Frequency of adverse events among users of talwin Nx

We used the automated data files at Group Health Cooperative to identify 1587 outpatient users of oral Talwin, Nx, a combination of pentazocine and naloxone. The clinical records of the Talwin users were reviewed to determine the occurrence of adverse events which were noted in the record in the four weeks after receipt of the drug. The overall rate of adverse events was 8.7 per cent with 6.7 per cent being directly attributed to the effect of Talwin Nx. Gastrointestinal effects were the most common adverse effect and were reported by 3.7 per cent of the patients. Hallucinations, the most serious effect, were experienced by 10 (0.6 per cent) recipients of the drug. None of the subjects in the study had any long‐term effect. Among those who received higher doses, the rate of adverse events was higher than it was for those who received lower doses. Compared to our previous study of oral pentazocine in hospitalized patients, Talwin Nx had a similar rate of hallucinations and a higher rate of gastrointestinal side‐effects.