Oxycodone Hydrochloride

💊 What is Oxycodone Hydrochloride used for?

• •The label says it is used to manage pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic, when alternative treatments are inadequate. The label also says opioid pain medicines should be reserved for people for whom other treatment options are ineffective, not tolerated, or otherwise inadequate.

How it works

The label describes oxycodone as an opioid agonist, which means it is a type of opioid pain medicine. The label text provided does not explain its effects in more detail.

How it is usually taken

• •The label says to take this medicine exactly as prescribed, using the lowest dose possible for the shortest time needed. Doses are taken as needed for pain and spaced out over the day, and you should not take more than prescribed. The label says not to change your dose on your own, and not to stop suddenly if you have been taking it regularly without talking to your healthcare provider. If you miss a dose, the label says to take your next dose at your usual time. If the dose does not control your pain, the label says to call your healthcare provider. Follow the instructions from your prescriber or pharmacist.

Comes as

• •5 mg white, round tablets
• •10 mg light pink, round tablets
• •15 mg light yellow, round tablets
• •20 mg light yellow, round tablets
• •30 mg light yellow, round tablets (flat faced)
• •All strengths are immediate-release tablets. Bottles of 100 or 500 tablets are listed.

⚠️ Oxycodone Hydrochloride side effects

🛑 Who should not take Oxycodone Hydrochloride, and who should be careful

The label says not to take it if

• 🚨You have significant respiratory depression (slowed or troubled breathing).
• 🚨You have severe asthma, trouble breathing, or other lung problems, or acute or severe bronchial asthma in a setting without monitoring or emergency breathing equipment.
• 🚨You have a bowel blockage, known or suspected gastrointestinal obstruction (including paralytic ileus), or narrowing of the stomach or intestines.
• 🚨You have a known allergy or hypersensitivity to oxycodone (the label mentions anaphylaxis as an example).

Tell your doctor before taking it if

• •Tell your healthcare provider about any history of head injury, seizures, or problems urinating.
• •Tell your provider about any history of abuse of street or prescription drugs, alcohol addiction, opioid overdose, or mental health problems.
• •Tell your provider about liver, kidney, or thyroid problems, or pancreas or gallbladder problems.
• •Tell your provider if your pain is getting worse, if you feel more sensitive to pain, or if you have new pain after taking it.
• •Tell your provider if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, or if you are breastfeeding.
• •Tell your provider if you live in a household with small children or someone who has abused street or prescription drugs.
• •Tell your provider about all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements you take.

🔀 Oxycodone Hydrochloride with other medicines, food and alcohol

The label says to discuss these with your doctor or pharmacist

• •Alcohol and products containing alcohol: the label says this can cause you to overdose and die.
• •Benzodiazepines, gabapentinoids (gabapentin or pregabalin), other opioid medicines, and other central nervous system depressants, including street drugs: the label says these can cause severe drowsiness, decreased awareness, breathing problems, coma, and death.
• •CYP3A4 inhibitors, such as macrolide antibiotics (for example erythromycin), azole antifungals (for example ketoconazole), and protease inhibitors (for example ritonavir): these can increase oxycodone levels and prolong opioid effects. The label says that if a CYP3A4 inhibitor is stopped, oxycodone levels may fall.
• •CYP3A4 inducers: these can decrease oxycodone levels, which may reduce effectiveness or cause withdrawal. The label says that if an inducer is stopped, oxycodone levels may rise and may cause serious breathing problems.
• •Prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements can interact, so tell your provider about everything you take.

Alcohol and food

The label says not to drink alcohol or use prescription or over-the-counter medicines that contain alcohol while taking this medicine, because this may cause overdose and death. The label text provided does not give food instructions.

🤰 Oxycodone Hydrochloride in pregnancy and breastfeeding

Pregnancy

The label says this medicine may cause fetal harm. It also says that use for an extended period during pregnancy can cause neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, which may be life-threatening if not recognized and treated. The label states that animal studies did not show teratogenicity at the doses tested, but also that data in pregnant women are insufficient, and it advises that pregnant women be told of the potential risk to a fetus. Discuss pregnancy with your healthcare provider.

Breastfeeding

The label says oxycodone passes into breast milk and may harm a baby. Carefully observe infants for increased sleepiness (more than usual), breathing difficulties, or limpness, and seek immediate medical care if you notice these signs.

🗓️ Storage, missed doses and taking too much

Storage

The label says to store this medicine securely, out of sight and reach of children, and in a location not accessible by others, including visitors to the home. The label text provided does not list a storage temperature. For disposal, the label says to flush expired, unwanted, or unused tablets down the toilet if a drug take-back option is not readily available, and to visit www.fda.gov/drugdisposal for more information.

If a dose is missed

The label says that if you miss a dose, take your next dose at your usual time. Do not take more than your prescribed dose.

If too much is taken

The label says to get emergency help or call 911 right away if you take too much. Signs of acute overdose described in the label include slowed or stopped breathing, sleepiness progressing to stupor or coma, limp muscles, cold and clammy skin, small pupils, and in some cases death. Ask your healthcare provider about medicines such as naloxone or nalmefene that can be used in an emergency to reverse an opioid overdose.

🗒️ Questions to ask about Oxycodone Hydrochloride

• Is this medicine the right choice for my pain, given the other treatments I have tried?
• How will you check my breathing and drowsiness, especially when I start the medicine or my dose changes?
• Which of my current medicines, vitamins, or supplements could interact with this medicine?
• Should I have an opioid overdose reversal medicine such as naloxone at home?
• What should I do if my pain gets worse or the medicine stops controlling it?
• How long do you expect me to need this medicine, and what is the plan for stopping it?
• What is the safest way to dispose of any tablets I do not use?

❓ Oxycodone Hydrochloride: frequently asked questions