Oxycodone is a pain reliever. The substance is addictive and may cause withdrawal symptoms after completion of treatment. It can only be used with a prescription, without exceeding the dosage prescribed by the doctor.
The oxycodone-based medication is called Percocet. In addition to the specified substance, the composition contains acetaminophen. The component does not have such strong analgesic properties, but it can enhance the effects of oxycodone. The medicine belongs to the class of opioids.
What should you know before using?
Percocet, like its components, has a number of restrictions on use. The main ones include:
- recent or daily use of alcohol, sedatives, drugs;
- the presence of diseases of the respiratory system - asthma can be especially dangerous;
- problems in the gastrointestinal tract - stomach diseases, intestinal obstruction.
The use of the medicine is prohibited during pregnancy and preparation for it, as the drug penetrates the placenta. Oxycodone itself does not affect fetal development, but may cause withdrawal symptoms in the baby after birth. Also, it cannot be used during breastfeeding, since the active components included in the composition will enter the child’s body through milk. As a result, the child may develop addiction.
It is worth knowing in advance about possible side effects that may occur during the first dose, resuming therapy after a break, or exceeding the dose. This is accompanied by breathing problems, slow heartbeat, and confusion. If any of these symptoms occur, you should inform your doctor. Percocet is considered a potent drug that can only be used as prescribed by a specialist.
Fatal consequences of use and assistance in case of overdose
Like any other drug, Oxycodone has an extremely negative effect on all the most important systems of the body. With prolonged use, the patient in most cases develops tolerance, which prompts him to increase the dose, and refusal of the medicine causes severe suffering.
Using medication to achieve euphoria has the following consequences:
- Chronic anxiety.
- Muscle pain.
- Insomnia.
- Gastrointestinal disorders.
- Increased sweating.
- Convulsions of the lower extremities.
With uncontrolled drug use, the addict can expect depression of the respiratory center. The same effect occurs when the drug is combined with alcohol and antihypertensives, as well as barbiturates.
The toxic range of OS is from 0.6 to 10 mg/ml. In case of an overdose, the respiratory center is depressed, and memory loss and loss of consciousness may also occur. In addition, the drug addict exhibits the following symptoms:
- Disorientation.
- Vomit.
- Miosis.
- Hives or itching.
In particularly difficult cases, a person suffers from arrhythmia and may even fall into a coma. The most fatal consequence is the development of heart failure while taking the drug and death.
If you notice such symptoms, you need to act urgently:
- Call an ambulance.
- Do not let the patient sleep.
- Provide fresh air flow.
- In case of respiratory and cardiac arrest, carry out resuscitation measures.
Dependence on painkillers is a very common problem nowadays, so if you have reason to believe that one of your loved ones or friends is addicted to poison, you need to urgently contact a specialist.
What side effects may occur?
Since the drug has a rather strong and aggressive effect on the body, it must be used only as directed by a doctor. But even in this case, there is a risk of side effects:
- dry mouth;
- dizziness;
- severe fatigue;
- blurred vision.
Also, if the body is weakened, there is the possibility of more dangerous consequences:
- bradycardia and other heartbeat changes;
- slow breathing or pauses in it;
- seizures;
- problems with urination;
- nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite;
- discomfort in the liver area.
As a result of long-term use or systematic overdose, various chronic illnesses are caused. In most cases, these are gastrointestinal diseases, for example, jaundice. There is also a risk of developing infertility and impotence.
How to Recognize an Oxycodone Addict
Signs of Oxy use are difficult to go unnoticed:
- The pupils are constricted, there is no reaction to light.
- Pale and dry skin.
- Excessive thinness.
- Changing the daily routine - the addict stays awake at night and sleeps during the day.
- Changing your social circle.
- Loss of interest in family matters.
- Self-isolation.
- Deterioration of teeth, bleeding gums.
- Hair loss.
- Insomnia or, conversely, a constant need for sleep.
- Frequent mood changes.
- General apathy.
- Confused, slow speech.
- Impaired coordination of movements.
With long-term use of OxyContin, you may notice the following changes:
- Depression.
- Absent-mindedness.
- Memory lapses, difficulty remembering simple information.
- Decreased intellectual functions.
- Difficulty formulating thoughts.
- Degradation.
- Anxiety.
- Irritability.
Just like with other types of drug addiction, the drug disrupts the functioning of all vital systems, so OxyContin abusers may develop the following diseases:
- Impaired liver and kidney function.
- Interruptions in the functioning of the heart.
- Irreversible damage to the central nervous system.
- Gastrointestinal diseases.
- Convulsions of the limbs.
- Panic attacks.
Compatibility with other substances
Percocet, like oxycodone itself, has restrictions regarding combination with other drugs. It is very important that the doctor prescribing this medicine knows whether the patient is taking:
- other opioids;
- drugs;
- cough medicines;
- sleeping pills and sedatives;
- antipsychotics;
- antidepressants;
- medications for Parkinson's disease, headaches and migraines;
- cold preventatives;
- anti-nausea pills.
It is important to understand that this is not a complete list of medications that are not recommended to be combined with oxycodone. But it is also worth considering the fact that such combinations are not considered strictly prohibited: the final decision regarding the combination of several areas of therapy can be made by the doctor after familiarizing himself with the medical history and individual characteristics of a particular person.
Percocet can be purchased with a prescription. It is not recommended to use it independently, without consulting a specialist, since in case of an overdose or the presence of serious side symptoms, the effect of its active substance can be fatal.
Oxycodone. What it is?
Oxycodone is a tablet that belongs to the group of semisynthetic opioid drugs.
Oxyxdone is a drug, the main active ingredient of which is a derivative of thebaine. This chemical was synthesized in 1916 to improve the quality of medical care for patients with persistent and severe pain. The drug is supplied to the pharmacy chain and is dispensed on prescription forms. But this did not prevent this drug from gaining high popularity in the criminal environment. If the dosages recommended by the manufacturers of this pharmaceutical are observed, the drug does not have a pronounced neurotropic effect. But drug addicts significantly exceed the permissible doses, which leads to a feeling of nothingness and happiness. A high concentration of oxycodone suppresses the activity of the central parts of the nervous system, which provokes such manifestations.
But gradually the receptors begin to get used to it, and resistance develops. Therefore, the drug addict needs to increase the dosage further or take the drug more often. This leads to the rapid formation of pathological dependence, which can cause disability or death.
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Medical use
The substance oxycodone has been used for medical purposes since its introduction. It is most actively used to suppress moderate and severe pain during chronic or acute diseases.
- It is used orally by patients with oncology - it is recommended to take it every twelve hours. In 2001, oral oxycodone was recommended as a replacement for morphine by the European Association for Palliative Care.
- Other forms of the drug are used for pain relief.
- Oxycodone is often used in combination with paracetamol or analgin.
The drug oxycodone has a moderate analgesic effect. It demonstrates the greatest effectiveness in acute pain; when used with long-term pain, it shows less effect. If we compare oxycodone with other painkillers, we can see the following analogies (compared to 10 mg of oxycodone taken orally):
- equivalent to 20 mg morphine taken orally;
- 30 mg codeine taken orally.
One of the positive effects of oxycodone is the ability to suppress withdrawal symptoms from other drugs taken by a person. However, the drug is not used in the treatment of addiction - according to experts, addiction develops very quickly from it.
Oxycodone - chemical formula and history of the substance
Oxycodone is a solid substance but comes in the form of solutions and capsules. It has an analgesic effect more often with severe pain.
The chemical formula is C18H21NO4, it is obtained using a special Diels-Alder reaction.
Oxycodone has long been used for its potent analgesic effect as a substitute for morphine, heroin, and codeine. It was widely used in the United States during the Civil War.
The medicine entered the world market only in 1939. Only in the 90s did the drug begin to be produced under the well-known name. Oxycodone is included in the group of narcotic substances, so today the medicine can only be purchased with a prescription in a small dose. In Russia, free access to oxycodone and drugs containing it is prohibited.
Alternative ways to cope with pain
People can manage even mild pain with over-the-counter pain medications, including:
- aspirin;
- ibuprofen;
- acetaminophen.
A person who experiences moderate to severe pain can discuss pain management options with their doctor. For long-term treatment of chronic pain, which is pain that lasts for several months, prescription opioids such as oxycodone are not a primary option.
Ways to manage chronic pain without medications include:
- Acupuncture, yoga, and tai chi: A 2021 systematic review reports that these treatments can provide short-term mild to moderate pain relief for people with chronic back pain.
- Music: A 2021 systematic review and meta-analysis shows that people report reduced chronic pain and depression when listening to music.
- Mindfulness Meditation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis 2017 notes that mindfulness meditation may improve pain symptoms and that scientists need more research to say for sure how effective it is.
Chemistry
The chemical name oxycodone comes from codeine. The chemical structures of these substances are very similar, differing only in that oxycodone has a hydroxyl group on carbon-14 (codeine only has a hydrogen at this site). Oxycodone has its 7,8-dihydro function. Codeine has a double bond between these two carbon atoms; and oxycodone has a carbonyl group (as in ketones) instead of the hydroxyl group of codeine. Oxycodone is also similar to hydrocodone, differing only in that it has a hydroxyl group on carbon-14. Extended names for oxycodone in the scientific literature include "dihydrohydroxycodeinone", "Eucodal", "Eukodal", "14-hydroxydihydrocodeinone" and "Nucodan". In the UNESCO convention, translations of the word "oxycodone" are oxycodon (Dutch), oxycodone (French), oxicodona (Spanish), الأوكسيكودون (Arabic), 羟考酮 (Chinese) and oxycodone (Russian). Oxycodone should not be confused with oxandrolone, oxazepam, oxybutynin, oxytocin, or Roxanol. From a biosynthetic perspective, oxycodone is naturally found in nectar extracts from the orchid family Dremerica; together with other opioids: 3-{2-{3-{3-benzyloxypropyl}-3-indole and 7,8-didehydro4,5-epoxy-3,6-D-morphinane. Oxycodone is sold in various salts, most commonly as the hydrochloride salt. Free base conversion ratio of various salts: hydrochloride (0.896), bitartrate (0.667), tartrate (0.750), samphosulfonate (0.576), pectinate (0.588), phenylpropionate (0.678), sulfate (0.887), phosphate (0.763) and polyethylene terephthalate ( 0.792). The hydrochloride is the base of most American oxycodone products, while bitartrate, tartrate, pectinate, terephthalate and phosphate salts are also available in European products. Iodomethane and hydroiodide are mentioned in older European publications.
Instructions for use of Tablets, Ointments, Drops, Injections, Sprays
What is oxycodone?
Painkiller In Oncology
Oxycodone is an opioid pain reliever.
Oxycodone belongs to a class of drugs known as opioid (narcotic) analgesics.
This drug is used to relieve pain (moderate to severe).
Oxycodone affects the human brain to change your body's sensitivity and response to pain.
Important information.
You should not use oxycodone if you have: severe asthma, breathing problems, or a blockage in your stomach or intestines.
Its use is also not recommended if you have: an allergy to any narcotic pain medications (for example, methadone, morphine, Vicodin, Lortab, and many others), or narcotic cough medications containing codeine, hydrocodone, or dihydrocodeine.
Addiction
You should not use oxycodone if you are already using similar opioid medications and are tolerant to it.
Remember that oxycodone may slow or stop your breathing, especially when you first start using this medication or whenever your dosage changes.
Never take oxycodone in larger quantities or for longer than prescribed by your doctor.
Do not attempt to crush, crush, or open oxycodone tablets. Try to swallow it whole to avoid the possibility of a lethal dose of the drug entering your body.
Oxycodone Instructions
Oxycodone can be addictive, even when taken in normal doses. Therefore, take this drug exactly as recommended by your doctor.
Never share this medication with another person.
Abusing narcotic pain medications can cause addiction, overdose, or even death (this is especially dangerous for a child or other person using oxycodone without a prescription).
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Oxycodone may cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in a newborn if the mother took this medication during pregnancy.
A child born dependent on a medical drug may require treatment for several weeks.
Oxycodone may pass into breast milk and could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using this medication.
Do not give oxycodone to a child without consulting a doctor.
Never drink alcohol while taking oxycodone because it may cause dangerous side effects or be fatal.
Some drugs can interact with oxycodone and cause a condition called serotonin syndrome.
Make sure your doctor knows that you are also taking medications to treat depression, mental illness, Parkinson's disease, migraines, severe infections, or to prevent nausea and vomiting.
To make sure oxycodone is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
Psychological And Physical Dependence
Any type of breathing problem or lung disease,
- history of head injury, brain tumor, or seizures
- History of drug abuse
- History of alcohol addiction
- Mental illnesses,
- Problems with urination,
- Liver or kidney diseases
- Addison's disease or other adrenal gland disorders
- Problems with the gallbladder, pancreas or thyroid gland,
- And also if you use tranquilizers such as Valium (diazepam, alprazolam, lorazepam, Ativan, Klonopin, X-wing, Xanax, etc.).
How should I take oxycodone?
Severe Pain
Oxycodone should be taken strictly as prescribed by your doctor. Before use, read the instructions for this drug in detail.
Stop taking all other narcotic pain medications if you need to start taking oxycodone extended-release (oxycontin).
Oxycodone is recommended to be taken with food.
Drink more water to make the tablet easier to swallow and prevent choking.
Before taking oxycodone in liquid form, remember that the dose must be measured using a special syringe or a special medical spoon (using a regular tablespoon will not allow you to accurately measure the dosage required for taking the drug).
Do not stop taking oxycodone suddenly after long-term use, as you may experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms from the drug.
Opioids
Talk to your doctor about how to safely stop using this drug.
Never try to crush or break the tablet, inhale the powder, or inject it into a liquid into a vein as this could be fatal.
Pain medications work best if they are used at the first sign of pain. If you wait until the pain gets worse, the drug may not help.
If you have persistent pain (such as from cancer), your doctor may recommend that you also take long-acting opioid medications. In this case, oxycodone can be used only when necessary (during severe pain).
Other pain relievers (eg, paracetamol, ibuprofen) can be taken with oxycodone.
Oxycodone may cause some side symptoms, especially if used regularly for a long period of time or in high doses (eg, restlessness, watery eyes, runny nose, nausea, sweating, muscle aches).
To avoid withdrawal reactions, your doctor may gradually reduce your oxycodone dosage.
Oxycodone may no longer help control pain with long-term use.
Check with your doctor if this drug no longer relieves your pain.
Along with its benefits, oxycodone can rarely lead to addiction. This risk may increase if you have abused alcohol or drugs in the past.
What happens if you miss a dose of oxycodone?
Since oxycodone is often used when needed, it is extremely difficult to miss a dose of the drug.
Oxycodone
However, if you are on a schedule while taking this drug, take the missed dose as soon as you remember.
Skip the missed dose of oxycodone until it is time for your next scheduled dose of medication.
Do not take more medicine to make up for a missed dose of oxycodone.
What happens if you overdose on oxycodone?
Contact your doctor or call emergency medical services if you overdose on oxycodone.
An overdose of this drug can be fatal (especially in children).
What should I avoid while taking oxycodone?
You should not drink alcohol while taking oxycodone.
This drug may affect your thinking and reactions.
Do not drive a vehicle or perform any activity that may require increased concentration, reaction, or attention from you until you are sure that oxycodone will not cause any adverse reactions in you.
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with oxycodone and cause unwanted side effects. Discuss the use of products containing grapefruit with your doctor.
Side effects that occur during treatment with oxycodone:
Get emergency medical help if you have any signs of an allergic reaction to oxycodone: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Like other narcotic medications, oxycodone may slow your breathing. A person's death can occur if breathing becomes too weak.
Pain reliever
Contact your doctor right away if you have:
- Shallow breathing, slow heartbeat,
- Cold, clammy skin
- Cramps,
- Confusion of thoughts, severe drowsiness,
- Infertility, skipping menstrual periods,
- Impotence, sexual problems, loss of interest in sex,
- Low cortisol levels in the blood - nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dizziness, fatigue or weakness.
Most often, oxycodone causes breathing problems in the elderly, seriously ill patients, exhausted, weakened, etc.
Call your doctor immediately if you experience symptoms of serotonin syndrome, such as: agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, chills, fast heartbeat, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Common side effects when taking oxycodone may include:
Chronic Pain
- Drowsiness, headache, dizziness, feeling tired,
- Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, loss of appetite,
- Dry mouth
- Moderate itching.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor.
Oxycodone dosage for treatment:
Oxycodone can be administered orally, intranasally, intravenously, intramuscularly, subcutaneously, or rectally.
The standard adult dosage for cancer pain relief includes:
Taking the drug in an amount of 5 mg to 15 mg orally every 4-6 hours (in cases of severe pain).
Maintenance in this case involves taking the drug in an amount of 10 mg to 30 mg orally every 4 hours. Doses exceeding 30 mg should be used with great caution.
The average total daily dose is approximately 105 mg per day.
Standard pediatric dose for children over 1 year of age and weighing less than 50 kg: the drug is administered in an amount of 0.05 mg to 0.15 mg/kg every 4-6 hours as needed.
Standard pediatric dosage for children over 1 year of age and weighing more than 50 kg: 5 mg orally every 6 hours (if necessary, titrate to 10 mg orally every 3 to 4 hours).
This information about oxycodone dosages is for informational purposes only (typically recommended for certain types of pain).
Remember that oxycodone is an opioid pain reliever and is taken to control pain, often in people with serious medical conditions.
To determine the exact dosage of this drug, you must constantly monitor your doctor and follow all his instructions.
Only your doctor can recommend the exact and necessary dosage of oxycodone.
The dosage of the drug you take should be based on the results of your clinical studies and response to treatment.
You should not self-medicate with oxycodone as it can be dangerous to your health and life.
Does oxycodone interact with other medications?
Narcotic (opioid) drugs can interact with many other drugs and cause dangerous side effects or even death. Be sure your doctor knows if you also use:
Other opioid pain medications
Drugs that make you drowsy or slow your breathing - sleeping pills, muscle relaxants, sedatives, tranquilizers or antipsychotics,
Drugs that affect serotonin levels in the body - drugs to treat depression, Parkinson's disease, migraines, headaches, serious infections, and prevent nausea or vomiting.
This list is not exhaustive.
Other drugs may interact with oxycodone, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and herbal remedies.
Storage conditions:
Pain
Store at room temperature, away from heat, moisture and light.
Always check your medicine bottle to make sure you get the correct pills (same brand and type) as prescribed by your doctor.
Keep track of the amount of drug in each new bottle.
Oxycodone is a drug and you should be aware if anyone is using this drug inappropriately or without a prescription.
Do not store leftover oxycodone in tablet or liquid form.
Ask your pharmacist where to dispose of this drug. If there is no such program in your city, flush any unused tablets or liquid form of the drug down the toilet.
Throw away any unused oxycodone in liquid form if more than 90 days have passed.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use oxycodone if you are allergic to it, or if you have:
- severe asthma or breathing problems; or
- a blockage in your stomach or intestines.
You should not use this medicine if you are already using a similar opioid medicine and are tolerant to it. Do not use this medicine if you have used a MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, or tranylcypromine or have received a methylene blue injection.
Most brands of oxycodone are not approved for use in people under the age of 18. OxyContin
should not be given to a child younger than 11 years old.
To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- breathing problems, sleep apnea;
- a head injury, brain tumor, or seizures;
- drug or alcohol addiction, or mental illness;
- lung disease;
- liver or kidney disease;
- thyroid disorder;
- adrenal disease (such as Addison's disease;
- urination problems; or
- problems with your gallbladder or pancreas.
If you use opioid medicine while you are pregnant, your baby could become dependent on the drug.
This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after it is born. Babies born dependent on opioids may need medical treatment for several weeks. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant before using oxycodone. If you become pregnant while taking oxycodone, do not stop your medication suddenly without talking to your doctor. You may need to decrease your medicine gradually.
Oxycodone can pass into breast milk and may cause drowsiness or breathing problems in a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding before using oxycodone.
Important Information
You should not use oxycodone if you have severe asthma or breathing problems, or a blockage in your stomach or intestines.
MISUSE OF OPIOID MEDICINE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH.
Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it.
Taking oxycodone during pregnancy may cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the newborn.
Fatal side effects can occur if you use opioid medicine with alcohol, or with other drugs that cause drowsiness or slow your breathing.
Oxycodone can slow or stop your breathing.
This is more likely in elderly or ill patients, but can occur in anyone taking this medicine.
