How many oxycontin is safe to take

Keep all appointments with your doctor. Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your body's response to oxycodone. Before having any laboratory test especially those that involve methylene blue , tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are taking oxycodone. This prescription is not refillable. If you continue to have pain after you finish the oxycodone, call your doctor.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription over-the-counter medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.

Generic alternatives may be available. Oxycodone pronounced as ox I koe' done. Why is this medication prescribed? How should this medicine be used? Other uses for this medicine What special precautions should I follow? What special dietary instructions should I follow? What should I do if I forget a dose? What side effects can this medication cause?

What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication? Brand names Brand names of combination products. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking oxycodone. Other uses for this medicine. What special precautions should I follow?

Before taking oxycodone, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to oxycodone, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in the oxycodone product you plan to take. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients. Also tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or receiving the following monoamine oxidase MAO inhibitors or if you have stopped taking them within the past two weeks: isocarboxazid Marplan , linezolid Zyvox , methylene blue, phenelzine Nardil , selegiline Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar , or tranylcypromine Parnate.

Many other medications may also interact with oxycodone, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list.

Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. John's wort and tryptophan. Your doctor may tell you not to take oxycodone. Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had a blockage in your stomach or intestine; low blood pressure; seizures; Addison's disease condition in which the adrenal gland does not produce enough hormone ; seizures; urethral stricture blockage of the tube that allows urine to leave the body , enlarged prostate a male reproductive gland , problems urinating; or heart, kidney, liver, pancreas, thyroid, or gall bladder disease.

If you will be taking the extended-release tablets or extended-release capsules, also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had difficulty swallowing, diverticulitis condition in which small pouches form in the intestines and become swollen and infected , colon cancer cancer that begins in the large intestine , or esophageal cancer cancer that begins in the tube that connects the mouth and stomach.

Do not drive a car, operate heavy machinery, or participate in any other possibly dangerous activities until you know how this medication affects you. To help avoid this problem, get out of bed slowly, resting your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up. Talk to your doctor about changing your diet or using other medications to prevent or treat constipation while you are taking oxycodone. Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

Oxycodone may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms, are severe or do not go away: dry mouth stomach pain drowsiness flushing headache mood changes Some side effects can be serious. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible side effects. This information is not a substitute for medical advice.

Always discuss possible side effects with a healthcare provider who knows your medical history. Oxycodone oral tablet can interact with other medications, vitamins , or herbs you may be taking. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works.

This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well. To help avoid interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. Do not take these drugs with oxycodone. Doing so can cause dangerous effects in your body.

Examples of these drugs include:. Increased side effects from other drugs: Taking oxycodone with certain medications raises your risk of side effects from these drugs.

Increased side effects from oxycodone: Taking oxycodone with certain medications raises your risk of side effects from oxycodone. This is because the amount of oxycodone in your body may be increased. When oxycodone is used with certain drugs, it may not work as well to treat your pain. This is because the amount of oxycodone in your body may be decreased. However, because drugs interact differently in each person, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions.

Always speak with your healthcare provider about possible interactions with all prescription drugs, vitamins, herbs and supplements, and over-the-counter drugs that you are taking. All possible dosages and drug forms may not be included here. Your dosage, drug form, and how often you take the drug will depend on:. The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, a higher amount of a drug stays in your body for a longer time.

This raises your risk of side effects. Your doctor may start you on a lowered dose or a different dosing schedule. This can help keep levels of this drug from building up too much in your body. Oxycodone extended-release tablets can only be used for certain children in this age range.

These are children who have taken and tolerated opioid medications for at least five days in a row. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages.

Always speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you. Taking it again could be fatal cause death. Do not drink alcohol while taking oxycodone. The use of drinks that contain alcohol raises your risk of serious side effects from oxycodone.

It may even result in coma or death. For people with breathing problems: Oxycodone may slow down your breathing or cause you to have shallow breathing. If you have a breathing problem such as asthma or COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , talk with your doctor about whether this drug is safe for you.

Certain people should never take oxycodone: These include people who already have slow or shallow breathing, or who have too much carbon dioxide in their blood due to poor breathing. They also include people with acute or severe asthma. For all of these people, taking this drug could harm their breathing too much and cause death. For people with gastrointestinal GI problems: Oxycodone can worsen certain stomach or bowel problems.

Do not switch from one brand or form to the other unless your doctor tells you to. This is normal and nothing to worry about. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine.

If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.

Do not double doses. Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing. Oxycodone can cause serious unwanted effects if taken by adults who are not used to strong narcotic pain medicines, children, or pets.

Make sure you store the medicine in a safe and secure place to prevent others from getting it. Drop off any unused narcotic medicine at a drug take-back location right away. Drinking alcohol while you're taking oxycodone may make you feel more sleepy or increase the risk of serious side effects. Grapefruit juice can increase the amount of oxycodone in your body so it's a good idea to avoid it while you're taking oxycodone.

Oxycodone is not generally affected by any other food or drink except alcohol. Oxycodone does not affect any type of contraception including the combined pill or emergency contraception.

There's no firm evidence to suggest that taking oxycodone will reduce fertility in women or men. However, speak to a pharmacist or doctor if you're trying to get pregnant. They may want to review your treatment. Do not drive a car, ride a bike or operate machinery if oxycodone gives you blurred vision, makes you feel dizzy, sleepy, clumsy or unable to concentrate or make decisions. This may be more likely when you first start taking oxycodone but could happen at any time — for example when starting another medicine or if a doctor increases your dose.

It's an offence to drive a car if your ability to drive safely is affected. It's your responsibility to decide if it's safe to drive. If you're in any doubt, do not drive. It may be best not to drink alcohol while taking oxycodone as you're more likely to get side effects like feeling sleepy.

Even if your ability to drive is not affected, police have the right to request a saliva sample to check how much morphine is in your body. UK has more information about the law on drugs and driving. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure whether it's safe for you to drive while taking oxycodone.

If you take recreational drugs, such as cannabis, cocaine and heroin, while you're taking oxycodone, you're more likely to get the serious side effects of oxycodone including breathing difficulties, muscle stiffness, low blood pressure and seizures or fits.

Some recreational drugs, such as cannabis, will also increase oxycodone side effects and make you feel sleepy and dizzy. Taking heroin while you're taking prescribed oxycodone is especially dangerous. You're more likely to get all the side effects of oxycodone, including addiction.

Tell your doctor if you take recreational drugs while you're taking oxycodone. Page last reviewed: 17 October Next review due: 17 October Oxycodone On this page About oxycodone Key facts Who can and cannot take oxycodone How and when to take it Taking oxycodone with other painkillers Side effects How to cope with side effects Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions.

About oxycodone Oxycodone is an opiate painkiller. Oxycodone is also known by the brand names Oxynorm and OxyContin.

Help us improve our website Can you answer a quick question about your visit today? Oxycodone works by stopping pain signals travelling along the nerves to the brain. Oxycodone liquid and capsules work in 30 to 60 minutes but wear off after 4 to 6 hours.

It's possible to become addicted to oxycodone, but your doctor will explain how to reduce the risks of becoming addicted. If you need to take oxycodone for more than a few weeks, your treatment plan may include details of how and when to stop taking this medicine. The most common side effects of oxycodone are constipation, feeling sick and feeling sleepy.

Oxycodone can be taken by adults and children aged 1 month and older. Tell your doctor before starting this medicine if you: have ever had an allergic reaction to oxycodone or any other medicine have lung problems, asthma or breathing difficulties have an addiction to alcohol have a head injury or condition which causes seizures or fits have an underactive thyroid gland hypothyroidism have kidney or liver problems have an enlarged prostate have low blood pressure hypotension have a mental health condition which is affected by certain medicines have had recent stomach surgery or bowel problems are trying to get pregnant, are already pregnant or if you're breastfeeding.

Oxycodone comes as: capsules — these contain 5mg, 10mg or 20mg of oxycodone slow-release tablets — these contain 5mg, 10mg, 15mg, 20mg, 30mg, 40mg, 60mg, 80mg or mg of oxycodone liquid — this contains 5mg of oxycodone in 5ml or 10mg of oxycodone in 1ml of liquid. Important Do not break, crush, chew or suck oxycodone slow-release tablets. How often will I take it? How often you take it depends on the type of oxycodone that you've been prescribed: capsules — usually 4 to 6 times a day slow-release tablets — usually 1 to 2 times a day liquid — usually 4 to 6 times a day You can take oxycodone at any time of day, but try to take it at the same time every day and space your doses evenly.

Will my dose go up or down? What if I forget to take it? This will depend on which type of oxycodone you're taking. Never take 2 doses at the same time to make up for a forgotten one. What if I take too much? Urgent advice: Call now if:. Go to Where to store oxycodone If you're prescribed oxycodone, it's really important that you: store it properly and safely at home keep it out of the sight and reach of children do not give your medicine to anyone else return any unused oxycodone to a pharmacy so it can be thrown away safely.

Common side effects Common side effects happen in more than 1 in people. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or do not go away: constipation feeling or being sick nausea or vomiting stomach discomfort feeling sleepy or tired feeling dizzy and a sensation of spinning vertigo confusion headaches itchiness or rash Serious side effects Serious side effects happen in less than 1 in people.