Naloxone is an emergency medication used for an opioid overdose. It can also happen if an opioid is taken with some other medications or substances, such as alcohol. Know the symptoms of an overdose, such as trouble breathing, unusually tired or sleepy, or not being able to respond or wake up.
Important Dosage and Administration Instructions
The extended-release form is only available as the brand-name drug OxyContin. This article helps you understand the differences and similarities between these two drugs and how they work. This list is not complete and many other drugs may interact with oxycodone. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
How long does oxycodone take to work?
- Drink plenty of water to swallow the extended-release capsules or tablets.
- This drug passes into breast milk and may have undesirable effects on a nursing infant.
- Addiction is a behavior related to getting and using a medication for a nonmedical reason.
- Concomitant use of benzodiazepines and opioids may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death.
- For geriatric patients who are debilitated and not opioid tolerant, start dosing patients at one-third to one-half the recommended starting dosage and titrate the dosage cautiously.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to OxyContin with symptoms of hives, difficulty breathing, and swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Concomitant use of benzodiazepines and opioids may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death. Addiction, abuse, and misuse, leading to overdose and death has been reported.
Initial Dosage in Pediatric Patients 11 Years and Older
The following dosing information is for use only in pediatric patients 11 years and older already receiving and tolerating opioids for at least five consecutive days. For the two days immediately preceding dosing with OXYCONTIN, patients must be taking a minimum of 20 mg per day of oxycodone or its equivalent. OXYCONTIN is not appropriate for use in pediatric patients requiring less than a 20 mg total daily dose.
Oxycodone vs. OxyContin
- Talk to your care team regarding the use of this medication in children.
- Oxycodone extended-release capsules or tablets should not be used if you need pain medicine for just a short time, such as when recovering from surgery.
- The presence of risk factors for overdose should not prevent the proper management of pain in any given patient [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1, 5.2, 5.3)].
Under the requirements of the REMS, drug companies with approved opioid analgesic products must make REMS-compliant education programs available to healthcare providers. Opioids are some of the most commonly abused prescription drugs. Talk with your doctor about how to safely take them to lower your risk for addiction and abuse.
Oxycodone vs OxyContin – What’s the difference?
Make sure your doctor knows about all the medications and supplements you use. You take oxycodone once every 4 to 6 hours, or as needed, how addictive is oxycontin to manage your pain. The same is true if you take a form that includes another medicine, such as acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen.
- Do not take more than one dose of the extended-release tablets or capsules in 12 hours.
- OxyContin can only be prescribed for pediatric patients 11 years of age and older who are already taking and can tolerate a minimum daily opioid dose of at least 20 mg of oxycodone orally or its equivalent.
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- Before taking oxycodone, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other opioid pain relievers (such as oxymorphone); or if you have any other allergies.
- This medicine is a yellow, round, film-coated, tablet imprinted with «OP» and «40».
The extended-release tablets (Oxycontin) are taken every 12 hours with or without food. The extended-release capsules (Xtampza ER) are taken every 12 hours with food; eat the same amount of food with each dose. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. It is important to ensure ongoing care of the patient and to agree on an appropriate tapering schedule and follow-up plan so that patient and provider goals and expectations are clear and realistic. When opioid analgesics are being discontinued due to a suspected substance use disorder, evaluate and treat the patient, or refer for evaluation and treatment of the substance use disorder.
Symptoms of overdose
Treatment should include evidence-based approaches, such as medication assisted treatment of opioid use disorder. Complex patients with comorbid pain and substance use disorders may benefit from referral to a specialist. OxyContin is an opioid (narcotic) pain medication used to relieve severe ongoing pain that is not controlled by other pain treatments. OxyContin contains oxycodone, a strong pain reliever that helps reduce pain by activating opioid receptors in the nervous system. OxyContin is an extended-release tablet that is taken every 12 hours regularly, it is not for occasional use or to be taken “as needed” for pain. As it is a long-acting opioid pain medicine it can put you at risk for overdose and death.
