The tablets should be swallowed whole without being crushed as it is an extended release form but OXYCODONE should not be administered longer than necessary
- The dosage depends on the intensity of the pain and the patient’s individual susceptibility to treatment .
- Other strengths of this medication are available to facilitate dosage adjustment.
- General dosage recommendations are as follows:
- Pediatric population
- OXYCODONE is not recommended for children under 12 years old.
- Adults and teenagers 12 years and over
- Titration and dosage adjustment
In general, the starting dose in opioid-naïve patients is 10 mg oxycodone hydrochloride given 12 hours apart. In some patients, a starting dose of 5 mg oxycodone hydrochloride may be beneficial to minimize the incidence of adverse effects.Patients already receiving opioid therapy may start therapy at higher dosages based on their prior experience with opioid therapy.
Duration of treatment
OXYCODONE should not be administered longer than necessary. If prolonged pain treatment is required due to the nature and severity of the disease, careful and regular monitoring should be instituted to determine whether and how treatment should be continued. When the use of opioids is no longer necessary, it is advisable to gradually reduce the daily dosage in order to avoid any withdrawal symptoms.
Stopping treatment
When a patient no longer needs oxycodone treatment, it is advisable to gradually reduce the daily dosage in order to avoid any withdrawal symptoms.
What are the contraindications
Don’t Use This medicine in the following situations:
- Severe respiratory failure,
- Acute asthma or severe chronic bronchitis,
- Cor pulmonale (heart disorder due to pulmonary arterial hypertension),
- Intestinal disorders with intestinal obstruction,
- Presence of intense and persistent abdominal pain,
- In combination with analgesics containing buprenorphine or nalbuphine.
- Other painkillers are available including Tramadol or Tapentadol .
OXYCODONE what are the side effects?
Side effects Very common (more than 10% of patients): nausea, vomiting, constipation (medicines may be prescribed to limit these digestive side effects), drowsiness, dizziness, headache, itching.
Pregnancy and breast feeding
The effect of this medicine during pregnancy is not well known: only your doctor can assess the possible risk of its use in your case. This medication passes into breast milk; a choice is therefore necessary between breastfeeding and taking the drug.
Precautions and recommendation
This drug, like other analgesics related to morphine, exposes to a risk of abuse or dependence. This risk is minimal under the conditions of medical use. Withdrawal symptoms may be observed in the event of abrupt cessation of treatment. In the event of prolonged treatment, a gradual reduction in doses under medical supervision makes it possible to limit the risk of withdrawal syndrome.
Precautions are necessary in the following situations: renal insufficiency, hepatic insufficiency, hypothyroidism, Addison’s disease, narrowing of the bile ducts, inflammatory bowel disease, epilepsy, intracranial hypertension, prostate adenoma, following intestinal surgery, alcoholism or addiction known to opiates.
In the elderly, the dose increase according to the pain must follow the recommendations of the doctor, because of a greater risk of overdose. Alcohol intake should be avoided during treatment: risk of increased adverse effects. This medication can induce sometimes intense drowsiness in some people. Driving or using dangerous machinery is not recommended.
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