Tapentadol hydrochloride 100 mg (Palexia) is an opioid pain medicine. A narcotic is another term for an opioid. Tapentadol is a prescription drug that is used to treat moderate-to-severe pain.
The extended-release form of tapentadol, known as Nucynta ER, is used to treat pain that cannot be controlled with medicines. The extended-release form of tapentadol is not for use on an as-needed basis for pain.