Oxycontin OP 20mg

OxyContin OP 20mg Tablets: Safety Information

OxyContin (oxycodone hydrochloride controlled-release) is a powerful prescription opioid analgesic. The OP 20mg tablet is an extended-release formulation used for the management of moderate to severe pain requiring around-the–clock treatment. The “OP” designation indicates a newer abuse–deterrent formulation.

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1. 🧪 Drug Profile

• Generic Name: Oxycodone hydrochloride

• Formulation: Extended-release (ER) tablet with abuse-deterrent properties (difficult to crush, break, or dissolve for misuse).

• Potency: Oxycodone is approximately 1.5 times stronger than morphine.

• Purpose: For patients who need continuous, long-term pain relief.

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2. ⚠️ Critical Risks & Black Box Warnings

• ABUSE AND ADDICTION: OxyContin has a high potential for abuse and addiction which can lead to overdose and death.

• LIFE-THREATENING RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION: Serious, life-threatening, or fatal breathing problems can occur.

• ACCIDENTAL INGESTION: Accidental consumption by someone other than the patient can result in a fatal overdose.

• ABUSE DETERRENT NOT ABUSE PROOF: The OP formulation is designed to discourage misuse, but it does not eliminate the risk of abuse or addiction.

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3. 🚨 Critical Safety Information

• Swallowing Whole is Mandatory: Tablets must be swallowed whole. Never crush, break, chew, or dissolve.

• Dangerous Interactions: Do NOT combine with:

  • Alcohol

  • Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium, Klonopin)

  • Other opioids or central nervous system (CNS) depressants

  • Mixing greatly increases risk of respiratory depression and death.

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4. ✅ Safe Use Guidelines (For Prescribed Patients Only)

• Take exactly as prescribed — never increase dose or frequency without doctor instruction.

• Do not abruptly stop — can cause severe withdrawal symptoms. Taper under medical supervision.

• Store securely — in a locked container to prevent theft, misuse, or accidental ingestion by others.

• Recognize overdose signs:

  • Slow or stopped breathing

  • Extreme drowsiness/inability to wake up

  • Pinpoint pupils

  • Cold, clammy skin

How to take OxyContin?

Read the available medication guide before you start taking OxyContin, and each time you get a refill. If you have any queries regarding how to take OxyContin, you can consult your medical healthcare provider. Take OxyContin regularly as per your doctor’s directions, not as needed for breakthrough pain. Doctors recommend taking this drug with or without food, usually within every 12 hours. If you have nausea, your medical healthcare provider may consult you to take it with food. You may use other ways to decrease nausea, such as lying down for an hour or two with minimum possible head movements. Swallow the whole tablet without crushing, chewing, breaking, or dissolving it because doing so can release all the drug in the body at a time leading to an increase in the risk of OxyContin overdose. To reduce the chance of choking or trouble swallowing tablets:

1. Take only one pill at a time if your dose is more than one pill.
2. Do not wet, lick, or pre-soak the tablet before placing it in your mouth.
3. Ensure to drink sufficient water to swallow it entirely.

Before you start taking this medication, ask your medical healthcare provider if you should start or stop taking other opioids. Other pain relievers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen can also be under prescription. If you suddenly stop taking this medicine, you may face withdrawal symptoms such as:

• Trouble sleeping
• Anxiety
• Suicidal thoughts
• Nausea
• Runny nose
• Watering eyes
• Sweating
• Diarrhea
• Muscle ache
• Sudden changes in behavior

OxyContin dosage

Your OxyContin dosage will depend upon your age, the severity of your medical condition, your initial response to the treatment with OxyContin, other medical conditions (if you have any), and other medications you take. The usual initial dosage of OxyContin for adults should be 10 mg within every 12 hours. OxyContin is not under the recommendation for use by anyone younger than 11 years.

Overdose

In case of an overdose of OxyContin, take medical help promptly or call the Poison helpline at 1-800-FDA-1088. An OxyContin overdose can be deadly, especially in a child or someone taking it without a prescription. Overdose symptoms of OxyContin may include slow breathing, severe drowsiness, pinpoint pupils, or no breathing.

What to avoid while using OxyContin?

Avoid eating grapefruit or taking any grapefruit product in liquid form while using OxyContin unless your medical healthcare provider says you may do so safely. Grapefruit can make an increment in the risk of side effects with this medicine. Avoid consumption of alcohol because it can result in dangerous side effects, or death could occur. Also, avoid medication errors. Before buying OxyContin, have a look at the brand and strength of Oxycodone you are putting into your cart.

OxyContin side effects

Take instant medical help if you have an allergic reaction due to the use of OxyContin. An allergic reaction sign may include trouble breathing, hives, and swelling of your face, throat, lips, or tongue. OxyContin’s common side effects may include headache, drowsiness, tiredness, dizziness, stomach pain, constipation, vomiting, and nausea. Opioid medicines like OxyContin can slow down or stop your breathing which may cause death. Your attendant or caregiver should give you naloxone and seek urgent medical attention if you have blue-colored lips, slow breathing with long pauses, or if you find it hard to wake up. Call your doctor immediately if you have:

• Weak pulse or slow heart rate;
• Shallow breathing, sighing, noisy breathing, breathing that stops during sleep;
• Seizure;
• A light-headed feeling;
• Unusual thoughts or behavior, confusion;
• High serotonin levels in the body- hallucinations, agitation, sweating, fever, rapid heart rate, shivering, twitching, muscle stiffness, nausea, loss of coordination, diarrhea, vomiting; or
• Low cortisol levels- vomiting, nausea, dizziness, loss of appetite, worsening weakness or tiredness

Keep in mind that it is not a complete list of possible side effects, and others may occur. For further information regarding side effects, consult your medical healthcare provider. You may report any new side effects varying from the list mentioned above to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What drugs can interact with OxyContin?

You may have withdrawal symptoms or breathing problems if you take certain other medicines. Tell your medical healthcare provider if you also use antifungal medication, antibiotics, seizure medication, blood pressure or heart treatment, or medicine to treat hepatitis C or HIV. OxyContin can interact with various other drugs and cause fatal side effects. Ensure that your doctor knows if you also use:

• Medicines for overactive bladder, irritable bowel syndrome, or motion sickness;
• Bronchodilator asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) medication, cold or allergy medicines, or a diuretic “water pill”;
• A sedative like Valium- Versed, Klonopin, Xanax, lorazepam, alprazolam, diazepam, and others;
• Other opioids- prescription cough medicine or opioid pain drug;
• Drugs that affect serotonin levels- a stimulant or medicine for nausea and vomiting, serious infections, migraine headaches, depression, or Parkinson’s disease;
• Drugs that cause sleepiness or slow down your breathing- medicine to treat mood changes or mental illness, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer.