If you need treatment for severe pain, your doctor may prescribe oxycodone. Oxycodone is a generic prescription drug. It’s used in adults and children to help relieve severe pain that requires a powerful type of pain reliever called an opioid.
Oxycodone belongs to the opioid drug class. (A drug class is a group of medications that work in a similar way.) Opioids can be used short term or long term for pain that’s not relieved by other treatment options.
Oxycodone is taken by mouth. It comes in three forms:
- immediate-release* tablets
- immediate-release capsules
- liquid solution
Several brand-name versions of oxycodone are available. To learn more, see the “Is oxycodone available as a brand-name drug?” section below.
Read on to learn about oxycodone and cost, and how you might save money on your prescriptions.
Note: For more details on oxycodone, see this in-depth article.
* Immediate-release drugs are released into your bloodstream right away.
The price you pay for oxycodone can vary. Your cost may depend on factors such as your treatment plan, your insurance coverage, and the pharmacy you use.
To find out how much you’ll pay for oxycodone, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about oxycodone and cost.
Does the strength or form of oxycodone I use affect the cost?
Yes, it’s possible that the strength or form of oxycodone you use could affect the cost.
The drug comes in a range of strengths, and higher strengths may cost more than lower ones.
Your cost may also depend on whether you use a generic or brand-name version of oxycodone. Some forms of oxycodone are only available as brand-name drugs.
The chart below includes the available generic forms of oxycodone and their strengths.
| Form* | Strength | Brand-name version |
| Immediate-release capsule | 5 milligrams (mg) | None available |
| Immediate-release tablet | 5 mg, 7.5 mg,† 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg | Roxicodone (5 mg, 15 mg, 30 mg); Oxaydo (5 mg, 7.5 mg) |
| Liquid solution | 5 mg per 5 milliliter (mL), 100 mg per 5 mL | None available |
* Two forms of oxycodone are available only as brand-name drugs. These are the extended-release capsule (Xtampza ER) and the extended-release tablet (Oxycontin).
† This strength of the drug isn’t available as a generic.
If you have questions about which strength or form of oxycodone is right for you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Can oxycodone tablets be cut in half to save money?
In most cases, oxycodone tablets should not be cut in half. However, if your doctor directs you to take half-tablets of the oxycodone immediate-release tablets, then it’s safe for you to cut them in half. If so, you should always use a pill splitter to accurately cut your tablet in half.
If you have any questions about using pill splitters, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
It’s also important to note that higher strengths of oxycodone may cost more than lower strengths. So even if your doctor prescribes higher-strength tablets and tells you to cut them in half, this may not result in any savings.
If you have questions about finding a lower-cost alternative to oxycodone, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Oxycodone is a generic prescription drug. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. The generic is considered to be just as safe and effective as the original drug. And generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.
Certain forms of oxycodone come in brand-name versions:
- The immediate-release tablets are available as the brand-name drugs Oxaydo and Roxicodone.
- The extended-release tablets* are available as the brand-name drug OxyContin. (Extended-release drugs are released into your bloodstream slowly over time.)
- The extended-release capsules* are available as the brand-name drug Xtampza ER.
* This form of the drug isn’t available as a generic.
To learn about the available strengths of the generic and brand-name versions of oxycodone, see the chart in the “FAQs about cost and oxycodone” section above.
To find out how the costs of brand-name drugs and oxycodone compare, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
If your doctor has prescribed oxycodone and you’re interested in using a brand-name drug instead, talk with your doctor. They may have a preference for one version or the other. In addition, you’ll need to check with your insurance provider. This is because it may only cover one drug or the other.
If you take oxycodone long term, you may be able to lower your costs by using a mail-order pharmacy to get your medication. Plus, you could get your medication without leaving home.
Some Medicare plans may help cover the cost of mail-order drugs. But keep in mind that oxycodone is a controlled substance. Your state may have laws restricting or placing certain requirements on mailing controlled substances.
If you’re interested in using a mail-order pharmacy to get oxycodone, talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn about your options.
If you need help covering the cost of oxycodone or understanding your insurance, check out these websites:
On these sites, you can find insurance information, details on drug assistance programs, and links to savings cards and other services.
If you have questions about how you can pay for oxycodone, you may also want to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
If you still have questions about the cost of oxycodone, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to give you a better idea of what you’ll pay for this drug. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk to your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you’d pay for oxycodone.
Examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor or insurance provider include:
- Will my dosage of oxycodone affect the cost?
- Are oxycodone tablets less expensive than oxycodone capsules?
- Are there lower-cost medications that could treat my condition?
- How much would my oxycodone prescription cost without insurance?
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.