Pentazocine

Take pentazocine exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The Pentazocine dose your doctor recommends will be based on the following (use any or all that apply):

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication
• your weight
• your height
• your age
• your gender

Pentazocine is available in the following doses:

• Pentazocine 30 Mg/ml Injectable Solution

Pentazocine is an opioid pain medication. An opioid is sometimes called a narcotic.

Pentazocine is used to treat moderate to severe pain. It is also used as part of anesthesia for surgery.

Pentazocine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

• If you need to store pentazocine at home, talk with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about how to store it.

• Pentazocine Lactate

• Talwin

IM, SubQ: 15 to 20 minutes; IV: 2 to 3 minutes; Oral [Canadian product]: 15 to 30 minutes

Time to Peak

Oral [Canadian product]: 1 to 3 hours

There are no dosage adjustments provided in the manufacturer’s labeling. However, dosage adjustment may be necessary due to decreased metabolism and predisposition to adverse effects. Use with caution.

Injection: Store at 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F).

Tablets [Canadian product]: Store at 15°C to 30°C (59°F to 86°F).

Applies to pentazocine: injection solution

Along with its needed effects, pentazocine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking pentazocine:

• Black, tarry stools
• blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
• chest pain
• chills
• cough
• diarrhea
• fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
• fever
• itching
• joint or muscle pain
• painful or difficult urination
• red, irritated eyes
• red skin lesions, often with a purple center
• shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
• sore throat
• sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
• swelling or puffiness of the face
• swollen glands
• trembling or shaking of the hands or feet
• trouble breathing
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• unusual tiredness or weakness

• Blistering, crusting, irritation, itching, or reddening of the skin
• blue-green to black skin discoloration
• bluish lips or skin
• blurred vision
• burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
• cold, clammy skin
• confusion
• cough
• cracked, dry, or scaly skin
• decrease in the frequency of urination
• decrease in urine volume
• depression
• difficult or troubled breathing
• difficulty in passing urine (dribbling)
• dizziness
• fainting
• fast or slow heartbeat
• fast, weak pulse
• flushed skin
• hardening or thickening of the skin
• headache
• increased sweating
• irregular, fast, slow, or shallow breathing
• lightheadedness
• nervousness
• pain, redness, or sloughing of the skin at the injection site
• pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin
• pounding in the ears
• rapid breathing
• small lumps under the skin at the injection site
• stinging at the injection site
• sweating
• swelling of the lower legs or arms
• tightness in the chest
• very slow breathing
• weight gain

Some side effects of pentazocine may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

• False or unusual sense of well-being
• nausea
• vomiting

• Change in taste
• confusion about identity, place, and time
• constricted, pinpoint, or small pupils (black part of the eye)
• double vision
• seeing double seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
• stomach cramps
• trouble sleeping
• uncontrolled eye movements

• Continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
• difficulty having a bowel movement (stool)
• difficulty in focusing the eyes
• disturbed dreams
• drowsiness
• dry mouth
• excitement
• hearing loss
• irritability
• relaxed and calm
• sleepiness
• trouble sleeping
• weakness

Elderly patients may be more sensitive to the analgesic effects of pentazocine than younger patients.

Because of possible severe tissue damage at injection sites, the subcutaneous route of administration should be used only when necessary.

Pentazocine should be administered with caution to patients with renal or hepatic impairment. Extensive liver disease has been reported to predispose patients to greater side effects from the usual clinical dose.