KADIAN vs NUCYNTA

Independent side-by-side comparison.

Rated against independent regulatory sources·Last updated August 14, 2026·How we rate

Possible drug interaction. KADIAN and NUCYNTA are different prescription medicines. Combining or switching between them can cause interactions — talk to a pharmacist or prescriber before making changes. This page is not medical advice.

Attribute	KADIAN	NUCYNTA
Rating	72/100	New
Pharmacy pays	$2.61 /mL	~$342.56 /30
Type	RX	RX
Active ingredient	MORPHINE SULFATE	TAPENTADOL HYDROCHLORIDE
Manufacturer	Allergan	Collegium Pharm Inc
Dosage forms	Capsule, extended release	Tablet
Drug class	Opioid Agonist	Opioid Agonist
Boxed warning	None	None
Half-life	about 2 hours	about 5 hours (terminal half-life, on average, after oral administration)
Treats	Dyspnea, Intractable Pain	Pain

kadian nucynta

Rating

72/100

New

Pharmacy pays

$2.61 /mL

~$342.56 /30

Type

Active ingredient

MORPHINE SULFATE

TAPENTADOL HYDROCHLORIDE

Manufacturer

Allergan

Collegium Pharm Inc

Dosage forms

Capsule, extended release

Tablet

Drug class

Opioid Agonist

Boxed warning

None

Half-life

about 2 hours

about 5 hours (terminal half-life, on average, after oral administration)

Treats

Dyspnea, Intractable Pain

Pain

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Kadian and Nucynta?

Kadian contains Morphine Sulfate, while Nucynta contains Tapentadol Hydrochloride — they have different active ingredients.

Ratings are based on FDA regulatory (recall-safety) data. This comparison is for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional before choosing or switching a medication.