Oxycodone | Health Navigator NZ

Oxycodone is used for pain relief. Find out how to take it safely and possible side effects. Oxycodone is also called Oxynorm, Oxycontin or Oxydone.

Type of medicine	Also called
Belongs to a group of medicines known as analgesics (pain killers) Opioid pain reliever	Oxynorm® Oxycodone controlled release® Oxycontin® Oxydone®

What is oxycodone?

Oxycodone is used for the relief of moderate to severe pain such as after an injury, or operation or pain caused by a terminal illness such as cancer. It is usually used when other milder painkillers such as paracetamol or non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) don’t work well enough.

Oxycodone belongs to a group of medicines called opioid painkillers. They act on your brain and nervous system to reduce pain.
Other pain relievers such as paracetamol and NSAIDs (ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen) may also be used with oxycodone.
Oxycodone is not very effective for nerve pain.
In New Zealand, oxycodone is available as capsules, tablets and in a liquid form.
Read more about pain, pain-relief medication, opioid painkillers.

Dose

The dose of oxycodone will be different for different people.
Always take your oxycodone exactly as your doctor has told you. Depending on the reason you are taking it, your doctor may advise that you take regular doses or take oxycodone only when you need it for pain relief. Make sure you know which is right for you.
The pharmacy label on your medicine will tell you how much oxycodone to take, how often to take it, and any special instructions.

My dose is:

Morning	Lunch	Tea time	Night



Notes:

How to take oxycodone

You can take oxycodone with or without food.
Oxycodone is available as tablets and capsules. There are also oral liquid and injections but these are mostly used in hospital.
Some types of oxycodone are short-acting or immediate release and others are long-acting or slow release. Ask your pharmacist if you are not sure about the type you are taking.

Formulation	How to take it
Capsules	These are usually taken every 4 to 6 hours. The capsules start working quickly to ease pain. Swallow the capsules whole with a glass of water.
Tablets	The tablets work slowly over several hours to give a constant and more even pain control – these are called modified-release or controlled-release tablets. These are usually taken twice daily (12 hours apart) or once daily (at the same time each day). Swallow the tablets whole – do not break or chew them; otherwise, they may release the medicine too quickly and cause side-effects.

Limit or avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking oxycodone. Taking oxycodone with alcohol can make you more sleepy, drowsy or dizzy.
If you forget to take your dose, take it as soon as you remember that day. But, if it is nearly time for your next dose, just take the next dose at the right time. Do not take double the amount.

Precautions before starting oxycodone

Do you have liver or kidney problems?
Do you have breathing problems such as asthma, COPD or sleep apnoea?
Do you have epilepsy?
Have you had an accident or a head injury?
Do you have problems with your bowel such as constipation?
Are you pregnant or breastfeeding?
Are you taking any other medicines? This includes any medicines you buy without a prescription, such as herbal and complementary medicines.

If so, it’s important that you tell your doctor or pharmacist before you start oxycodone. Sometimes a medicine isn’t suitable for a person with certain conditions, or it can only be used with extra care.

What are the side effects of oxycodone?

Like all medicines, oxycodone can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. Often side effects improve as your body gets used to the new medicine.

Addiction

Addiction is an excessive craving. If you are addicted to oxycodone, it means you are not able to control your use of it. It is unusual for people who are prescribed oxycodone for a short time or for a terminal illness to become addicted to it.

Some people are more likely to develop addiction than others and seem to be very sensitive to the cravings. You may be at risk for addiction if you have mental health problems such as depression or a history of substance abuse, including alcohol and recreational drugs.

To reduce your risk of addiction, oxycodone for short-term pain relief should be used for the shortest possible time, at the lowest effective dose, with a plan in place to reduce and withdraw treatment.

Other side effects

Side effects	What should I do?
Feeling sleepy, dizzy or tired Reduced concentration	This is common when starting oxycodone or after increasing the dose Be careful when driving or using tools until you know how this medicine affects you Do not drink alcohol
Feeling sick (nausea) or vomiting	This common when you first start taking oxycodone Mostly this settles and goes away Tell your doctor if this is troublesome You may need an anti-sickness tablet at times
Constipation	Ask your doctor to prescribe a suitable laxative, which you need to take on a regular basis You also need to eat more fruit, vegetables, brown bread, bran-based breakfast cereals and drink plenty of water. Read more about how to ease and prevent constipation.
Headache, dry mouth, altered vision	These are quite common when you first start taking oxycodone and usually go away with time Tell your doctor if troublesome
Frequent mood changes, anxiety, depression, thoughts of suicide, abnormal behaviours	Tell your doctor immediately or ring HealthLine 0800 611 116
Signs of an allergic reaction such as skin rashes, itches, swelling of the face, lips, mouth, or difficulty breathing	Tell your doctor immediately or ring HealthLine 0800 611 116
Did you know that you can report a side effect to a medicine to CARM (Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring)? Report a side effect to a product

Interactions

Oxycodone interacts with some other medications and herbal supplements, so check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting oxycodone or before starting any new medicines. It may interact with medicines available without a prescription such as cough suppressants (for example, Benadryl Dry Forte®, Duro-Tuss®) and sedating antihistamines (such as Phenergan®).