Patient was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking Tapentadol as follows:
- Avoid using Tapentadol along with other medications that have a potential to cause respiratory depression, such as, muscle relaxants, sedatives, and antianxiety medications. Though they cause mild respiratory depression individually, they can have an additive effect when combined with Tapentadol and thus, precipitate severe respiratory depression.
- Do not change the dose on Tapentadol without consulting your doctor.
- Do not share your Tapentadol with any family and friends. Keep a regular track of the number of pills left in your pillbox, to prevent a chance for abuse, as this is one of the most commonly abused drug.
- Do not take Tapentadol with alcohol. Both alcohol and Tapentadol depress the respirations. When taken together, their effects on respirations can get added up and lead to severe respiratory depression, coma, and can even be fatal. Also, though Tapentadol individually does not cause much damage to the liver, combining Tapentadol with alcohol can increase the chance for liver injury.
- Tapentadol is metabolized by the liver and individuals with history of compromised liver function cannot metabolize Tapentadol and this can lead to increased blood levels of Tapentadol for longer duration, leading to toxicity. Tapentadol should be avoided or used with extreme caution in such individuals. Observe compliance with any labs ordered for evaluation of hepatic function.
