How to get GP to prescribe Tapentadol in the UK

[taxi_maicon]

How do I get my GP to prescribe me Tapentadol in the UK? He said he'd never heard of it. I've been on Tramadol for 10 years and it no longer works as I've built up a tolerance. I tried Tapentadol online (I was desperate) and its perfect for my muscle and nerve pain.

Does anyone know its UK brand name? Tapentadol? Palexia? Nucynta? Perhaps if I get the right brand name in the UK he will know it, or at least be able to look it up for me to try.

I'm desperate to ease the constant pain, please help!

Thanks,

R

p.s if all else fails, is there anywhere reputable to buy Tapentadol online? The place I used before is temporarily closed due to COVID-19.

[Min-Pain]

Hi

Tapentadol is a modified release painkiller, its part of the opiod family and is a controlled drug and gp's just don't like dishing them out,

I had them given to me by my pain specialist on top of the of oxycodone he prescribed. I looked them up as one does and didnt take any until i could speak to my gp who said you cannot take two lots of the same medication.

So they where never used.

Are you under a pain management doctor ? Ask he/she if they could change your medication, one more thing i would like to say is gp's do not like being asked for a different medication from a patient, gp's like to put you on a medication that they think fit not what the patient asks for,

I hope you can sort this.

[Funswim]

Hi. I was given this recently but it was from the Pain Team. Maybe you could get a referral from your G.P to see them. Sadly it was no good for me

[cyberbarn]

It will probably not be the GPs fault that he hasn't heard of it or can't prescribe it. There is something called the British National Formulary that lists all the drugs that the NHS uses and how they can be used. Additionally each local CCG will have their own as well.

For this drug it is on the national formulary, with advice that it should be used by pain clinics. But I just checked on my local formulary and it doesn't even appear on the current one, which would mean that my GP wouldn't be able to prescribe it. It did appear on a previous one in the 'Do Not Prescribe' section, with advice for pain clinics and consultants only.

So the best thing to do would be to ask for a referral to a pain clinic. They and their consultants will be the only people in the UK that can prescribe it if it is the right drug for you.

[taxi_maicon]

Thanks for your replies. That's kind of the problem though, the impact of the pandemic means my appointment with the pain specialist has been postponed. No idea when it will be rescheduled. Probably the end of the year or something.

I could really do with it before that.

Do you think GP's would use this service? Seems linked to the NHS: mistrys.co.uk/palexia-table...

[deejames]

I was prescribed them years ago by my pain management consultant. Please don't buy controlled drugs online. You could be getting anything with a tablet and have no way of checking. You also don't want to be taking heavy duty medication like this without medical supervision however tempting it can be.

Dee

[LynneS2]

My GP eventually agreed to prescribe this for me although she wasn’t keen when I asked her about it. I find it really helps with the pain I take the slow release version one tablet every 12 hours which I find is much better than waiting till the pain starts again every 4 hours. Causes me to sweat and flush a lot and a bit sleepy in the mornings but not as bad side affects as morphine or Codein type medicines. Palexia is the brand name. Might be worth researching it online and giving the details to your GP that’s what I did. Good luck.

[Madlegs1 in reply to LynneS2]

Hi! Could I ask you if the Tapentadol/ Palexia actually lasts the full 12 hrs?

Are you still on it, and how has your experience been?

I am currently experiencing tolerance with Oxycontin and need to find an alternative.

Thank you for your time.

[CharlieJ22]

Unfortunately in most CCG areas Tapentadol is classed as a "black drug" which means "unsuitable for GP prescribing". This means you have to initially be prescribed it by a pain management consultant.

I've been taking it for 7 years now at the same dose and have experienced zero side effects on 100mg of the modified release version ( branded as Palexia SR), every 12 hours. I've been lucky that my GPs wife is a palliative care consultant so he was familiar with it and was prepared to continue prescribing it.