Oxycodone – How to Use it and Precautions

Oxycodone is a painkiller drug that is often used in the treatment of mild to severe pain.

It is one of the opioids, and strong analgesics that is ingested orally.

Its analgesic effect is said to be about twice as strong as that of morphine. In addition, the opioid has a calming, depressant and sleep-inducing effect.

Since Oxycodone contains dihydro derivatives of morphine, dihydrocodeine, hydromorphone and hydrocodone, it’s often abused by youths to improve strength to do work.

 

Oxycodone drug enhances these receptors as an opioid agonist without any antagonistic effect.

Its therapeutic effect is mainly analgesic and sedating. As with other drugs regarded as opioids, the use of oxycodone is associated with the risk of developing addiction.

Oxycodone is available in various drug forms – including tablets, capsules, prolonged-release tablets, suppositories and injection solutions.

There is also a combination preparation that also contains the opioid antagonist naloxone.

After taking Oxycodone, the absolute bioavailability of the drug is between 42 and 87 percent, that is the maximum plasma concentration that is reached after two hours of ingesting it.

In some cases with prolonged-release tablets, the full plasma concentration can be reached after three hours.

In this case, the absorption of the ingredients of the drug into the bloodstream takes place in two phases with an initially relatively short half-life of forty minutes for the smaller part of the amount of active ingredient.

The second absorption phase is slower and lasts about 6.9 hours.

The protein binding of oxycodone is also between thirty eight to forty five percent while the the half-life is between four to six hours.

Oxycodone is metabolized in your small intestine and liver through the P450 cytochrome system to noroxycodone, oxymorphone and other glucuronide conjugates, and the waste is released mostly through the kidney – thirty-three to sixty-one percent of the waste.

Oxycodone is mainly produced in the tablet form. The tablets are coated so it’s not readily available for digestion.

You’re advised to talk to your physician before taking Oxycodone. While it’s very effective as a painkiller, the dosage should be adjusted according to the severity of the pain.

Oxycodone is administered according to the intensity of the pain and the sensitivity of each patient. Oxycodone administration is personalized – this is when the efficacy of the drug can be felt by the patient.

If you’re not used to the drug, it is advisable you  take 10 mg of Oxycodone every 12 hours, that is twice a day.

You should be relieved in two days, and if not feeling any sign of recovery, you should consult your doctor immediately.

An overdose of oxycodone can lead to reduced function of the respiratory center, a drop in blood pressure and reduced tension in the skeletal muscles.

Circulatory failure, unconsciousness and respiratory paralysis are also possible. If you have taken too high a dose of the active ingredient, you should therefore always notify a doctor immediately.

 

Possible side effects of oxycodone

The most common negative effects taking oxycodone drug such as fentanyl , methadone, morphine, tilidine or tramadol are are nausea, Dyspnea, vomitting, dizziness, Bronchospasm, Itching, tremor, loss of appetite, Weaknesses, headache, sedation, and constipation.

Also, there may be respiratory depression, miosis, spasms of the bronchial muscles and a dampening of the cough reflex, Dry mouth, psychological side effects like changes in mood, confusion, gastrointestinal complaints, Skin symptoms such as rash, rarely increased photosensitivity.

If you’re taking oxycodone drug, you should avoid drugs that have an effect on the central nervous system especially,opiods, sedatives, hypnotics, antidepressants, phenothiazines, neuroleptics, anesthetics, muscle relaxants, antihistamines and antiemetics.

The use of oxycodone during pregnancy and breastfeeding should also be avoided as much as possible, as this can lead to respiratory depression.