OxyContin Oral

Warnings 

This medication is a strong narcotic pain reliever similar to morphine.

This medication is used to treat moderate to severe pain that is expected to last for a long period of time. It should be used on a regular schedule as prescribed by your doctor, not on an as-needed basis.

You should use the 60 milligrams, 80 milligrams, or 160 milligrams tablets only if you have been taking moderate to large amounts of a potent narcotic medication (e.g., morphine). Use of these high-strength tablets by someone who is not regularly taking narcotic medications can cause serious (possibly fatal) breathing problems (e.g., very slow and shallow breathing).

Swallow the tablets whole. Broken, chewed or crushed tablets may release large (possibly life-threatening) amounts of medication into your body.

Uses 
This drug is used to treat moderate to severe chronic pain (e.g., cancer pain). This medication acts on certain centers in the brain to give you pain relief. It is a long-acting narcotic pain reliever (opiate-type).

This medication should not be used as needed for mild pain which will go away in a few days or for prevention of pain after surgery. If you have not been on this medication before surgery, you should not use it for acute pain in the first 12 to 24 hours after surgery.

How to use OxyContin Oral

See also Warning section.

Take this medication by mouth, usually twice daily (every 12 hours) or as directed by your doctor. Do not crush, chew, or break the tablets. Take this drug either always with food, or always on an empty stomach (one hour before or two hours after a meal). If you have nausea, you may take this drug with food. If nausea persists or worsens, consult your doctor or pharmacist about alternatives for decreasing nausea (e.g., antihistamines, lying down for 1-2 hours with minimal head movement).

Read the Patient Information Leaflet available from your pharmacist. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. The dosage is based on your medical condition, use of other pain relievers, and response to therapy.

You may take immediate-release narcotic pain medications for acute pain if so directed by your doctor. Also follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instruction for the safe use of non-narcotic pain relievers (e.g., acetaminophen, ibuprofen).

If you have been using other long-acting narcotic pain medications or narcotic patches regularly, check with your doctor or pharmacist since they may need to be discontinued before starting this medication. If you are currently using a narcotic-containing patch (e.g., fentanyl), the effects may continue after removal of the patch. Ask your doctor or pharmacist when it is safe to start taking this medication (usually 18 hours after removing the patch).

This medication may cause dependence, especially if it has been used regularly for an extended period of time (more than a few weeks), or if it has been used in high doses. If you suddenly stop this drug, withdrawal reactions (e.g., anxiety, irritability, sweating, trouble sleeping, diarrhea) may occur. Report any such reactions to your doctor immediately. When stopping extended regular use of this medication, gradually reducing the dosage as directed will help prevent withdrawal reactions. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

Though it is very unlikely to occur, this medication can also result in abnormal drug-seeking behavior (addiction/habit-forming). Do not increase your dose, take it more frequently or use it for a longer period of time than prescribed. Properly stop the medication when so directed. This will lessen the chances of becoming addicted.

If you use this medication for an extended period of time, it may not be as effective and you will need a different dose. Talk with your doctor if you think this medication has stopped working well.

Inform your doctor if your pain persists or worsens.

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other narcotic pain relievers (e.g., codeine, hydrocodone); or if you have any other allergies.

This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: serious breathing problems (e.g., severe asthma, respiratory depression, hypercapnia), certain bowel diseases (e.g., paralytic ileus), intoxication with medications that depress the nervous system or your breathing (CNS/respiratory depressants such as alcohol or tranquilizers/sedatives).

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: brain disorders (e.g., seizure, head injury, increased intracranial pressure), adrenal gland problem (e.g., Addison's disease), difficulty urinating (e.g., enlarged prostate, urethral stricture), personal or family history of regular use/abuse of drugs/alcohol/other substances, kidney or liver disease, heart problems (e.g., low blood pressure, irregular heartbeat), lung diseases (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypoxia), metabolic disorders (e.g., low sodium, low body water), disease of the pancreas (pancreatitis), psychiatric problems (e.g., major depression, toxic psychosis), spinal problems (kyphoscoliosis), stomach/intestinal problems (e.g., gallbladder disease, severe diarrhea or constipation), underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).

This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy; do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Avoid alcoholic beverages.

To minimize dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a seated or lying position.

Tell your doctor or dentist you are on this medication prior to having surgery.

Caution is advised when using this drug in elderly because they may be more sensitive to its side effects (e.g., slow/shallow breathing and drowsiness effects).

This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Inform your doctor immediately if you are or think you are pregnant. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. This medication should not be started near or at the time of delivery because of possible side effects in the newborn (e.g., slow/shallow breathing). If prescribed, follow your doctor's instructions closely and do not suddenly stop taking this drug. Infants born to mothers who have been using this medication for an extended time, may have withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, abnormal/persistent crying, vomiting, or diarrhea. Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of these symptoms in your newborn.

This medication passes into breast milk and may have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Breast-feeding while using this drug is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Overdose

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US national poison hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly. Symptoms of overdose may include: slowed breathing, slowed heartbeat, persistent dizziness/fainting, cold/clammy skin, limp/weak muscles, excessive drowsiness, or loss of consciousness.

NOTES:

Do not share this medication with others. It is against the law.

This medication has been prescribed for your current condition only. Do not use it later for another condition unless directed by your doctor. A different medication may be necessary in those cases.

MISSED DOSE:

If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

STORAGE:

Store at room temperature, 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Brief storage between 59 and 86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) is permitted. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of this medication after you stop taking it.

Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product. 

Nausea, vomiting, constipation, mild itching, drowsiness, dry mouth, lightheadedness, loss of appetite, or weakness may occur. Some of these side effects may decrease after continued use of the medication. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

To prevent constipation, maintain a diet adequate in fiber, drink plenty of water, and exercise. Consult your pharmacist for help in the use of a laxative (e.g., stimulant-type and stool softener).

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: slow/irregular/shallow breathing, dizziness upon standing, slow/fast/irregular heartbeat, mental/mood changes, uncontrolled muscle movements (tremors), vision changes.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: severe stomach/abdominal pain, change in the amount of urine, seizures.

An empty tablet shell may appear in your stool (or colostomy bag), but it is harmless.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Your healthcare professionals (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.

This drug should not be used with the following medication because very serious interactions may occur: naltrexone.

If you are currently using the medication listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting oxycodone.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: other medications for pain (e.g., butorphanol, codeine, pentazocine, tramadol), anti-seizure drugs (e.g., carbamazepine), anticholinergic medications (e.g., atropine, scopolamine), drugs affecting removal of oxycodone from your body (e.g., cimetidine, SSRI antidepressants such as fluoxetine), drugs that lower blood pressure (e.g., diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide), MAO inhibitors (e.g., furazolidone, isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, procarbazine, selegiline, tranylcypromine), muscle relaxants (e.g., carisoprodol, methocarbamol), pyridostigmine, sodium oxybate.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you also take drugs that cause drowsiness such as: antihistamines that cause drowsiness (e.g., diphenhydramine), anti-anxiety drugs (e.g., diazepam), medicines for sleep (e.g., zolpidem), psychiatric medicines (e.g., phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine, or tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline), tranquilizers.

Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products) because they may contain drowsiness-causing ingredients. Ask your pharmacist about the safe use of those products.

This product can affect the results of certain lab tests. Make sure laboratory personnel and your doctors know you use this drug.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.