Sometimes there are pains that are very difficult to control with ordinary painkillers. Only those who suffer from it know how difficult it is to live with such severe pain that is constant day after day. It is in cases of severe, chronic pain that other medications cannot control, and in cases where doctors prescribe you a strong painkiller like Oxycodone.
Simply put, what is Oxycodone?
Oxycodone is a powerful painkiller that belongs to the opioid class of drugs. It works by blocking pain signals to the brain and controlling the sensation of pain. It is specifically an 'Extended-Release' pill. This means that when you take this pill, the medicine is gradually released into the body over a period of hours, controlling pain throughout the day. Therefore, it is not used for sudden pain. It is prescribed only for severe cases such as cancer pain, severe arthritis conditions, and long-term pain after surgery.
Things you need to tell your doctor before starting this medication:
Because Oxycodone is a very strong drug, it is important to give your doctor a complete account of your medical history. If you have any of the conditions listed below, be sure to tell your doctor without hiding anything .
| Do you have these conditions? | Why is notification important? |
|---|---|
| Asthma, lung disease, or breathing difficulties | This medicine can make breathing even slower . It is very dangerous. |
| Addiction to alcohol or other drugs | Since this is also a potentially addictive drug, it is important for your doctor to be aware of it. |
| Head injury, brain tumor, or seizure | These conditions may worsen or increase side effects. |
| Liver or kidney disease | Because it can be difficult to get the medication out of the body, the dosage may need to be adjusted. |
| Mental health disease | Some mental states may be affected. |
| If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or are a breastfeeding mother | This medicine may affect the unborn baby and the nursing baby. |
| Other medical conditions (Addison's disease, pancreatitis, thyroid problems, gallbladder disease) | The doctor must make decisions about the use of the drug under any of these circumstances. |
| If you have taken MAOI type medication (used for depression) in the past 14 days | Oxycodone is not recommended because it can cause a very severe reaction. |
How should I use this medicine?
This is very important. Take the medicine exactly as the doctor tells you, at the exact time, and in the exact dosage.
- Swallow the tablet whole: Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water. Never break, crush, or chew the tablet. Doing so will cause all of the medicine to be absorbed into the body over several hours, which can lead to an overdose and even death.
- With or without food: This can be taken with or without food. If you feel upset stomach, take the medicine with a small meal.
- Take it on time: Try to take the medicine at the same time every day.
- Don't stop suddenly: Don't stop taking the medication suddenly without your doctor's advice. Doing so can cause withdrawal symptoms. If you do stop, you should do so gradually, following your doctor's advice.
- If you miss a dose: If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the scheduled time.Never take two doses at the same time.
Warning: This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not share it with anyone else for any reason. It is very dangerous and illegal.
What to do in case of an overdose?
If you think you have taken too much medication, or someone else has taken it, you should take action immediately.
1. Call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital (telephone number 0112 686 143).
2. At the same time, take the patient to the nearest hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) .
Things to be careful about when using
- Alcohol: Avoid alcohol completely while taking this medication. Combining alcohol and Oxycodone can cause serious, life-threatening effects, such as respiratory depression.
- Drowsiness and dizziness: This medication may make you feel drowsy and dizzy. Therefore, do not drive or operate machinery until you know exactly how it affects you.
- Don't get up too quickly: Don't get up suddenly, whether from sitting or lying down. Get up slowly. Otherwise, you may get dizzy and fall.
- Constipation: A common side effect of this medication is constipation. To manage this, drink plenty of water and eat fiber-rich foods (fruits, vegetables). If you have not had a bowel movement for 3 days, talk to your doctor.
- Tolerance and Addiction: After taking this medication for a while, the dose that worked before may no longer seem to be enough. This is what we call a 'tolerance'. This is normal. However, you should never increase your dose on your own without your doctor's advice. Talk to your doctor and make any necessary changes. Dependence is not addiction. Addiction is the behavior of seeking out a medication without a medical reason. If you are taking medication for pain, it is a medical necessity.
- Be aware of Naloxone: Naloxone is an emergency medication that can be given to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. It is important for the family of someone taking this medication to be aware of this. Be aware of the symptoms of an overdose (difficulty breathing, excessive sleepiness, loss of consciousness). Talk to your doctor about this.
What are the side effects of the medicine?
Like any medicine, this one can have side effects. Some are serious, some are common.
| Side Effects | |
|---|---|
| Serious side effects that should be reported to your doctor or ETU immediately | |
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue. |
| Difficulty breathing (CNS depression) | Breathing is very slow, breathing is shallow, excessive sleepiness, unconsciousness. |
| Low blood pressure | Dizziness, blue eyes, feeling like you're about to lose consciousness. |
| Side effects that are common but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
| Constipation | What needs to be done for this is mentioned above. |
| Drowsiness and dizziness | This may decrease as the body gets used to the medication. |
| Dry mouth | Drinking water and chewing sugar-free gum may help. |
| Nausea and vomiting | This can be reduced by taking the medicine with food. |
How to store medicine?
This is very important. Keep this medicine in a safe, locked place out of the reach of children and pets . It is your responsibility to keep it safe as it can be misused or stolen. Ask your doctor how to safely dispose of expired or unused medicine.
Take-Home Message
- Oxycodone is a very strong painkiller used only for severe, chronic pain that cannot be controlled by other medications.
- Take only the prescribed dose as prescribed by your doctor. Never break, crush, or chew the tablet.
- This medicine is for you only. Do not share it with others for any reason. It may even be dangerous to their lives.
- Avoid alcohol completely. Be aware of the symptoms of an overdose (difficulty breathing, excessive sleepiness) for yourself and your family.
- Do not stop taking the medication suddenly without medical advice.
- It is essential to inform your doctor about all other medications, vitamins, and supplements you are taking.
👩🏽⚕️ Additional questions (FAQs)
💬 Oxycodone (Oxycodone / OxyContin, Roxicodone) is a pill used to treat what disease?
This is not like regular Panadol! This is the most powerful (Opioid / Narcotic) painkiller in the world that can relieve 100% of the unbearable 'Severe Pain' that comes after major surgery or bone fractures and cure the patient!
💬 How does this powerful drug (Oxycodone) reach our brain and instantly relieve severe pain?
This is like tricking the brain! When something in our body breaks, the nerves that scream carry the pain straight to the brain through the spinal cord. After taking this medicine, it goes straight to the brain (and spinal cord) and locks all the gates that control pain (Mu-opioid receptors) there! Then it gives the brain a false sense of 'happiness and comfort/euphoria', so that even if there is pain, the patient does not feel it at all.
💬 Is this medicine (Oxycodone / Opioids) addictive? What is the most dangerous risk (Black Box Warning)?
Yes! This is a highly addictive drug similar to Heroin! (Drug Abuse). And the most dangerous fatal danger of this is 'Respiratory depression'. If this pill is taken with alcohol/sleeping pills, or if the dose is even slightly increased, it will cause the patient's brain to spin and the patient will stop breathing completely and die like a stone!
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