomiting medication among others. Note that you should also liaise with your doctor prior to making changes in the way or time you take prescribed medications.
To be on the safer side when using Nucynta medicine, you should inform your doctor in case you have a history of;

  • Breathing issues or lung problem
  • Seizures, brain tumor or a head injury
  • Metal illness or addiction to alcohol or any drug
  • Difficulty urinating
  • Kidney and liver diseases
  • Gallbladder problems, thyroid or pancreas.

In case you take sedative such as Valium (Tranxene, diazepam, Klonopin, Lorazepam, Xanax, Versed, alprazolam, Ativan and Restoril)

It is not advisable to use Nucynta if you are expecting as there are high chances that your unborn child will be dependent on Nucynta which would be life threatening as a result of withdrawal symptoms once the child is delivered. Note that newborns that are born depend on such drugs as Nucynta known to be habit-forming will require medical attention for many weeks. This is why you should consult your doctor if you have any plans to conceive soon or are pregnant already. Nursing mothers should also refrain using this drug though it is not clear yet on whether Nucynta passes to breast milk or not. Nucynta should never be given to children.

What is the Recommended Dosage of Nucynta?

Nucynta Adult Dose For Pain

Immediate Release

100 mg, 75 mg or 50 mg orally after 4 to 6 hours, but this will depend on pain intensity; you can take it with food or without. On the 1st day, administer the 2nd dosage after an hour from the 1st dose. In case the pain still persists after administering the 1st dosage, the subsequent dose is 50 mg, 75 mg and 100 mg in time intervals of 4 to 6 hours & ought to be adjusted in order to maintain sufficient analgesia with the right toleration. Every day dosages that are more than 700 mg during the 1st day of therapy & 600 mg for the following days are not studied yet thus cannot be recommended.

Extended Release

Opiod naïve: you are supposed to take gong two times every day with an interval of 12 hours; titrate in a rise of 50 mg and should be taken only twice daily, (therapeutic range: 100 to 250 mg two times daily) (500 mg per day: maximum dosage)

Opioid naïve: at the beginning: 50 mg two times everyday ( 12 hours interval): titrates in increases of 50 mg only twice everyday in 3 days (therapeutic range of 100 to 250 mg two times daily) (500 mg per day: maximum dosage)

Conversion from instantaneous release- extended release: convert using similar full daily dose then divide into 2 equal doses then administer daily twice. (interval of 12 hours is recommended) (500 mg per day maximum dosage).

What are the Side Effects of Nucynta?

You should seek emergency care in case of the following Nucynta related allergic reaction signs; fast heartbeats, swelling of the tongue, face, throat and the lips, rapid heartbeats, hives and chest pain.

Nucynta is also likely to slow your breathing rate like any other narcotic medication. This is a life threatening symptom. Contact you doctor immediately in case of below severe side effects of Nucynta:

  • Shallow/weak breathing, slow heartbeat and weak pulse
  • The feeling of passing out
  • Feeling extremely hot and agitation
  • Seizures
  • Dizziness, drowsiness, lack of balance and speech problems
  • Missed monthly periods or infertility
  • Impotence, low libido and sexual problems
  • Low levels of cortisol- vomiting, dizziness, lack of appetite or body weakness

Seek immediate medical help in case of serotonin syndrome symptoms for instance fever, hallucinations, increased heart rate, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, loss of balance & coordination , muscle stiffness or shivering.

Over dependence on opioid medication tends to affect fertility both in women and men. However, there is no clear information on whether the fertility effects are permanent or not.

Adverse side effects are likely to be witnessed in overweight individuals, the malnourished, older adults and the debilitated.

Common side effects related to Nucynta are:

  • Stomach pain, mild nausea and constipation
  • Fatigue and headache are also side effects of Nucynta
  • Dizziness and mild drowsiness
Team PainAssist
Team PainAssist
Written, Edited or Reviewed By: Team PainAssist, Pain Assist Inc. This article does not provide medical advice. See disclaimer
Last Modified On:April 23, 2019

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