• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Clinical Info
• Interactions

What is oxycodone?
Oxycodone is in a group of drugs called narcotic pain relievers. It is similar to morphine. Oxycodone is used to treat moderate to severe pain. The extended-release form of this medication is for around-the-clock treatment of pain. Oxycodone is not for treating pain just after a surgery unless you were already taking oxycodone before the surgery. Oxycodone may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

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What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.

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What are the possible side effects of oxycodone?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• shallow breathing, slow heartbeat;

• seizure (convulsions);

• cold, clammy skin;

• confusion;

• severe weakness or dizziness; or

• feeling light-headed, fainting.

Less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as:

• nausea, vomiting, constipation, loss of appetite;

• dizziness, headache, tired feeling;

• dry mouth;

• sweating; or

• itching.

This list is not complete and other side effects may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

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How should I use oxycodone?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Never take oxycodone in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain. Take the pill form of this medicine with a full glass of water. Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole. It will release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

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What is the most important information I should know about oxycodone?
Oxycodone may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Oxycodone should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it. Do not drink alcohol while you are taking oxycodone. Dangerous side effects or death can occur when alcohol is combined with a narcotic pain medicine. Check your food and medicine labels to be sure these products do not contain alcohol.

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What happens if I miss a dose?
Since oxycodone is sometimes used as needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are using the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and wait until your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose. Extended-release oxycodone is not for use on an as-needed basis for pain.

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What other drugs will affect oxycodone?
Do not take oxycodone with alcohol, other narcotic pain medications, sedatives, tranquilizers, muscle relaxers, or other medicines that can make you sleepy or slow your breathing. Dangerous side effects may result. Before taking oxycodone, tell your doctor if you are using pentazocine (Talwin), nalbuphine (Nubain), butorphanol (Stadol), or buprenorphine (Buprenex, Subutex). If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use oxycodone, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Immediate-release oxycodone has not been formally assigned to a pregnancy category by the FDA. Some combination products that contain oxycodone (such as Percocet and Tylox) are assigned to pregnancy category C. Controlled-release oxycodone has been assigned to pregnancy category B. Use of narcotic analgesics in late pregnancy is associated with the risk of neonatal withdrawal. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Oxycodone should only be given during pregnancy when there are no alternatives and benefit outweighs risk.

Oxycodone is excreted into human milk. However, the clinical significance in regard to breast-fed infants is unknown.

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Who should NOT use this medication?

• Known hypersensitivity to oxycodone or any ingredient in the formulation.
• Extended-release tablets in significant respiratory depression (in unmonitored settings or the absence of resuscitative equipment), acute or severe bronchial asthma or hypercarbia, or with known or suspected paralytic ileus.

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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of oxycodone can be fatal. Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, muscle weakness, confusion, cold and clammy skin, pinpoint pupils, shallow breathing, slow heart rate, fainting, or coma.

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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using oxycodone?
Do not use this medication if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a narcotic medicine (examples include methadone, morphine, Oxycontin, Darvocet, Percocet, Vicodin, Lortab, and many others), or to a narcotic cough medicine that contains codeine, hydrocodone, or dihydrocodeine. You should also not take oxycodone if you are having an asthma attack or if you have a bowel obstruction called paralytic ileus. Oxycodone may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Oxycodone should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.

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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
If you are taking an analgesic for pain and you are no longer experiencing the pain you may stop using the medication. In general, pain medications are to be used on an as needed basis.

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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

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Where can I get more information?
More Information

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