Nefopam
About Nefopam
Nefopam is an oral prescription medication that helps relieve moderate to severe acute pain when standard over-the-counter pain medicines are not enough. It is prescribed to improve comfort and support a smoother recovery.
To get the best results, it is important to take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. It can be taken with or without food, though taking it with a meal may help reduce minor stomach irritation. Light physical activity and staying well hydrated may also support your recovery.
While taking Nefopam, you may experience common, mild side effects like a dry mouth, lightheadedness, or feeling sick. These symptoms usually go away on their own, but contact your doctor promptly, if you experience serious issues like confusion, a rapid heart rate, or difficulty passing urine.
Before starting this medication, talk to your doctor if you have a history of seizures, glaucoma, or problems emptying your bladder. Do not take this medicine if you have epilepsy or are currently experiencing acute urinary retention, as it can worsen these conditions.
This medicine can interact with alcohol, which dramatically increases drowsiness, and certain other medications, so you should discuss all current treatments with your pharmacist. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or over the age of 65, consult your doctor to ensure this treatment is safe for your specific needs.
Availability of Nefopam may vary between countries and formulations. Your doctor will prescribe it only when considered appropriate for your condition.
Uses of Nefopam
Medicinal Benefits
Nefopam helps relieve moderate to severe pain, making it easier to move comfortably and carry out your daily activities. As your pain improves, you may find it easier to participate in physical therapy and recover more comfortably.
Key benefits include:
- Non-opioid pain relief: Provides effective pain relief without the high risk of physical dependence, severe constipation, or breathing difficulties commonly associated with opioid medicines.
- Improved mobility: Helps reduce pain, making it easier to move, perform daily tasks, and take part in rehabilitation exercises.
- Flexible use: Can be taken with or without food, allowing you to fit it easily into your daily routine as directed by your doctor.
Directions for Use
- Nefopam can be taken with or without food.
- It is usually taken 3 times a day at the same time or as prescribed by your doctor.
- Swallow Nefopam as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not break, chew, or crush it.
Storage
Side Effects of Nefopam
Common Side Effects (Usually mild)
- Feeling sick (nausea) or vomiting
- Dry mouth
- Feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or sleepy
- Increased sweating
- A slightly faster heart rate
Serious Side Effects (Call a doctor right away)
- Difficulty passing urine or being unable to empty your bladder
- Convulsions or fits (seizures)
- Feeling confused, anxious, or seeing things that are not there (hallucinations)
- Chest tightness or a pounding, irregular heartbeat
- Signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, lips, or throat, skin rash, or difficulty breathing
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Avoid driving or operating machinery: This medication can cause dizziness, drowsiness, and blurred vision. Do not drive or perform potentially dangerous tasks until you know exactly how this medicine affects you.
- Monitor your heart rate: Since this medicine can increase your heart rate, let your doctor know if you experience a racing heart or palpitations while resting.
- Check for urinary changes: If you have difficulty passing urine or cannot empty your bladder completely, contact your doctor promptly. Do not stop taking the medicine on your own unless your doctor advises you to do so.
- Avoid sudden movements: To prevent dizziness or fainting when rising from a sitting or lying position, stand up slowly and steady yourself for a moment.
- Consult before surgery: If you are scheduled for any surgical procedures or dental work, inform the surgeon or dentist that you are taking Nefopam.
Drug Interactions
- Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs): Do not take Nefopam if you are taking or have recently taken MAOIs (medicines for depression) within the last 14 days, as this combination can cause dangerously high blood pressure and severe nervous system side effects.
- Tricyclic Antidepressants: Taking these alongside Nefopam can increase the risk of side effects like dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention, and a fast heart rate.
- Other Central Nervous System Depressants: Medicines that cause drowsiness, such as sleeping pills, muscle relaxants, or strong pain relievers, can cause extreme sleepiness when taken with this medication.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeYou are advised not to take alcohol with Nefopam as it can make you dizzier. Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns.
Pregnancy
unsafeNefopam is not recommended for use during pregnancy. Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns.
Breast Feeding
unsafeNefopam is not recommended for use during breastfeeding as it passes in breast milk. Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns.
Driving
cautionNefopam may cause dizziness and drowsiness, which may affect your ability to drive. Drive only if you are alert and focused.
Liver
cautionExercise caution before using Nefopam in case of established liver disease. Please consult your doctor to address any concerns.
Kidney
cautionExercise caution before using Nefopam in case of kidney disease. Please consult your doctor to address any concerns.
Children
unsafeNefopam is not recommended for children below 12 years of age.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Stay well-hydrated: Since this medication can cause a dry mouth and occasionally affect urination, drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated and support kidney function.
- Increase dietary fiber: While this medication is not an opioid, physical inactivity due to pain can cause constipation. Eating fiber-rich foods like vegetables, fruits, and whole grains can help keep your digestion regular.
- Avoid alcohol completely: Alcohol can interact poorly with this medication, significantly increasing drowsiness and the risk of dizziness or falls.
- Pace your physical activity: Gentle movements, such as short walks, can prevent joint stiffness and aid recovery, but avoid strenuous exercise or heavy lifting until your doctor says it is safe.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Pain: Pain is a sensation that occurs in response to external injury, stress, or infection and travels as an impulse through body cells, producing an unpleasant feeling and alerting the body to act. Pain relief in pharmacological terms is called analgesia. Various neurotransmitters and their equilibrium are instrumental in producing pain sensations.
FAQs
Nefopam belongs to the group of analgesics used short-term to relieve moderate to severe pain and inflammation. Nefopam finds practical use as a painkiller for muscular pain, joint pain, and pre or postoperative pain before and after surgery or dental procedure.
Nefopam works by reducing the levels of prostaglandins (inflammatory markers) and relieving the body of inflammation and pain.
Nefopam is not indicated for the treatment of a headache. The causes of a headache can be varied. Please consult your doctor before use.
Avoid taking Nefopam if you are on treatment with antidepressants, such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI's). Please consult your treating doctor if you have any concerns.
Nefopam may cause dry mouth. Limiting caffeine intake, avoiding smoking, drinking water regularly and chewing sugar-free gum/candy might stimulate saliva and prevent mouth drying.
Consult your doctor before taking Nefopam if you have high blood pressure, as Nefopam might cause a decrease in blood pressure.
No, Nefopam is not an opioid or a narcotic. It belongs to a unique class of non-opioid pain relievers that work directly on the nervous system to ease moderate to severe pain without the typical risks of opioid addiction or breathing suppression. Talk to your doctor if you want to learn more about how it compares to other pain treatments.
Yes, in many cases, doctors may prescribe Nefopam alongside other common painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen because they work through different pathways to relieve pain. However, you should never combine medications without checking with your doctor or pharmacist first to ensure it is safe for you.
Typically, you will start to feel the pain-relieving effects of Nefopam within 1 to 2 hours after swallowing the tablet. If your pain does not improve after taking the medication as prescribed, do not take an extra dose; instead, talk to your doctor.
Yes, drowsiness and dizziness are common side effects of this medication. You should avoid driving, operating machinery, or performing any activities that require mental alertness until you know how the medicine affects you. Talk to your doctor if the sleepiness becomes severe or does not go away.
You should avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medication. Alcohol can significantly increase the sleepiness, dizziness, and lightheadedness caused by Nefopam, which increases your risk of falls and other accidents. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about avoiding alcohol.
This medication is generally not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding unless your doctor decides it is absolutely necessary. There is limited safety data on how it affects developing babies. Always talk to your doctor to weigh the risks and benefits before taking this medicine.
Yes, this medication can cause urinary retention, meaning you might find it hard to start urinating or empty your bladder fully. This is especially true for individuals with an enlarged prostate. If you experience difficulty passing urine or cannot empty your bladder completely, contact your doctor promptly. Do not stop taking the medicine unless your doctor advises you to do so.
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