The OM orange pill is identified as Tapentadol or Nucynta 100 mg. With "OM" imprint on one side and "100" on the other, this orange pain pill is composed of Tapentadol 100 mg as the active compound and approved by the FDA for treating severe acute and chronic pain in people.
The orange pill for pain can indicate generic Tapentadol with all its brand versions, namely Nucynta, Aspadol, Tapal, etc.
Wondering what the orange pain pill is or if there is a correlation with Tapentadol 100 mg? We have answers to all your questions.
Tapentadol 100 mg, also known as the orange pain pill, is an opioid analgesic that delivers faster relief from pain with two distinct mechanisms. It is often prescribed after an injury or surgery when conventional pain medications fail to relieve pain effectively.
So, let us have a brief insight into the uses, benefits, and safety profile of Tapentadol and why it is also called the “Nucynta 100 mg orange pain pill.”
Orange Pain Pills- An Overview Of Tapentadol 100 Mg
Tapentadol, or the orange pill for pain, is a centrally-acting oral analgesic approved by the FDA ( US Food and Drug Administration) in 2008. It is proven effective for treating moderate to severe chronic and acute pain [1].
It is manufactured by Cadila Pharmaceuticals and is available in several brand names Nucynta, Palexia, Yantil, Tapenta, Tapal, and Aspadol [2].
The Tapentadol is a Schedule II controlled substance that may have a potential risk of abuse if not administered correctly. With a quicker onset of action, Tapentadol 100 mg begins to work within 30 minutes of intake [3].
Orange Pain Killer- Pill Identifier
The orange pain pill is Tapentadol 100 mg or its brand version (Nucynta, Aspadol, or Tapal).
The Appearance Of The Pill-
The pill characteristics are listed below to help you identify the orange pain killer as Tapentadol 100 mg [4]. This is significantly important for users who buy Tapentadol 100 mg online to ensure the quality and authenticity of the opioid tablet.
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Tapentadol Orange Pill Characteristics |
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Generic Name |
Tapentadol |
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Brand Name |
Nucynta |
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Active Compound |
Tapentadol 100 mg |
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Inactive Compound |
Croscarmellose sodium, polyethylene glycol, lactose monohydrate, aluminum oxide, povidone, titanium dioxide, magnesium stearate, magnesium silicate, microcrystalline cellulose, and polyvinyl alcohol. |
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Imprint |
O-M 100 |
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Strength |
100 mg |
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Color |
Orange |
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Size |
9.00 mm |
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Shape |
Round |
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Availability |
Prescription only |
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Drug Class |
Opioids (narcotic analgesics) |
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Pregnancy Category |
C |
Pill Package
The display content of the pill package indicates the ingredient list of the pill and its precautionary measures to ensure a lower risk of side effects [5].
Note - The Tapentadol 100 mg pill package is from Collegium Pharmaceuticals and thus may differ depending on the manufacturing company.
Some leading Tapentadol manufacturers are Signature Pharmaceuticals, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and Cadila Pharmaceuticals.
How Does The Nucynta 100 mg Orange Pill Manage Chronic Pain?
Pre-clinical data on Tapentadol demonstrate two unique mechanisms of action responsible for its analgesic effect- mu-opioid receptor agonist activity and noradrenaline re-uptake inhibition [6].
Let us simplify the above diagram and look at how each of the substances plays a vital role in the analgesic profile of Tapentadol.
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Glutamate (Glu)- Tapentadol inhibits glutamatergic synaptic transmission [7]. The glutamatergic synapses are crucial in transmitting itch and pain sensations [8]. Thus, inhibiting the transmission of glutamate helps stop the pain signals.
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Mu-opioid receptor- Tapentadol binds to the MOR (mu-opioid receptor), but its affinity is 44-fold lower than morphine [9]. However, its analgesic efficiency is comparable to morphine for acute and chronic pain. When an opioid drug such as Tapentadol binds to the mu-opioid receptor, the interaction triggers chemical reactions that cause pain relief and a feeling of pleasure [10].
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Alpha 2 adrenoreceptor and Substance P- Stimulating the α-2 receptors helps reduce the release of substance P (neurotransmitter and modulator of pain perception) [11,12]. In simple terms, the activation of Alpha 2 adrenoreceptor helps reduce the secretion of substance P, thus resulting in pain relief.
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Norepinephrine- Some opioids, such as Tapentadol, regulates the inhibition of the uptake of norepinephrine and serotonin [13]. As norepinephrine plays a key role in controlling pain, thus inhibiting its reuptake increases its level in the body, thus helping relieve body pain.
Dosage And Administration Of Orange Pill For Pain
Tapentadol is currently available as an oral extended-release (Nucynta ER) and immediate-release drug (Nucynta IR).
Based on the reports of its clinical studies, the current Tapentadol dosing recommendation for non-cancer-related pain is 50 mg to 100 mg every 4 to 6 hours. Dosing over 600 mg per day is not advisable [14]. Tapentadol or Nucynta ER (Extended-Release) dosage should be taken twice daily with a dosage gap of 12 hours.
Tapentadol is an oral pill and should be swallowed as a whole without breaking or crushing the tablet. Tapentadol 100 mg is not recommended in patients with severe renal and hepatic failure.
The bioavailability of Tapentadol is 32% after an oral administration; therefore, it can be taken with or without food [15]. A few precautionary measures that must be followed when taking Tapentadol 100 mg dosage is to avoid using the analgesic while drinking, pregnant, and breastfeeding.
Precautionary Warning-
Never share your OM orange pill dosage with others, especially someone with a history of abuse or addiction. Misuse of the opioid analgesic can result in overdosing and addiction. Before the discontinuation of the analgesic, tapering off the Tapentadol method is advised by most physicians to avoid withdrawal signs.
The Safety Profile Of The Orange Painkiller
Tapentadol 100 mg is usually well tolerated but may result in vomiting, nausea, drowsiness, and dizziness [16]. Studies indicate that the orange pain pill does not directly increase serotonin levels. But, its ability to inhibit norepinephrine reuptake can indirectly elevate serotonin levels in the body. This results in serotonin syndrome, a severe drug reaction resulting in a rapid heartbeat, Muscle rigidity, high blood pressure, Dilated pupils, and loss of muscle coordination [17].
Other common side effects of Tapentadol are headache, drowsiness, anxiety, stomach pain, irritability, dry mouth, insomnia, abnormal dreams, and excessive tiredness [18].
Synergistic Drug Interactions Of Tapentadol OM Orange Pill
The intake of other compounds and medications with Tapentadol may alter the drug's working mechanism, increasing the risk of experiencing severe side effects. Some medicines that should not be co-administered with the Orange painkiller are butorphanol, samidorphan, nalbuphine, pentazocine, and naltrexone. Taking Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors such as tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid, phenelzine, metaxalone, rasagiline, and procarbazine should be avoided up to 2 weeks from taking the last Tapentadol dosage. Some of the other drug interactions that should be taken into consideration while taking Tapentadol orange pain pill are-
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The use of other opioid medications such as hydrocodone and codeine and muscle relaxants such as Soma 350 mg should be avoided.
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Sleep medications, along with anti-anxiety drugs.
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Cough syrups.
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Marijuana or cannabis [19].
Orange Pill Om 100 Mg- Our Final Thought
Tapentadol 100 mg, an effective opioid analgesic for treating severe pain, is often called the “Orange Pain Pill” due to its orange color.
Available in the Immediate release formula and the Extended release formula, the use of the analgesic effectively treats both acute and chronic pain in users. With high tolerability, analgesic use is considered safe, with a lower risk of experiencing side effects.
The prescription use of Tapentadol for neuropathic pain and other non-cancer-associated pain is 3 to 4 times a day.