← Search & browse all drugs
NERVOUS SYSTEM › ANALGESICS › OPIOIDS › Natural opium alkaloids
oxycodone
N02AA05
Forms & Strengths
- Oral Tablet: 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg
- Oral Capsule: 5 mg
- Oral Solution: 5 mg/5 mL, 100 mg/5 mL (20 mg/mL)
- Extended-Release Tablet (OxyContin): 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg, 80 mg
Adult Dosing
- Immediate-Release (IR): 5 to 15 mg orally every 4 to 6 hours as needed for acute pain
- Extended-Release (ER): 10 mg orally every 12 hours for opioid-tolerant patients; titrate cautiously
Pediatric Dosing
- Not recommended for pediatric patients under 11 years of age for acute pain due to safety and pharmacokinetic concerns
- Adolescents (≥12 years): IR 5 mg orally every 6 hours as needed for moderate to severe pain
Indications
- Management of moderate to severe acute pain severe enough to require an opioid and for which alternative treatments are inadequate
- Management of chronic, continuous around-the-clock moderate to severe pain (ER formulation only) when alternative options are insufficient
Mechanism of Action
- Full opioid agonist acting primarily at the mu-opioid receptor in the central nervous system
- Inhibits ascending pain pathways, alters perception of and response to pain, and produces central nervous system depression
Contraindications
- Significant respiratory depression
- Acute or severe bronchial asthma in an unmonitored setting or in the absence of resuscitative equipment
- Known or suspected gastrointestinal obstruction, including paralytic ileus
- Hypersensitivity to oxycodone
Adverse Reactions
- Respiratory depression
- Somnolence, dizziness, headache
- Constipation, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain
- Pruritus, sweating
- Hypotension, dependence, tolerance, and opioid withdrawal syndrome
Drug Interactions
- Concomitant use with CNS depressants (e.g., alcohol, benzodiazepines, sedatives) increases risk of profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death
- CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 inhibitors (e.g., macrolide antibiotics, azole antifungals, SSRIs) may increase oxycodone plasma concentrations
- CYP3A4 inducers (e.g., rifampin, carbamazepine, St. John's wort) may decrease oxycodone efficacy
- Serotonergic drugs: concomitant use with SSRIs, SNRIs, or MAO inhibitors increases risk of serotonin syndrome
Curated Content: Needs Vetting Before Put to Clinical Use