Janssen Inc. announced NNUCYNTA® IR (tapentadol immediate-release) is available for Canadian adults suffering from moderate to severe acute pain. NNUCYNTA® IR offers a significantly better gastrointestinal tolerability profile compared to oxycodone IR, while providing similar pain relief. Hale, M. et al. Tolerability of tapentadol immediate release in patients with lower back pain or osteoarthritis of the hip or knee over 90 days: a randomized, double-blind study.

“Although acute pain is fairly widespread among Canadians, it is underestimated as a common condition affecting people’s everyday lives, impacting their ability to perform normal daily activities,” says Dr. Robert Hauptman, a pain management consultant. “With the recent approval of NNUCYNTA® IR, acute pain sufferers have a safe and effective treatment option available to help control their acute pain.”

NNUCYNTA® IR is a novel, centrally-acting synthetic analgesic that combines two modes of action in a single molecule -- mu-opioid receptor agonism and inhibition of norepinephrine reuptake -- to manage acute pain.

Effects of Acute Pain Under-Appreciated

Acute pain is often due to an injury or surgery. Canadian Pain Coalition. It begins suddenly and might be mild and last just a moment, or it might be severe and last for days or weeks. Current medical opinion is that untreated acute pain may lead to chronic pain.

According to results of a recent survey (conducted on behalf of Janssen Inc.) of Canadian men and women with acute pain, daily life is negatively affected by the condition, including the ability to be at work and participate in everyday activities, such as sports (52 per cent), leisure activities (45 per cent) and household tasks (41 per cent).

On average, Canadians surveyed said they missed two weeks of work in the last few months because of their condition and one-in-four Canadians reported that the pain had a significantly negative impact on their effectiveness at work.

Nearly three-in-four (72 per cent) of those employed had to take time off work because of their acute pain, mainly because of the immobility experienced as a result of the pain (70 per cent) and the pain itself (47 per cent). Furthermore, one in 10 cited medication side effects as the reason for being away from work.

Gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and constipation often lead patients to discontinue or reduce opioid use or to seek medical help to manage the side effects.

One-in-three of those surveyed who are currently managing their pain with short-acting strong opioids reduced or stopped taking the treatment as a result of side effects experienced. Of those, two-in-five endured an increased intensity of pain as a result. Acute Pain Sufferers 2011 Report, Janssen. Slide 55.

About NNUCYNTA® IR

NNUCYNTA® IR is an oral prescription opioid analgesic for the management of moderate to severe acute pain in adults. It is taken orally every four to six hours and is available in 50 mg, 75 mg, and 100 mg tapentadol dose strengths.

The most common adverse events (reported by ≥10% in any NNUCYNTA® IR dose group) were nausea, dizziness, vomiting, somnolence and headache.

As with many centrally-acting analgesic medications, the dosing regimen should be individualized according to the severity of pain being treated, the previous treatment experience, and the ability to monitor the patient.

In general, opioids have been associated with craving, drug-seeking behaviour and tolerance development. NNUCYNTA® IR tablets should not be used in opioid-dependent patients since it cannot suppress morphine withdrawal symptoms, even though it is an opioid agonist.

About Janssen Inc.

At Janssen, we are dedicated to addressing and solving some of the most important unmet medical needs of our time in oncology, immunology, neuroscience, infectious diseases and vaccines, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases and women’s health. Driven by our commitment to patients, we bring innovative products, services and solutions to people throughout the world. Janssen Inc. is a member of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. Please visit www.janssen.ca for more information.

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