FRIDAY, Aug. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Nucynta ER (tapentadol
extended release) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration to treat moderate-to-severe chronic pain in adults,
maker Janssen Pharmaceuticals said.
The extended-release version of the opioid drug is taken twice
daily. The original formulation of Nucynta was approved by the FDA
in 2008.
Almost one-third of Americans will have chronic pain at some
point in their lives, making it the most common form of long-term
disability, the drug maker said.
In clinical testing of Nucynta, the most common side effects
were nausea, constipation, headache and dizziness. People taking
the drug must not consume alcohol or any medications that contain
alcohol, Janssen said in a news release.
Janssen is a unit of Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick,
N.J.
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