Oxycodone

Generic name: Oxycodone

Drug class: Opioids (narcotic analgesics)

Dosage forms: Tablets, Capsules, Solution

Root of administration: Oral

Dose: 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 60, 80 mg

Mechanism of action: Oxycodone is an opioid pain medication sometimes called a narcotic.

Drug usage cases: Oxycodone is used to treat moderate to severe pain. The extended-release form of oxycodone is for around-the-clock treatment of pain and should not be used on an as-needed basis for pain.

Drug contra indications: You should not use oxycodone if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

severe asthma or breathing problems; or a blockage in your stomach or intestines. You should not use this medicine if you are already using a similar opioid medicine and are tolerant to it. Do not use this medicine if you have used a MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, or tranylcypromine or have received a methylene blue injection. Most brands of oxycodone are not approved for use in people under the age of 18. OxyContin should not be given to a child younger than 11 years old. To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

breathing problems, sleep apnea; a head injury, brain tumor, or seizures; drug or alcohol addiction, or mental illness; lung disease; liver or kidney disease; thyroid disorder; adrenal disease (such as Addison’s disease; urination problems; or problems with your gallbladder or pancreas.

Side effects: Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to oxycodone: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Opioid medicine, including oxycodone, can slow or stop your breathing, and death may occur. A person caring for you should give naloxone and/or seek emergency medical attention if you have slow breathing with long pauses, blue colored lips, or if you are hard to wake up. Call your doctor at once if you have:

noisy breathing, sighing, shallow breathing, breathing that stops during sleep; a slow heart rate or weak pulse; cold, clammy skin; a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out; confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior; seizure (convulsions); low cortisol levels – nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dizziness, worsening tiredness or weakness; or high levels of serotonin in the body – agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, shivering, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Serious breathing problems may be more likely in older adults and in those who are debilitated or have wasting syndrome or chronic breathing disorders. Long-term use of opioid medication, such as oxycodone, may affect fertility (ability to have children) in men or women. It is not known whether opioid effects on fertility are permanent.

Warnings: You should not use oxycodone if you have severe asthma or breathing problems, or a blockage in your stomach or intestines. MISUSE OF OPIOID MEDICINE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it. Taking oxycodone during pregnancy may cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the newborn. Fatal side effects can occur if you use opioid medicine with alcohol, or with other drugs that cause drowsiness or slow your breathing. Oxycodone can slow or stop your breathing. This is more likely in elderly or ill patients, but can occur in anyone taking this medicine.

Use during pregnancy or breastfeeding: If you use opioid medicine while you are pregnant, your baby could become dependent on the drug. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after it is born. Babies born dependent on opioids may need medical treatment for several weeks. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant before using oxycodone. If you become pregnant while taking oxycodone, do not stop your medication suddenly without talking to your doctor. You may need to decrease your medicine gradually. Ask a doctor before using oxycodone if you are breastfeeding. Tell your doctor if you notice severe drowsiness or slow breathing in the nursing baby.