Two medicines, side by side
Tapentadol vs oxycodone
Tapentadol and oxycodone are both labeled for pain. Drugs@FDA records approvals of tapentadol since 2008 and of oxycodone since 1998. Pharmacies paid $14.48 per tapentadol HCl 100 mg tablet and $0.0884 per oxycodone HCl (ir) 5 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. How each works, in its label's words: Tapentadol, “Tapentadol is a centrally-acting synthetic analgesic.”; Oxycodone, “Oxycodone is a full opioid agonist and is relatively selective for the mu-opioid receptor, although it can bind to other opioid receptors at higher doses.”
Check it at the source: the tapentadol FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 26, 2026); the oxycodone FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 6, 2026).
Highlights of the tapentadol record
Tapentadol (Nucynta) · label of February 26, 2026
SERIOUS AND LIFE-THREATENING RISKS FROM USE OF tapentadol TABLETS Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse Because the use of tapentadol tablets exposes patients and other users to the risks of opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death, assess each patient's risk prior to prescribing and reassess all patients regularly for the development of these behaviors and conditions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ].
Used for
From the label: indicationsTapentadol tablets are indicated for the management of acute pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatments are inadequate in adults and pediatric patients aged 6 years and older with a body weight of at least 40kg. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 20, 2008
- Generic labelers
- 4 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $14.48 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Highlights of the oxycodone record
Oxycodone (Oxycontin) · label of May 6, 2026
SERIOUS AND LIFE-THREATENING RISKS FROM USE OF OXYCODONE HYDROCHLORIDE TABLETS WARNING: SERIOUS AND LIFE-THREATENING RISKS FROM USE OF OXYCODONE HYDROCHLORIDE TABLETS See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. Oxycodone hydrochloride tablets expose users to risks of addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death. Assess patient's risk before prescribing and reassess regularly for these behaviors and conditions.
Used for
From the label: indicationsOxycodone Hydrochloride Tablets, USP are indicated for the management of pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatments are inadequate. Oxycodone hydrochloride tablets are an opioid agonist indicated for the management of pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatments are inadequate. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 26, 1998
- Generic labelers
- 32 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0884 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 11
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Tapentadol label of February 26, 2026, Oxycodone label of May 6, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do tapentadol and oxycodone differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Tapentadol, “Tapentadol is a centrally-acting synthetic analgesic.”; Oxycodone, “Oxycodone is a full opioid agonist and is relatively selective for the mu-opioid receptor, although it can bind to other opioid receptors at higher doses.”
Both are in FDA's class opioid agonists.
Half-life, in each label's words: Tapentadol, “The terminal half-life is on average 4 hours after oral administration.”; Oxycodone, “Apparent elimination half-life of oxycodone following the administration of oxycodone hydrochloride tablets was 3.5 to …”
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: tapentadol since 2026; oxycodone since 2004 (Drugs@FDA).
| Tapentadol | Oxycodone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Pain | Pain |
| Pharmacologic class | Opioid Agonist | Opioid Agonist |
| How it works (label) | Tapentadol is a centrally-acting synthetic analgesic. The exact mechanism of action is unknown. | Oxycodone is a full opioid agonist and is relatively selective for the mu-opioid receptor, although it can bind to other opioid receptors at higher doses. The principal therapeutic action of oxycodone is analgesia. |
| Half-life (label) | The terminal half-life is on average 4 hours after oral administration. | Apparent elimination half-life of oxycodone following the administration of oxycodone hydrochloride tablets was 3.5 to 4 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | November 20, 2008 | October 26, 1998 |
| First generic approved | January 26, 2026 | February 6, 2004 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 4 labelers | 32 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $14.48 per tablet (Tapentadol HCl 100 mg tablet) | $0.0884 per tablet (Oxycodone HCl (ir) 5 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | n/a | -6% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 11 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 33,272 | 311,625 |
| DEA schedule | CII | CII |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What do the labels say about using others of their kind?
Oxycodone label, warnings and precautionsRisks from Concomitant Use with Benzodiazepines or Other CNS Depressants Profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death may result from the concomitant use of oxycodone hydrochloride tablets with benzodiazepines and/or other CNS depressants, including alcohol (e.g., non-benzodiazepine sedatives/hypnotics, anxiolytics, tranquilizers, muscle relaxants, general anesthetics, antipsychotics, gabapentinoids …
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to tapentadol
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions