What is oxycodone, and what is it used for?
Brand names: OxyContin, Roxicodone, Oxecta, Oxaydo, Xtampza ER, Roxybond
Generic: oxycodone
- Oxycodone is a strong narcotic pain-reliever and cough suppressant similar to morphine, codeine, and hydrocodone. The precise mechanism of action (how it works) is not known, but it may involve stimulation of opioid receptors in the brain.
- Oxycodone does not eliminate the sensation of pain but decreases discomfort by increasing the tolerance to pain. In addition to tolerance to pain, oxycodone also causes sedation and depression of respiration.
- Oxycodone is prescribed for the management of pain severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock, long-term treatment with a narcotic, and for which alternative treatment options are inadequate for the relief of moderate to severe pain.
What are the side effects of oxycodone?
The most frequent side effects of oxycodone include:
Other side effects of oxycodone include:
- Faintness
- Heart attack
- Rash
- Itching
- Depression
- Abnormal heartbeats
- Agitation
- Seizures
- Urinary retention
Is oxycodone addictive?
- Oxycodone is habit forming. Mental and physical dependence can occur but are unlikely when used for short-term pain relief.
- If oxycodone is suddenly withdrawn after prolonged use, symptoms of withdrawal may develop.
- The dose of oxycodone should be gradually reduced in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
What is the dosage for oxycodone?
- The usual starting dose using immediate release oxycodone tablets is 5 to 30 mg every 4 to 6 hours. Patients who have never received opioids should start with 5-15 mg every 4 to 6 hours. Some patients may require 30 mg or more every 4 hours.
- The usual starting dose using extended release tablets is 10 mg every 12 hours. Extended release tablets are used when around-the-clock treatment is required for an extended period. Extended release tablets should be swallowed whole, broken, crushed, or chewed. Breaking, crushing, or chewing extended release tablets may lead to rapid absorption of the drug and dangerous levels of oxycodone.
- Patients who have been using opioids and have become tolerant to opioid therapy should only use the 60 and 80 tablets or single doses greater than 40 mg. Administration of large doses to opioid-naïve patients may lead to profound depressed breathing. The usual adult dose for the oral solution (5 mg/5 ml) is 10-30 mg every 4 hours.

QUESTION
Medically speaking, the term "myalgia" refers to what type of pain? See AnswerWhich drugs interact with oxycodone?
- Oxycodone, like other narcotic pain-relievers, increases the effects of drugs that slow brain function, such as:
- Alcohol
- Barbiturates
- Skeletal muscle relaxants, for example, carisoprodol (Soma), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)
- Benzodiazepines, for example, lorazepam (Ativan)
- Combined use of the above drugs and oxycodone may lead to increased respiratory depression.
- Oxycodone should not be taken with any of the monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) class of antidepressants, for example, isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), selegiline (Eldepryl), and procarbazine (Matulane) or other drugs that inhibit monoamine oxidase, for example, linezolid (Zyvox). Such combinations may lead to confusion, high blood pressure, tremor, hyperactivity, coma, and death. Oxycodone should not be administered within 14 days of stopping an MAOI.
- Since oxycodone causes constipation, the use of antidiarrheals, for example, diphenoxylate and atropine (Lomotil) and loperamide (Imodium), in persons taking oxycodone, can lead to severe constipation.
- Drugs that stimulate and block opioid receptors for example, pentazocine, nalbuphine (Nubain), butorphanol (Stadol), and buprenorphine (Subutex) may reduce the effect of oxycodone and may precipitate withdrawal symptoms.
- Combining oxycodone with drugs that affect activity of certain liver enzymes or discontinuing such drugs may result in fatal oxycodone overdose.
- A fatty meal may increase the absorption of oxycodone by 27%.
Oxycodone contraindications, pregnancy and breastfeeding safety
- Oxycodone is used with caution in the elderly, debilitated patients, and in patients with serious lung disease because it can depress breathing.
- Oxycodone can impair thinking and the physical abilities required for driving or operating machinery.
- Safety during pregnancy has not been established. Children born to mothers who were taking oxycodone for a prolonged period may exhibit respiratory depression or withdrawal symptoms.
- Small amounts of oxycodone are secreted in breast milk, which may cause side effects in the newborn.
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Summary
Oxycodone (brand names OxyContin, Roxicodone, Oxecta, Oxaydo, Xtampza ER, Roxybond) is a narcotic pain-reliever prescribed for moderate to moderately severe pain. Some side effects include lightheadedness, dizziness, sedation, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, and constipation. Drug interactions, dosing, and pregnancy and breastfeeding information should be reviewed prior to taking this medication.
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- Doctor: Checklist to Take To Your Doctor's Appointment
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- Pain Management: OTC NSAIDs - Doctors Dialogue
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- Fentanyl Overdose Deaths Double in a Year
- Opioid Overdoses Burden U.S. Hospitals: Report
- Opioids No Better Than Ibuprofen for Pain After Car Crash: Study
- Self-Harm a Cause of Death During Pregnancy and for New Moms
- DEA Puts Quota on Production of Opioid Painkillers
- Codeine Not Safe for Kids, Pediatricians Warn
- Do States With Medical Marijuana Have Less Opioid Abuse?
- FDA: Opioids Plus Sedatives Pose Fatal OD Risk
- Non-addictive Painkiller Shows Promise in Animal Trials
- Opioid Abusers Missing Out on Addiction-Fighting Drug
- Common Surgeries Raise Risk for Opioid Dependence: Study
- Does Medical Marijuana Reduce Need for Other Meds?
- Programs to Spot Painkiller Abuse Work, But Are Underused
- Prince Died From Potent Prescription Painkiller: Autopsy
- Parents Often Don't Get Rid of Leftover Prescription Opioids
- What a Change in DEA's Pot Rules Might Mean for Medical Research
- Vivitrol Cuts Relapse Risk in Opioid Addicts
- Nearly All U.S. Doctors 'Overprescribe' Addictive Narcotic Painkillers: Survey
- FDA Wants Generic Narcotic Painkillers to Be Abuse-Deterrent
- Did Painkiller Crackdown Cause Heroin Epidemic?
- Opioids: What Patients -- and Doctors -- Think
- Prescriptions Continue for Most Who Survive Painkiller ODs: Study
- Florida 'Pill Mill' Crackdown May Have Curbed Painkiller ODs
- Drug Overdoses Hit Record High: CDC
- Primary Care Docs the Leading Prescribers of Narcotic Painkillers: Study
- Prescription Naproxen as Good as Narcotic Painkillers for Low Back Pain: Study
- Americans Concerned About Prescription Painkiller Addiction
- Kids' ER Visits for Medicine Overdoses Dropping: Report
- Dentists Drill Patients for Drug Abuse Information
- Florida Laws May Help Lower Abuse of Prescription Painkillers
- 25 Million U.S. Adults Struggle With Daily Pain
- FDA OKs OxyContin for Some Children
- Back Pain and Depression Combo Lessens Pain Relief from Narcotic Painkillers
- Painkiller Overdoses Often Involve 'Pharmacy Shopping'
- Who's Most Likely to Get Addicted to Their Narcotic Painkiller?
- Many Doctors Underestimate Risks of Prescription Painkillers: Survey
- 'Friends and Family' OD-Reversal Kits Are Saving Addicts' Lives
- It May Soon Be Possible to Easily 'Brew' Narcotics
- ER Doctors Cautious When Prescribing Narcotic Painkillers: Study
- More U.S. Newborns Enduring Drug Withdrawal: Study
- Narcotic Painkillers in Pregnancy Common, Harmful to Baby: Study
- One-Quarter of Narcotic Painkillers Misused, Study Shows
- Painkiller-Addicted Babies a Growing U.S. Concern, Especially in Fla.
- Many Women of Childbearing Age Take Narcotic Painkillers: CDC
- Drug Interactions Common Among Hospitalized Kids, Study Says
- Painkiller Tramadol Linked to Low Blood Sugar
- Number of Pregnant Women on Narcotic Painkillers, Heroin Doubles, Study Finds
- Almost 1 in 5 Americans Plagued by Constant Pain, Survey Suggests
- Heroin Overdose Deaths Doubled in Much of U.S.: CDC Study
- Doctors' Group Issues Painkiller Guidelines
- Deaths From Narcotic Painkillers Quadrupled in Past Decade: CDC
- Small Number of Drugs Behind Kids' Accidental Poisonings: CDC
- U.S. Hospitals See Big Rise in Drug-Related Suicide Attempts
- Tough-to-Abuse Formulation of Oxycodone Approved
- FDA Approves Hard-to-Abuse Narcotic Painkiller
- Prescriptions for Powerful Painkillers Vary Widely Among States: CDC
- Injuries, Violence Are Leading Causes of Death for Young Americans
- Today's Heroin Abusers Often Middle-Class Suburbanites: Study
- Sharp Rise in ER Visits Tied to Abuse of Sedative, Study Finds
- Saturday Is National Drug Take-Back Day
- Too Much Codeine Still Prescribed to U.S. Kids: Study
- More ERs Treating Headaches With Narcotics, Study Finds
- Longer Detox Might Work Better for Prescription Pain Med Addiction
- Stress Leads Some Doctors to Abuse Prescription Drugs, Study Says
- FDA Announces New Safety Measures for Narcotic Painkillers
- Some Painkillers Tied to Certain Birth Defects in Study
- Most Medications OK During Breast-Feeding, Report Says
- Most Docs OK With Medical Marijuana: Survey
- Erectile Dysfunction Tied to Long-Term Narcotic Use in Men
- Vaccine to Fight Heroin Addiction Shows Promise in Rats
- FDA Approves 'Abuse-Deterrent' Label for New Oxycontin
- Medical Marijuana: Voodoo or Legitimate Therapeutic Choice?
- Program to Spot Painkiller ODs Saves Lives: Study
- FDA Panel Weighs Tougher Restrictions on Some Prescription Painkillers
- Painkiller Abuse by Kids Way Up, Study Finds
- 'Abuse-Resistant' Oxycontin May Be Driving Addicts to Heroin
- Teach Prescribers About Dangers of Long-Acting Pain Meds: FDA
- Methadone for Pain Relief Leading Cause of Fatal Overdoses: CDC
- Chronic Abuse of Prescription Drugs Skyrocketing
- Genes May Influence Reactions to Painkillers
- More Mental Health Woes in College Kids Who Abuse Prescription Drugs
- Mental Health Woes Raise Odds for Prescription Painkiller Abuse
- Kids Most Likely to Start Abusing Painkillers at 16: Study
- Health Highlights: April 5, 2012
- Seniors' Long-Term Use of Strong Painkillers a Concern
- More Newborns Suffering Drug Withdrawal at Birth
- Bufferin, Excedrin, NoDoz, Gas-X Recalled
- Deaths From Drug Poisoning in the U.S Jump by Sixfold
- 40 U.S. Deaths a Day from Prescription Painkillers
- Surge in Number of Americans Treated for Prescription Painkiller Abuse
- FDA Launches Painkiller Abuse Strategy
- Drug-Related Poisonings Land Many in ER
- FDA Warns of Acetaminophen in Prescription Pain Drugs
- New Pain Drug May Be Alternative to Oxycodone
- Survey Reveals Rx Drug Abuse by Teens
- Drug Tests Often Trigger False Positives

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