Oxycodone: Uses, Side Effects, Dosages, Precautions
The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of extended-release oxycodone. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. If after increasing the dosage, unacceptable opioid-related adverse reactions are observed (including an increase in pain after a dosage increase), consider reducing the dosage see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS. Adjust the dosage to obtain an appropriate balance between management of pain and opioid-related adverse reactions. Consider prescribing naloxone if the patient has household members (including children) or other close contacts at risk for accidental ingestion or overdose.
Guidelines for Patients
Always tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. Keep oxycodone/acetaminophen out of the reach of children. Oxycodone/acetaminophen is a controlled substance because it can be misused or lead to dependence. Store oxycodone/acetaminophen in a safe place to protect it from theft. The most common side effects of oxycodone/acetaminophen are listed below.
Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while you are taking this medication. Talk to your care team if you are concerned about your fertility. Chewing sugarless gum or sucking hard candy and drinking plenty of water may help. Contact your care team if the problem does not go away or is severe.
Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse
Opioids are sought for nonmedical use and are subject to diversion from legitimate prescribed use. Consider these risks when prescribing or dispensing OXYCONTIN. Strategies to reduce these risks include prescribing the drug in the smallest appropriate quantity and advising the patient on careful storage of the drug during the course of treatment and the proper disposal of unused drug. Contact local state professional licensing board or state-controlled substances authority for information on how to prevent and detect abuse or diversion of this product.
Measure the oral liquid concentrate with the calibrated dropper that comes with the package. Your doctor may have you mix the concentrate with a small amount of liquid or food. Carefully follow the instructions and take the medicine mixture right away.
Overdose Information for Oxycontin
- Call your healthcare provider right away or go to the nearest emergency room if you have any of the following serious symptoms.
- Patients who experience breakthrough pain may require a dosage adjustment of OXYCONTIN or may need rescue medication with an appropriate dose of an immediate-release analgesic.
- Despite these measures, oxycodone remains a vital tool for pain management when used responsibly.
- This can happen even when used as directed by your care team.
However, specific CNS opioid receptors for endogenous compounds with opioid-like activity have been identified throughout the brain and spinal cord and are thought to play a role in the analgesic effects of this drug. OXYCONTIN may impair the mental or physical abilities needed to perform potentially hazardous activities such as driving a car or operating machinery. Warn patients not to drive or operate dangerous machinery unless they are tolerant to the effects of OXYCONTIN and know how they will react to the medication. OXYCONTIN is formulated with inactive ingredients intended to make the tablet more difficult to manipulate for misuse and abuse.
- For clinically significant respiratory or circulatory depression secondary to oxycodone overdose, administer an opioid antagonist.
- Do not take more than 4,000 mg of acetaminophen per day from all sources.
- In controlled pharmacokinetic studies in elderly subjects (greater than 65 years) the clearance of oxycodone was slightly reduced.
- To guard against excessive exposure to OXYCONTIN by young children, advise caregivers to strictly adhere to recommended OXYCONTIN dosing.
- Some patients may develop tolerance for Oxycontin and need to be slowly weaned off the drug.
Does oxycodone/acetaminophen interact with foods or drinks?
Your doctor may want you to gradually reduce the amount you are using oxycodone uses side effects precautions before stopping it completely. This may help prevent worsening of your condition and reduce the possibility of withdrawal symptoms, such as stomach cramps, anxiety, fever, nausea, restlessness, runny nose, sweating, tremors, or trouble sleeping. Oxycodone can cause serious unwanted effects if taken by adults who are not used to strong opioid pain medicines, children, or pets. Make sure you store the medicine in a safe and secure place to prevent others from getting it. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor’s orders or the directions on the label.
Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should take oxycodone/acetaminophen while you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. If you take oxycodone/acetaminophen on a regular basis during pregnancy, your baby may have opioid withdrawal symptoms that can be life-threatening. Tell your healthcare provider if you took oxycodone/acetaminophen during your pregnancy, especially near the end of your pregnancy. Oxycodone/acetaminophen tablets can cause hyperalgesia and allodynia. Allodynia is a condition where things that do not usually cause you pain, cause you pain, such as wearing glasses or brushing your hair.
Following intravenous administration, the steady-state volume of distribution (Vss) for oxycodone was 2.6 L/kg. Oxycodone binding to plasma protein at 37°C and a pH of 7.4 was about 45%. Once absorbed, oxycodone is distributed to skeletal muscle, liver, intestinal tract, lungs, spleen, and brain. Oxycodone has been found in breast milk see Use In Specific Populations.
Description for Oxycontin
The 30 mg tablets also contain polysorbate 80, red iron oxide, yellow iron oxide, and black iron oxide. The 20 mg tablets also contain polysorbate 80 and red iron oxide. Get medical help right away, if you have any of the symptoms listed above.
Monitor neonates exposed to opioid analgesics during labor for signs of excess sedation and respiratory depression. Inform patients of the risk of life-threatening respiratory depression, including information that the risk is greatest when starting OXYCONTIN or when the dosage is increased, and that it can occur even at recommended dosages. There are no well-controlled clinical studies evaluating the safety and efficacy with dosing more frequently than every 12 hours. As a guideline for pediatric patients 11 years and older, the total daily oxycodone dosage usually can be increased by 25% of the current total daily dosage. As a guideline for adults, the total daily oxycodone dosage usually can be increased by 25% to 50% of the current total daily dosage, each time an increase is clinically indicated.
In order to avoid developing withdrawal symptoms, instruct patients not to discontinue OXYCONTIN without first discussing a tapering plan with the prescriber see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION. The oxycodone in OXYCONTIN may cause spasm of the sphincter of Oddi. Regularly evaluate patients with biliary tract disease, including acute pancreatitis, for worsening symptoms. Abuse or misuse of OXYCONTIN by crushing, chewing, snorting, or injecting the dissolved product will result in the uncontrolled delivery of oxycodone and can result in overdose and death see OVERDOSE. Infants born to mothers physically dependent on opioids will also be physically dependent and may exhibit respiratory difficulties and withdrawal signs see Use In Specific Populations. Proper assessment of the patient, proper prescribing practices, periodic reevaluation of therapy, and proper dispensing and storage are appropriate measures that help to limit abuse of opioid drugs.
Risks Of Use In Patients With Increased Intracranial Pressure, Brain Tumors, Head Injury, Or Impaired Consciousness
Make sure you or your caregiver know when and how to use naloxone. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you have any questions. Because of these risks, reserve concomitant prescribing of these drugs for use in patients for whom alternative treatment options are inadequate.
Oxycodone is sold under many names, including Xtampza ER, Oxycontin, and Roxybond. An active ingredient in other formulations of opioids, in its pure form, oxycodone, is usually a tablet or capsule, though it may be prescribed in liquid form. Throw away any unused or expired oxycodone/acetaminophen by taking the medicine to a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) collection site or a medicine take-back program. You can also flush oxycodone/acetaminophen down the toilet.
To find out how this drug might interact with something else you’re taking, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Oxycodone immediate-release tablets are available as generic drugs. There is no generic version of the extended-release tablets. Generic drugs usually cost less than the brand-name version. In some cases, they may not be available in every strength or form as the brand-name drug.