Tolerability and efficacy of tapentadol extended release in elderly patients ≥75 years of age with chronic osteoarthritis knee or low back pain

David M. Biondi, DO; Jim Xiang, PhD; Mila Etropolski, MD; Bruce Moskovitz, MD

doi:10.5055/jom.2015.0289

Authors

David M. Biondi, DO
Jim Xiang, PhD
Mila Etropolski, MD
Bruce Moskovitz, MD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jom.2015.0289

Keywords:

tapentadol, chronic pain, elderly

Abstract

Objective: Management of chronic pain in elderly adult patients is often complicated by analgesic medication–related side effects. This post hoc analysis of pooled data evaluated the tolerability and analgesic efficacy of tapentadol extended release (ER) compared with oxycodone controlled release (CR) in elderly adult patients (≥75 years of age) with moderate to severe, chronic osteoarthritis knee or low back pain.

Methods: Data were pooled from three similarly designed, randomized, double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled, phase 3 studies of tapentadol ER for moderate to severe, chronic osteoarthritis knee (NCT00421928, NCT00486811) or low back (NCT00449176) pain, and data for patients ≥75 years of age were evaluated. Each study consisted of a 3-week titration and 12-week maintenance period. Patients received placebo, tapentadol ER (100-250 mg bid), or oxycodone HCl CR (20-50 mg bid). Tolerability was evaluated using adverse event reporting. Efficacy was evaluated using pain intensity ratings (11-point numerical rating scale).

Results: For patients ≥75 years of age (n = 210), incidences of gastrointestinal treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) overall and TEAEs of vomiting and the composite of nausea and/or vomiting were significantly lower in the tapentadol ER group compared with the oxycodone CR group (all p ≤ 0.0206). Tapentadol ER treatment was associated with significant reductions in pain intensity from baseline to week 15 compared with placebo (p = 0.0075); differences between the oxycodone CR and placebo groups failed to reach statistical significance (p = 0.1195), likely related to a higher treatment discontinuation rate in the oxycodone CR group. No significant differences were observed between the tapentadol ER and oxycodone CR groups in the change in pain intensity from baseline to week 15 (p = 0.2135).

Conclusions: In elderly adult patients ≥75 years of age with moderate to severe, chronic osteoarthritis knee or low back pain, tapentadol ER (100-250 mg bid) provided significant pain relief compared with placebo and had a better overall gastrointestinal tolerability profile than oxycodone CR.

Author Biographies

David M. Biondi, DO

Therapeutic Area Lead, Neuroscience, Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC, Raritan, New Jersey.

Jim Xiang, PhD

Associate Director, Biostatistics and Programming, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Raritan, New Jersey.

Mila Etropolski, MD

Sr. Director, Compound Development Team Leader, Pain Strategy Deputy Leader, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Raritan, New Jersey

Bruce Moskovitz, MD

Therapeutic Area Lead, Pain, Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC, Raritan, New Jersey (affiliation at the time of this work).

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