Oxycodone Information

Oxycodone Immediate Release: 5 mg Capsules (OxyIR)

Oxycodone:

• Tablets- 5 mg (Roxicodone, Supeudol)
• Controlled-release tablets- 10, 20, 40 mg (OxyContin)
• Oral solution- 5 mg/5 ml in 500 ml bottle (Roxicodone)
• Concentrated oral solution- 20 mg/ml in 30 ml bottle with dropper (Roxicodone Intensol)
• Suppositories- 10 mg (Supeudol) (Canada)
• 20 mg (Supeudol) (Canada)

Oxycodone/Acetaminophen:

• Tablets- 5 mg oxycodone with 325 mg acetaminophen (Endocet, Oxycet, Percocet, Roxicet)
• Capsules- 5 mg oxycodone with 500 mg acetaminophen (Roxilox, Tylox)
• Caplets- 5 mg oxycodone with 500 mg acetaminophen (Roxicet 5/500)
• Oral Solution- 5 mg oxycodone with 325 mg acetaminophen/5 ml (Roxicet Solution) in 500 ml bottles

Oxycodone/Aspirin:

• Tablets- 2.44 mg oxycodone with 325 mg aspirin (Percodan-Demi)
• 4.88 mg oxycodone with 325 mg aspirin (Endodan, Oxycodan, Percodan, Roxiprin)
• Do not crush tablets. Must be taken whole.

Oxycodone is used to relieve moderate to moderate-to-severe pain. It also is used to relieve postpartum, postoperative, and dental pain.

This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Oxycodone comes as a liquid and tablet to take by mouth. It usually is taken every 6 hours as needed; extended-release (long-acting) tablets usually are taken every 12 hours. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take oxycodone exactly as directed.

Swallow the extended-release tablet whole. Do not chew, break, or crush extended-release oxycodone tablets.

Oxycodone can be habit-forming. Do not take a larger dose, take it more often, or for a longer period than your doctor tells you to. If you have been taking oxycodone for more than a few weeks, do not stop taking oxycodone suddenly. Your doctor probably will decrease your dose gradually.

Before taking oxycodone,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to oxycodone, codeine, sulfites (some preparations of oxycodone contain sulfites and may cause allergic reactions), or any other drugs. If you are allergic to aspirin, tell your doctor and do not take any aspirin and oxycodone combination product (e.g., Percodan, Endodan, Oxycodan, Roxiprin).
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially other pain relievers; antidepressants; medications for cough, cold, allergies, dizziness, nausea, motion sickness; or schizophrenia; sedatives; sleeping pills; tranquilizers; and vitamins.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had hypothyroidism, Addison's disease, urethral stricture, prostatic hypertrophy, or lung or liver disease.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking oxycodone, call your doctor.
• if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking oxycodone.
• you should know that this drug may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this drug affects you.
• remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this drug.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Although side effects from oxycodone are not common, they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• upset stomach
• constipation
• dry mouth

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• rapid or slow heartbeat
• trouble breathing
• hives
• skin rash
• hallucinations
• yellowing of the skin or eyes
• headache
• vomiting
• dizziness

 What storage conditions are needed for this medicine?

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Dispose of any medication that is outdated or no longer needed by flushing it down the toilet. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.

You may notice oxycodone tablets in your stool or colostomy bag. These tablets are empty, since the the medication has already been absorbed.

Keep all appointments with your doctor.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

Ceiling: Oxycodone itself, by definition of the opioid drug, does not have a ceiling. However, acetaminophen and aspirin doses should not exceed physician's dose/day.

Opioids:

Opioids are commonly prescribed because of their analgesic or pain relieving properties. Taken exactly as prescribed, opioids can be used to manage pain, however, any deviation from instructions can lead to addiction, which is defined as compulsive, often uncontrollable use.

Among the drugs that fall within this class - sometimes referred to as narcotics - are morphine, codeine, and related drugs. Morphine is often used before or after surgery to alleviate severe pain. Codeine is used for milder pain. Other examples of opioids that can be prescribed to alleviate pain include oxycodone (OxyContin-an oral, controlled release form of the drug); propoxyphene (Darvon); hydrocodone (Vicodin); hydromorphone (Dilaudid); and meperidine (Demerol), which is used less often because of its side effects. In addition to their pain relieving properties, some of these drugs are used to relieve severe diarrhea (Lomotil, for example, which is diphenoxylate) or severe coughs (codeine).

Opioids act by attaching to specific proteins called opioid receptors, which are found in the brain, spinal cord, and gastrointestinal tract. When these drugs attach to certain opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord they can block the transmission of pain messages to the brain.

In addition to relieving pain, opioid drugs can affect regions of the brain that mediate what we perceive as pleasure, resulting in the initial euphoria that many opioids produce. They can also produce drowsiness, cause constipation, and, depending upon the amount of drug taken, depress breathing. Taking a large single dose could cause severe respiratory depression or be fatal.

Opioids may interact with other drugs and are only safe to use with other drugs under a physician's supervision. Typically, they should not be used with substances such as alcohol, antihistamines, barbiturates, or benzodiazepines. These drugs slow down breathing, and their combined effects could risk life-threatening respiratory depression.

Chronic use of opioids can result in tolerance to the drugs so that higher doses must be taken to obtain the same initial effects. Long-term use also can lead to physical dependence - the body adapts to the presence of the drug and withdrawal symptoms occur if use is reduced abruptly.

Symptoms of withdrawal can include restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps ("cold turkey"), and involuntary leg movements.