Confirmation

Are you sure you want to sign out?

Sign Out Cancel

Clinical Practice Guidelines
Drug Monographs
Clinical Resources
What's New
BCEHS Handbook FAQ
About BCEHS Handbook
Licence Level Filtering

PCP ACP CCP EMR DISPATCH

Open All

Oxycodone

Classification

high alert medication

Opioid analgesic

Indications

ACP: Symptom relief in palliative or end-of-life patients presenting with pain

ACP: For symptom relief in patients with an oxycodone prescription for pain

Contraindications

Allergy or known hypersensitivity to oxycodone

Adult dosages

ACP: Pain management in palliative or end-of-life patients

Requires specific training and license endorsement
CliniCall (or palliative care team) consultation required prior to selecting a dosing strategy
5-10 mg PO q 4-6 hours
May repeat every 10-30 minutes as required based on blood pressure (> 100 mmHg) or as per CliniCall/palliative care team plan

Pediatric Considerations And Dosing

ACP: Pain management in palliative or end-of-life patients

Requires specific training and license endorsement
CliniCall (or palliative care team) consultation required prior to selecting a dosing strategy
0.1-0.2 mg/kg PO q 4-6 hours (tablet or liquid solution)

Mechanism Of Action

Binds to opiate receptors in the CNS causing inhibition of ascending pain pathways and altering the perception of and response to pain; produces generalized CNS depression

Pharmacokinetics

Oral dosing:
- Onset - 10-15 minutes
- Peak - 30-60 minutes
- Duration - 3-12 hours

Adverse Effects

Lightheadedness, dizziness, sedation, agitation, fear, delirium, hallucinations, drowsiness, disorientation
Respiratory depression/apnea
Profound hypotension, reflex tachycardia, bradycardia, palpitations, chest wall rigidity
Nausea and vomiting

Overdose

Provide airway management and ventilatory support. Consider the use of naloxone to reverse opioid intoxication. Naloxone should be used judiciously in patients on long-term opioid therapy to avoid precipitating acute withdrawal syndrome.

See Naloxone guideline.

Warning And Precautions

Hypersensitivity to other opioids; suspected surgical abdomen; any disease/condition that affects bowel transit; mild pain that can be managed with other pain medications; mild, intermittent or short duration pain that can be managed with other pain medications or acute pain (extended release); chronic obstructive airway; status asthmaticus; cor pulmonale; acute alcoholism; delirium tremens; convulsive disorders; severe CNS depression; increased cerebrospinal or intracranial pressure; head injury; monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors (concomitant use or within 14 days of therapy); pregnant women or during labor and delivery; breastfeeding
Dosing should be adjusted for patients with hepatic disease; consult medical oversight or pharmacy for direction
Oxycodone is supplied in both immediate-release and extended-release formulations; extended-release formulations are not suitable to acute or breakthrough pain
Extended-release formulations provide an extended duration of action due to slower absorption; misuse or overdose can result in prolonged and/or ongoing effects

Drug Interactions

Depressant effects are potentiated by the presence of other CNS depressants such as alcohol, sedatives, antihistamines, neuroleptics, or psychotropic drugs