NUCYNTA ER vs ULTRAM

Independent side-by-side comparison.

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

Possible drug interaction. NUCYNTA ER and ULTRAM 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	NUCYNTA ER	ULTRAM
Rating	New	70/100
Pharmacy pays	~$342.56 /30	~$0.72 /30
Type	RX	RX
Active ingredient	TAPENTADOL HYDROCHLORIDE	TRAMADOL HYDROCHLORIDE
Manufacturer	Collegium Pharm Inc	Janssen Pharms
Dosage forms	Tablet, extended release	Tablet
Drug class	Opioid Agonist	Opioid Agonist
Boxed warning	Boxed warning	None
Half-life	about 5 hours (terminal half-life, on average, after oral administration)	about 6 hours (mean terminal elimination half-life of tramadol in healthy adults)
Treats	Pain	Pain

nucynta er ultram

Rating

New

70/100

Pharmacy pays

~$342.56 /30

~$0.72 /30

Type

Active ingredient

TAPENTADOL HYDROCHLORIDE

TRAMADOL HYDROCHLORIDE

Manufacturer

Collegium Pharm Inc

Janssen Pharms

Dosage forms

Tablet, extended release

Tablet

Drug class

Opioid Agonist

Boxed warning

None

Half-life

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

about 6 hours (mean terminal elimination half-life of tramadol in healthy adults)

Treats

Pain

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper, Nucynta ER or Ultram?

Ultram costs pharmacies less to acquire — about $0.72 vs $342.56 for a 30-count supply, per the CMS NADAC survey. That gap is in the pharmacy's cost of goods, not necessarily in what you pay: your price is set afterwards by your insurer and the pharmacy.

What is the difference between Nucynta ER and Ultram?

Nucynta ER contains Tapentadol Hydrochloride, while Ultram contains Tramadol 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.