Tapentadol is a prescription medication that is used to treat moderate to severe pain. It is classified as an opioid analgesic, but it also has effects as a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, making its mechanism of action somewhat unique compared to other opioids like morphine or oxycodone. Tapentadol can help relieve both nociceptive pain (caused by tissue damage) and neuropathic pain (caused by nerve damage), which sets it apart from many traditional pain medications.