OxyContin Information and Uses

OxyContin

OxyContin (generic: oxycodone) is a prescription medication used to treat severe, around-the-clock pain that is expected to last a long time. OxyContin belongs to a group of drugs called opioids which work by binding to specific receptors in the body to change the response to pain.

This medication comes in an extended-release tablet form and is usually taken twice daily. It can be taken with or without food. If it upsets your stomach, taking it with food may help.

Common side effects of OxyCodone include constipation, nausea, drowsiness, and dizziness.

Uses of OxyContin

OxyContin is a prescription medicine used when an opioid medicine is needed to manage moderate to severe pain that continues around-the-clock and is expected to last for a long period of time.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Side Effects of OxyContin

OxyContin can cause serious breathing problems that can become life-threatening, especially if OxyContin is used the wrong way. Call your healthcare provider or get medical help right away if:

These can be signs or symptoms that you have taken too much OxyContin (overdose) or the dose is too high for you. These symptoms may lead to serious problems or death if not treated right away.

your breathing slows down
you have shallow breathing (little chest movement with breathing)
you feel faint, dizzy, confused, or
you have any other unusual symptoms
Central nervous system effects, including sleepiness, dizziness, passing out, becoming unconscious, or coma.
OxyContin may cause a worsening of seizures in people who already have seizures.
OxyContin can cause your blood pressure to drop. This can make you feel dizzy and faint if you get up too fast from sitting or lying down. Low blood pressure is also more likely to happen if you take other medicines that can also lower your blood pressure. Severe low blood pressure can happen if you lost blood or take certain other medicines.
OxyContin can cause physical dependence. Do not stop taking OxyContin or any other opioid without talking to your healthcare provider about how to slowly stop your medicine. You could become sick with uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms because your body has become used to these medicines. Physical dependence is not the same as drug addiction. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these signs or symptoms of withdrawal while slowly stopping OxyContin:
- feel restless
- tearing eyes
- runny nose
- yawning
- sweating
- chills or hair on your arms "standing up"
- muscle aches, backache
- dilated pupils of your eyes
- feel irritable or anxious
- nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea
- increase in your blood pressure, breathing faster, or your heart beats faster
There is a chance of abuse or addiction with OxyContin. The chance is higher if you are or have been addicted to or abused other medicines, street drugs, or alcohol, or if you have a history of mental problems.

The most common side effects of OxyContin include:

constipation
nausea
drowsiness
dizziness
itching
vomiting
headache
dry mouth
weakness
sweating

Some of these side effects may decrease with continued use. Talk with your healthcare provider if you continue to have these side effects. These are not all the possible side effects of OxyContin. For a complete list, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Constipation (not often enough or hard bowel movements) is a very common side effect of pain medicines (opioids) including OxyContin, and is unlikely to go away without treatment. Talk to your healthcare provider about dietary changes, and the use of laxatives (medicines to treat constipation) and stool softeners to prevent or treat constipation while taking OxyContin.

OxyContin Interactions

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Sometimes the doses of medicines that you take with OxyContin may need to be changed if used together.

Be especially careful about taking other medicines that make you sleepy such as:

pain medicines
sleeping pills
anxiety medicines
antihistamines
anti-depressants
tranquilizers
anti-nausea medicine

Do not take other medicines without talking to your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider will tell you if it is safe to take other medicines while you take OxyContin.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of your medicines to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist.

OxyContin Precautions

Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or participate in any other possibly dangerous activities until you know how you react to this medicine. OxyContin can make you sleepy.
Do not drink alcohol while using OxyContin. It may increase the chance of getting dangerous side effects.
Do not take other medicines without your doctor’s approval. Other medicines include prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and supplements. Be especially careful about products that make you sleepy.

Do not take OxyContin if

your doctor did not prescribe OxyContin for you.
are allergic to any of its ingredients.
have had a severe allergic reaction to a medicine that contains oxycodone. Ask your healthcare provider if you are not sure.
are having an asthma attack or have severe asthma, trouble breathing, or lung problems.
have a bowel blockage called paralytic ileus
your pain is mild or will go away in a few days.
your pain can be controlled by occasional use of other painkillers.
you have had a severe allergic reaction to codeine, hydrocodone, dihydrocodeine, or oxycodone (such as Tylox, Tylenol with Codeine, or Vicodin). A severe allergic reaction includes a severe rash, hives, breathing problems, or dizziness.
you had surgery less than 12 - 24 hours ago and you were not taking OxyContin just before surgery.

OxyContin Food Interactions

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with Oxycontin and lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor.

Inform MD

Tell your doctor if you:

have trouble breathing or lung problems
have had a head injury
have liver or kidney problems
have adrenal gland problems, such as Addison's disease
have severe scoliosis that affects your breathing
have thyroid problems
have enlargement of your prostate or a urethral stricture
have or had convulsions or seizures
have a past or present drinking problem or alcoholism
have hallucinations or other severe mental problems
have past or present substance abuse or drug addiction
have any other medical conditions
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you take OxyContin regularly before your baby is born, your newborn baby may have signs of withdrawal because their body has become used to the medicine. Signs of withdrawal in a newborn baby can include:
irritability
- crying more than usual
- shaking (tremors)
- jitteriness
- breathing faster than normal
- diarrhea or more stools than normal
- sneezing
- yawning
- vomiting
- fever
If you take OxyContin right before your baby is born, your baby could have breathing problems at birth.
are breastfeeding. You should not take OxyContin if you are nursing. Some oxycodone from OxyContin passes into breast milk. A nursing baby could become very drowsy or have difficulty breathing or feeding well.

Be especially careful about taking other medicines that make you sleepy such as:

pain medicines
sleeping pills
anxiety medicines
antihistamines
anti-depressants
tranquilizers
anti-nausea medicine

Do not take other medicines without talking to your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider will tell you if it is safe to take other medicines while you take OxyContin.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of your medicines to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist.

OxyContin and Pregnancy

If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, talk with your doctor. OxyContin may harm your unborn baby.

OxyContin and Lactation

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding. OxyContin will pass through the milk and may harm the baby.

OxyContin Usage

Follow your doctor’s directions exactly. Your doctor may change your dose based on your reactions to the medicine. Do not change your dose unless your doctor tells you to change it. Do not take OxyContin more often than prescribed.
Swallow the tablets whole. Do not break, crush, dissolve, or chew before swallowing. If the tablets are not whole, your body will absorb too much medicine at one time. This can lead to serious problems, including overdose and death.
You can take OxyContin with or without food.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once unless your doctor tells you to.
If you take more OxyContin than prescribed, or overdose, call your local emergency number (such as 911) or your local Poison Control Center right away, or get emergency help.
Review your pain regularly with your doctor to determine if you still need OxyContin.
You may see tablets in your stools (bowel movements). Do not be concerned. Your body has already absorbed the medicine.

If you continue to have pain or bothersome side effects, call your doctor.

Consult your doctor for instructions on how to stop this medicine slowly to avoid uncomfortable symptoms. You should not stop taking OxyContin all at once if you have been taking it for more than a few days.

OxyContin Dosage

Take OxyContin exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully. Your doctor will determine the best dose for you. The dosage of OxyContin must be individualized.

OxyContin Overdose

If you take more OxyContin than prescribed, or overdose, call your local emergency number (such as 911) or your local Poison Control Center right away, or get emergency help.

Forms of OxyContin

OxyContin tablets are available in 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg, 80 mg, and 160 mg strengths.

Active ingredient: oxycodone hydrochloride.

Inactive ingredients: hypromellose, methylparaben, silicified microcrystalline cellulose, sodium stearyl fumarate, TIMERx®-N, titanium dioxide, and triacetin. The 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, and 30 mg tablets also contain macrogol, and polysorbate 80. In addition, the 5 mg, 7.5 mg, and 30 mg tablets contain iron oxide red. The 7.5 mg tablets contain iron oxide black, and iron oxide yellow. The 10 mg tablets contain FD&C yellow No. 6. The 20 mg tablets contain FD&C blue No. 1, FD&C yellow No. 6, and D&C yellow No. 10. The 40 mg tablets contain FD&C yellow No. 6, D&C yellow No. 10, and lactose monohydrate.

Other Requirements

Keep OxyContin out of the reach of children. Accidental overdose by a child is dangerous and can lead to death.
Store OxyContin at 59 F to 86F (15 C to 30 C)
Keep OxyContin in the container it comes in.
Keep the container tightly closed and away from light.

OxyContin FDA Warning

* 60 mg, 80 mg, and 160 mg for use in opioid-tolerant patients only

WARNING:

OxyContin is an opioid agonist and a Schedule II controlled substance with an abuse liability similar to morphine.

Oxycodone can be abused in a manner similar to other opioid agonists, legal or illicit. This should be considered when prescribing or dispensing OxyContin in situations where the physician or pharmacist is concerned about an increased risk of misuse, abuse, or diversion.

OxyContin Tablets are a controlled-release oral formulation of oxycodone hydrochloride indicated for the management of moderate to severe pain when a continuous, around-the-clock analgesic is needed for an extended period of time.

OxyContin Tablets are NOT intended for use as a prn analgesic.

OxyContin 60 mg, 80 mg, and 160 mg Tablets, or a single dose greater than 40 mg, ARE FOR USE IN OPIOID-TOLERANT PATIENTS ONLY. A single dose greater than 40 mg, or total daily doses greater than 80 mg, may cause fatal respiratory depression when administered to patients who are not tolerant to the respiratory depressant effects of opioids.

OXYCONTIN TABLETS ARE TO BE SWALLOWED WHOLE AND ARE NOT TO BE BROKEN, CHEWED, OR CRUSHED. TAKING BROKEN, CHEWED, OR CRUSHED OXYCONTIN TABLETS LEADS TO RAPID RELEASE AND ABSORPTION OF A POTENTIALLY FATAL DOSE OF OXYCODONE.