| abstract |
Prodrugs of tapentadol with amino acids or short peptides, pharmaceutical compositions containing such prodrugs and a method for providing pain relief with the tapentadol prodrugs are provided herein. Prodrugs having side chains of valine, leucine, isoleucine and glycine amino acids and mono-, di -and tripeptides thereof are preferred. Additionally, methods for avoiding or minimizing the adverse gastrointestinal side effects associated with tapentadol administration, as well as increasing the oral bioavailability of tapentadol are provided herein. |