Abuse of tapentadol compared to other atypical opioids among individuals entering treatment for opioid use disorders.

Objective: Tapentadol is an atypical opioid analgesic thought to have dual mechanisms of action: µ-receptor agonism and inhibition of norepinephrine reuptake. Unlike other atypical opioids, tapentadol is a schedule II-controlled substance. We compared the prevalence of abuse (use to get high) of tapentadol to other atypical opioids used to treat pain (buprenor-phine and tramadol).

Changes in Hydrocodone Misuse Exposures Reported to U.S. Poison Centers Following Rescheduling in 2014.

Background: In 2014, the Drug Enforcement Administration rescheduled hydrocodone combination products to Schedule II to reduce nonmedical use and diversion.

Methods: The impact of rescheduling was assessed using quarterly data from 2011 through 2019 from the Researched Abuse, Diversion and Addiction-Related Surveillance (RADARS) System Poison Center Program and IQVIA Longitudinal Prescription Data. Trends and immediate changes in prescriptions dispensed and misuse exposures before and after rescheduling involving hydrocodone, oxycodone, and other Schedule II opioid analgesics were calculated using segmented regression.