The All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG) has issued a Final Appraisal Recommendation on the use of tapentadol prolonged release (Palexia® SR) for the treatment of severe chronic pain within NHS Wales.

The Group recommends that treatment with tapentadol prolonged release as an option for restricted use, only in the following sub-population within its licensed indication:

“Patients with severe chronic pain, in whom morphine sulphate modified release has failed to provide adequate pain control or is not tolerated.”

The Group does not recommend tapentadol prolonged release for the management of severe chronic pain in adults, which can be adequately managed only with opioid analgesics, outside of the sub-population described above.

The Group was also of the opinion that tapentadol prolonged release should initially be prescribed by a specialist. Prescribing may be continued in primary care within NHS Wales with appropriate communication and specialist input for this indication. The Recommendation defines specialist as “a specialist team or GP with special interest (GPwSI) with appropriate accreditation from the specialist faculty.”

This recommendation only applies to the use of tapentadol prolonged release tablets. A separate AWMSG recommendation regarding tapentadol film-coated tablets is also available.

Further information, including the assessment report, can be accessed via the link below