Tapentadol is a prescription medication used to treat moderate to severe pain. It is an opioid analgesic, which works by altering the way the brain and nervous system respond to pain. Tapentadol is prescribed for conditions like chronic pain, post-surgical pain, neuropathic pain, and pain due to injury. Tapentadol is available in both immediate-release (for acute pain) and extended-release (for chronic pain) formulations. It acts as a μ-opioid receptor agonist, which is typical for opioid painkillers. It inhibits the reuptake of norepinephrine, which enhances its analgesic effects.