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Strong opioid

Oxycodone hydrochloride

Brand names: OxyNorm, OxyContin, Shortec, Longtec

Oxycodone is a strong opioid for moderate-to-severe pain, including post-operative and cancer pain, available in immediate- and modified-release forms.

Dosing — being independently re-sourced

ClinCalc Pro is rebuilding its dose data from primary open sources — the manufacturer SmPC (eMC), the WHO Model Formulary and other official references — under clinician review. This drug's structured dose is not yet published here. Confirm all doses against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.

US labelling (FDA)

Reference — US labelling, may differ from UK

Oxycodone hydrochloride tablets should be prescribed only by healthcare professionals who are knowledgeable about the use of opioids and how to mitigate the associated risks. (2.1) Use the lowest effective dosage for the shortest duration of time consistent with individual patient treatment goals. Reserve titration to higher doses of oxycodone hydrochloride for patients in whom lower doses are insufficiently effective and in whom the expected benefits of using a higher dose opioid clearly outweigh the substantial risks. (2.1, 5) Many acute pain conditions (e.g., the pain that occurs with a number of surgical procedures or acute musculoskeletal injuries) require no more than a few days of an …

Source: US FDA prescribing information (openFDA / DailyMed), label dated 2026-01-14. Accessed 2026-06-12. US dosing and indications can differ from UK practice — use UK sources for prescribing decisions.

Clinical monograph

How it works

It is an agonist at opioid receptors (mainly mu), reducing pain perception and transmission.

Prescribing in practice

  • Start low — especially in older patients and renal or hepatic impairment — and co-prescribe a regular laxative; use equivalence tables when switching opioids.
  • It is a controlled drug with dependence and diversion potential; additive respiratory depression with other CNS depressants.
  • Immediate-release and modified-release forms are not interchangeable dose-for-dose, and modified-release tablets must not be crushed.

Monitoring

Review pain relief, sedation, bowel habit and signs of dependence; reassess the ongoing need and ensure naloxone access where overdose risk is high.

Counselling the patient

  • It commonly causes constipation — take the laxative provided.
  • Do not combine it with alcohol or other sedatives.
  • Take it exactly as prescribed; it can be habit-forming, and do not crush modified-release tablets.

Evidence & guidelines

A strong opioid for moderate-to-severe pain, used within opioid-stewardship principles with laxative co-prescription.

Reference: NICE CG140; UK FPM; Palliative care formulary; Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).

Related

Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.

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