Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsOxycodone for PainHow Long It LastsHow Long It Takes to WorkSide Effects and SafetyHow Effective Is It?Precautions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Oxycodone for Pain
How Long It Lasts
How Long It Takes to Work
Side Effects and Safety
How Effective Is It?
Precautions
Oxycodoneis an orally administered prescriptionopioid pain medicationused to treat moderate to severe pain. It can be further classified as a semi-synthetic narcotic analgesic.
If you are prescribed oxycodone for pain relief, you will want to know how long it will take to work.
Oxycodone immediate-release (IR) formulations will start working quickly, reaching the maximum effect within 60–80 minutes. However, extended-release (ER) versions take longer to work.
Read on for more information regarding how quickly oxycodone begins to work, alongside the factors that may affect its onset of action.
Getty Images / Israel Sebastian
Oxycodone for Pain Management
For people withchronic (long-term) painstemming from conditions that includecancer painor thesurgery recovery process, non-opioid medication treatment options are preferred, along with non-medicinal methods likephysical therapy.
However, in some cases, when these alternative measures do not provide enough pain relief, an opioid pain medicine may be necessary.
How Oxycodone Works
Opioids bind to receptors in the brain, which help reduce pain. They can be effective and safe when used as directed under the care of a healthcare provider.
What Oxycodone Treats
Opioids can be used to treat various types of pain, including:
Some healthcare providers will be prescribed an IR medication, such as IR oxycodone, that can be taken for severe pain as needed.
Others will require round-the-clock pain management, taking an ER formulation of an opioid (such asOxyContin) at regular intervals and an IR medication in between for breakthrough pain that occurs between doses of ER medicine.
How Long Do Different Oxycodone Forms Last?
Before we talk about how long oxycodone takes to work, let’s review some of its most common formulations:
Oxycodone in Other Products
Oxycodone is also available in combination products, such asPercocet, a drug that combines oxycodone andacetaminophento treat moderate to moderately severe pain.
How Long Does Oxycodone Take to Work?
After taking a dose of IR oxycodone, the medication will start to work quickly.
The IR tablet or capsule will reach its maximum effect in about 80 minutes. Conversely, the oral liquid takes about 60 minutes to reach its maximum effect.
The pain relief from one dose of IR oxycodone will last for about three to four hours and is generally prescribed to be taken every four to six hours if needed.
How Quickly Will OxyContin Work?
OxyContin is a commonly prescribed brand-name form of oxycodone.
A dose of OxyContin reaches its maximum effect in about four to five hours and is designed to release its medication over 12 hours.
After 24–36 hours, a steady state is reached, meaning that drug levels stay relatively stable because you continue to take the medication every 12 hours. So even when it is eliminated from the body, you are taking more, leading to even levels in the body (this medication is taken every 12 hours rather than on an as-needed basis).
Food does not affect how OxyContin is absorbed. Therefore, you can take it with or without food.
How Quickly Will Xtampza ER Work?
Xtampza ER is a brand-name medication for ER oxycodone. It is used for managing pain severe enough to require long-term, round-the-clock treatment with an opioid.
A dose of Xtampza ER reaches its maximum effect in about five hours and is designed to release its medication over 12 hours.
Like OxyContin, Xtampza ER reaches a steady state in 24–36 hours, so levels will remain steady in the body. Xtampza ER should be taken with the same amount of food each time.
A Word From Verywell
—FEMI AREMU, PHARMD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
The warning notes that oxycodone can lead to addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death.
Common Side Effects
Like all drugs, oxycodone carries the potential for side effects of varying severity.
Common side effects associated with the use of oxycodone include:
Severe Side Effects
Severe side effects associated with the use of oxycodone include:
Contact your healthcare provider right away if you experience any of the aforementioned severe side effects.
Furthermore, dial 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.
Signs of a medical emergency may include shortness of breath,tachycardia (a rapid heartbeat),chest pain,extreme drowsiness,lightheadednesswhen standing up,high body temperature, muscle stiffness,confusion, or swelling of the face, tongue, or throat.
Potential for Interaction
Your healthcare provider will closely examine your medical history before prescribing oxycodone, including all active drug prescriptions.
If taken simultaneously, oxycodone and select medications can result in severe side effects, such as the slowing down of thecentral nervous system (CNS), extreme sedation, breathing problems,coma, and in some cases, the potential for death.
Some examples of interacting substances and drugs include:
How Effective Is Oxycodone?
According to the results of a meta-analysis (a review of multiple studies), experts found oxycodone to be more effective than other potent opioids, includingmorphineand codeine for treating cancer pain.
Moreover, it was also found to cause lessnauseaand constipation than other opioids.
In comparison, a study found oxycodone and the use of morphine to be similar in effectiveness and corresponding side effects.
Safely Taking Oxycodone
The following provides basic, overarching guidance regarding the safe use of oxycodone:
Summary
Oxycodone is an orally administered pain medication, also known as a semi-synthetic narcotic analgesic.
It is taken to relieve pain severe enough to require opioid treatment and when other pain medicines are insufficient or intolerable.
The DEA classifies oxycodone as a Schedule II drug due to its high potential for misuse, abuse, and dependence.
Pain relief occurs quickly when taking the IR formulation, such as a tablet or capsule. You will generally notice the medication exerts its maximum effect at around 80 minutes.
If you take an extended-release formulation such as OxyContin or Xtampza ER, after 24–36 hours, the medication will reach a steady level in your body.
You can consult your healthcare provider for more information and any questions you have about oxycodone.
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Oxycodone.Prescribers’ Digital Reference.Roxicodone.National Institute on Drug Abuse.Prescription opioids drug facts.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prescription opioids.United States Drug Enforcement Administration.Drug scheduling.MedlinePlus.Pain medications — narcotics.DailyMed.Label: Percocet- oxycodone hydrochloride and acetaminophen tablet.Kalso E.Oxycodone.J Pain Symptom Manage. 2005;29(5 suppl):47-56. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2005.01.010Van Zee A.The promotion and marketing of oxycontin: commercial triumph, public health tragedy.Am J Public Health. 2009;99(2):221-7. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2007.131714DailyMed.Label: Oxycontin- oxycodone hydrochloride tablet, film coated, extended release.DailyMed.Label: Xtampza ER- oxycodone capsule, extended release.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Timeline of selected FDA activities and significant events addressing substance use and overdose prevention.DailyMed.Opioid analgesic risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS).Wang YM, Liu ZW, Liu JL, et al.Efficacy and tolerability of oxycodone in moderate-severe cancer-related pain: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Exp Ther Med. 2012;4(2):249-254. doi:10.3892/etm.2012.571Williams J, Welsh K, Ross J.Morphine or oxycodone for cancer-related pain? A randomized, open-label, controlled trial.J Pain Symptom Manage. 2015;49(2):161-172. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2014.05.021
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Oxycodone.Prescribers’ Digital Reference.Roxicodone.National Institute on Drug Abuse.Prescription opioids drug facts.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prescription opioids.United States Drug Enforcement Administration.Drug scheduling.MedlinePlus.Pain medications — narcotics.DailyMed.Label: Percocet- oxycodone hydrochloride and acetaminophen tablet.Kalso E.Oxycodone.J Pain Symptom Manage. 2005;29(5 suppl):47-56. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2005.01.010Van Zee A.The promotion and marketing of oxycontin: commercial triumph, public health tragedy.Am J Public Health. 2009;99(2):221-7. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2007.131714DailyMed.Label: Oxycontin- oxycodone hydrochloride tablet, film coated, extended release.DailyMed.Label: Xtampza ER- oxycodone capsule, extended release.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Timeline of selected FDA activities and significant events addressing substance use and overdose prevention.DailyMed.Opioid analgesic risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS).Wang YM, Liu ZW, Liu JL, et al.Efficacy and tolerability of oxycodone in moderate-severe cancer-related pain: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Exp Ther Med. 2012;4(2):249-254. doi:10.3892/etm.2012.571Williams J, Welsh K, Ross J.Morphine or oxycodone for cancer-related pain? A randomized, open-label, controlled trial.J Pain Symptom Manage. 2015;49(2):161-172. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2014.05.021
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Oxycodone.Prescribers’ Digital Reference.Roxicodone.National Institute on Drug Abuse.Prescription opioids drug facts.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prescription opioids.United States Drug Enforcement Administration.Drug scheduling.MedlinePlus.Pain medications — narcotics.DailyMed.Label: Percocet- oxycodone hydrochloride and acetaminophen tablet.Kalso E.Oxycodone.J Pain Symptom Manage. 2005;29(5 suppl):47-56. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2005.01.010Van Zee A.The promotion and marketing of oxycontin: commercial triumph, public health tragedy.Am J Public Health. 2009;99(2):221-7. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2007.131714DailyMed.Label: Oxycontin- oxycodone hydrochloride tablet, film coated, extended release.DailyMed.Label: Xtampza ER- oxycodone capsule, extended release.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Timeline of selected FDA activities and significant events addressing substance use and overdose prevention.DailyMed.Opioid analgesic risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS).Wang YM, Liu ZW, Liu JL, et al.Efficacy and tolerability of oxycodone in moderate-severe cancer-related pain: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Exp Ther Med. 2012;4(2):249-254. doi:10.3892/etm.2012.571Williams J, Welsh K, Ross J.Morphine or oxycodone for cancer-related pain? A randomized, open-label, controlled trial.J Pain Symptom Manage. 2015;49(2):161-172. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2014.05.021
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Kalso E.Oxycodone.J Pain Symptom Manage. 2005;29(5 suppl):47-56. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2005.01.010
Van Zee A.The promotion and marketing of oxycontin: commercial triumph, public health tragedy.Am J Public Health. 2009;99(2):221-7. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2007.131714
DailyMed.Label: Oxycontin- oxycodone hydrochloride tablet, film coated, extended release.
DailyMed.Label: Xtampza ER- oxycodone capsule, extended release.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Timeline of selected FDA activities and significant events addressing substance use and overdose prevention.
DailyMed.Opioid analgesic risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS).
Wang YM, Liu ZW, Liu JL, et al.Efficacy and tolerability of oxycodone in moderate-severe cancer-related pain: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Exp Ther Med. 2012;4(2):249-254. doi:10.3892/etm.2012.571
Williams J, Welsh K, Ross J.Morphine or oxycodone for cancer-related pain? A randomized, open-label, controlled trial.J Pain Symptom Manage. 2015;49(2):161-172. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2014.05.021
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