Pentazocine

Pentazocine is used to treat severe pain; it works on the nerves and brain to reduce the pain you feel. It can be used to ease pain before, during and after an operation.

Gastrointestinal side effects

Gastrointestinal side effects including nausea and vomiting have been reported. Constipation has been reported infrequently. Abdominal distress, anorexia, and diarrhea have been reported rarely.

HOW TO USE:

Take this medication by mouth usually every 4 hours as needed for pain; or take as directed by your doctor. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. Taking more than 6 doses per day is not recommended. Use this medication exactly as prescribed. Do not increase your dose, take it more frequently, or use it for a longer period of time than prescribed because this drug can be habit-forming. Also, if used for an extended period of time, do not suddenly stop using this drug without your doctor's approval. When used for an extended period, this medication may not work as well and may require different dosing. Talk with your doctor if this medication stops working well. If you have previously taken narcotic pain medication (e.g., codeine, methadone, morphine) for an extended period of time, this medication may cause withdrawal-like symptoms (e.g., sweating, chills, tremors). For details, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Information for Patients

Since sedation, dizziness, and occasional euphoria have been noted, ambulatory patients should be warned not to operate machinery, drive cars, or unnecessarily expose themselves to hazards. Pentazocine may cause physical and psychological dependence when taken alone and may have additive CNS depressant properties when taken in combination with alcohol or other CNS depressants.

DRUG INTERACTIONS

The following substances may affect how pentazocine works or increase the risk of side effects: alcohol; anaesthetics; barbiturates (e.g., secobarbital); monoamine oxidase inhibitors (e.g, tranylcypromine, phenelzine, moclobemide) taken within the past 14 days; other narcotic analgesics (e.g., codeine, morphine); phenothiazines (e.g., perphenazine, thioridazine); naloxone; sedatives and tranquilizers; tobacco (smoking); tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline, desipramine, imipramine)

Pentazocine may affect how the following medications work: diamorphine; heroin; morphine and morphine-type pain relievers

DOSAGE

Duration of Therapy. Patients with chronic pain who receive TALWIN Nx orally for prolonged periods have only rarely been reported to experience withdrawal symptoms when administration was abruptly discontinued (see WARNINGS). Tolerance to the analgesic effect of pentazocine has also been reported only rarely. However, there is no long-term experience with the oral administration of TALWIN Nx.

Storage

Store at room temperature, protect from heat and from freezing.