Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 31, 2025
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Author Spotlight: Methodologies and Advancements of Chronic Pain Management Research
Published on: January 5, 2024
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Tapentadol and oxycodone affect resting-state functional brain connectivity: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
Suganthiya S Croosu1,2, Jens B Frøkjaer1,2, Asbjørn M Drewes2,3
1Mech-Sense, Department of Radiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.
Summary
This study found that tapentadol and oxycodone, both analgesics, alter brain connectivity differently. Tapentadol enhanced connectivity, while oxycodone decreased it, suggesting distinct mechanisms of action for pain processing.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Radiology
Background:
- Functional brain connectivity changes from analgesics are understudied.
- Clinical pain studies are often confounded by co-medication and comorbidities.
- The thalamus is crucial for sensory processing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in functional brain connectivity between thalamus and other regions in healthy volunteers under oxycodone, tapentadol, or placebo.
- To explore the distinct mechanisms of action of oxycodone (opioid) and tapentadol (opioid and adrenergic).
Main Methods:
- A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study with 21 healthy male volunteers.
- Participants received tapentadol (50 mg ER), oxycodone (10 mg ER), or placebo twice daily for 14 days.
- Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and seed-based functional connectivity analyses centered on the thalamus were employed.
Main Results:
- Tapentadol significantly increased functional connectivity between the left thalamus and precentral cortex compared to placebo (P = .048).
- Oxycodone significantly decreased functional connectivity between bilateral thalamus and the anterior cingulate cortex compared to placebo (P ≤ .005).
Conclusions:
- Tapentadol and oxycodone treatments induced differential changes in thalamic functional connectivity compared to placebo.
- These findings support distinct mechanisms of action for tapentadol and oxycodone in pain processing.
- Further validation with larger sample sizes is warranted.
