Composite measure to assess efficacy/gastrointestinal tolerability of tapentadol ER versus oxycodone CR for chronic pain: Pooled analysis of randomized studies

To evaluate a composite measure for chronic pain that balances pain relief with tolerability.Post hoc meta-analysis of three randomized, multicenter, double-blind studies.Subjects with moderate-to-severe chronic osteoarthritis knee pain or low back pain who had been randomized to receive active treatment with tapentadol extended release (ER; n = 978) or oxycodone controlled release (CR; n = 999). Twenty-two subjects were excluded, mainly because...