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Pain management

Oxycodone

Patient Information Leaflet

Introduction

Welcome to The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust pain management service. This leaflet will provide you and your relatives with information about a medication called oxycodone. It includes what it is for, how it is taken and its benefits and risks.

This leaflet is not meant to replace discussion between you and your doctor, but as a guide to be used in conjunction with what is discussed.

What is oxycodone?

It is a strong medicine used to treat severe pain.  It belongs to a group of medicines known as opioids (similar to morphine).

It is available in capsule and liquid forms.  It can also be prescribed in a slow release form where the medication is released slowly over the day to give a better effect if used in the long term.  The brand name of the slow release tablets is Oxycontin and the liquid form is named Oxynorm.

What are the benefits?

Oxycodone is used to treat severe pain that has not responded to other weaker types of painkillers.

What are the risks?

Oxycodone can cause side effects. It may cause you to feel drowsy so you should be careful before driving, operating machinery or doing anything where you need to be alert.

Important: do not drive or operate heavy machinery if you feel drowsy.

Avoid alcohol whilst taking this medicine. Oxycodone can cause constipation so you may need to eat plenty of fibre (such as fruit and vegetables) and drink plenty of water. Ask for advice from your GP if needed.  You may also experience a dry mouth, hot flushes, dizziness or nausea (feeling sick).

It can cause long term side effects that you need to discuss with your GP or the doctor who started you on this medication.

How do I take it?

Please take your painkiller as directed by your pain consultant or GP. There will also be information on the leaflet enclosed with the medication.  Never share your medication with anyone else.

If you have been prescribed slow release tablets they should be swallowed whole with water, not crushed or chewed.

Dose

Your dose will be calculated, and may need to be changed gradually over time, by your GP or pain consultant. Your GP or pain consultant will tell you if your dose needs to change. Never take more than your prescribed dose.

You may be prescribed Oxycontin slow release tablets as well as Oxynorm liquid for any sudden flare-ups of pain.

Do not stop taking the medication suddenly. If you want to stop taking it, speak to your GP or pain management team as you will need to come off it gradually, to avoid side effects.

What if I have problems?

You can contact the clinical nurse specialists in the pain management team (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) by:

Out of these hours, you will need to contact your GP or NHS 111.

Can I find out more?

The following website has more information about managing pain:

British Pain Society

https://www.britishpainsociety.org/british-pain-society-publications/patient-publications/

If you have any questions, or if there is anything you do not understand, please contact the Russells Hall Hospital switchboard number on 01384 456111 and ask for the relevant department who issued this leaflet.

If you have any feedback on this patient information leaflet please email dgft.patient.information@nhs.net

This leaflet can be made available in large print, audio version and in other languages, please call 0800 073 0510.

Originator: Candice Baker, Ruth Carter, Kumar Vasappa. Review date: January 2023. Next review October 2025. Version: 4.   DGH ref: DGH/PIL/01240.