General
Oxycodone hydrochloride tablets are intended for use in patients
who require oral pain therapy with an opioid agonist. As with any opioid
analgesic, it is critical to adjust the dosing regimen individually for each
patient (see DOSAGE AND
ADMINISTRATION).
Selection of patients for treatment with oxycodone hydrochloride tablets
should be governed by the same principles that apply to the use of other potent
opioid analgesics. Opioid analgesics given on a fixed-dosage schedule have a
narrow therapeutic index in certain patient populations, especially when
combined with other drugs, and should be reserved for cases where the benefits
of opioid analgesia outweigh the known risks of respiratory depression, altered
mental state, and postural hypotension. Physicians should individualize
treatment in every case, using nonopioid analgesics, prn opioids and/or
combination products, and chronic opioid therapy with drugs such as oxycodone
hydrochloride tablets in a progressive plan of pain management such as outlined
by the World Health Organization, the Agency for Health Care Policy and
Research, and the American Pain Society.
Use of oxycodone hydrochloride tablets are associated with increased
potential risks and should be used only with caution in the following
conditions: acute alcoholism; adrenocortical insufficiency (e.g., Addison's
disease); convulsive disorders; CNS depression or coma; delirium tremens;
debilitated patients; kyphoscoliosis associated with respiratory depression:
myxedema or hypothyroidism; prostatic hypertrophy or urethral stricture; severe
impairment of hepatic, pulmonary or renal function: and toxic psychosis.
The administration of oxycodone hydrochloride tablets, like all opioid
analgesics, may obscure the diagnosis or clinical course in patients with acute
abdominal conditions. Oxycodone may aggravate convulsions in patients with
convulsive disorders, and all opioids may induce or aggravate seizures in some
clinical settings.
Tolerance and Physical Dependence
Physical dependence and tolerance are not unusual during chronic
opioid therapy. Significant tolerance should not occur in most patients treated
with the lowest doses of oxycodone. It should be expected, however, that a
fraction of patients will develop some degree of tolerance and require
progressively higher dosages of oxycodone hydrochloride tablets to maintain pain
control during chronic treatment. The dosage should be selected according to the
patient's individual analgesic response and ability to tolerate side effects.
Tolerance to the analgesic effects of opioids is usually paralleled by tolerance
to side effects except for constipation.
Physical dependence results in withdrawal symptoms in patients who abruptly
discontinue the drug or may be precipitated through the administration of drugs
with opioid antagonist activity. If oxycodone hydrochloride tablets are abruptly
discontinued in a physically dependent patient, an abstinence syndrome may occur
(see DRUG ABUSE AND
DEPENDENCE). If signs and symptoms of withdrawal occur, patients
should be treated by reinstitution of opioid therapy followed by gradual tapered
dose reduction of oxycodone hydrochloride tablets combined with symptomatic
support (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION,
Cessation of Therapy).
Use in Pancreatic/Billary Tract Disease
Oxycodone hydrochloride tablets may cause spasm of the sphincter
of Oddi and should be used with caution in patients with biliary tract disease,
including acute pancreatitis. Opioids like oxycodone hydrochloride tablets may
cause increases in the serum amylase level.
Information for Patients/Caregivers
If clinically advisable, patients (or their caregivers) receiving
oxycodone hydrochloride tablets should be given the following information by the
physician, nurse, pharmacist or caregiver:
1. Patients should be advised to report episodes of breakthrough pain and
adverse experiences occurring during therapy. Individualization of dosage is
essential to make optimal use of this medication.
2. Patients should be advised not to adjust the dose of oxycodone
hydrochloride tablets without consulting the prescribing professional.
3. Patients should be advised that oxycodone hydrochloride tablets may impair
mental and/or physical ability required for the performance of potentially
hazardous tasks (e.g., driving, operating heavy machinery).
4. Patients should not combine oxycodone hydrochloride tablets with alcohol
or other central nervous system depressants (sleep aids, tranquilizers) except
by the orders of the prescribing physician, because additive effects may
occur.
5. Women of childbearing potential who become, or are planning to become,
pregnant should be advised to consult their physician regarding the effects of
analgesics and other drug use during pregnancy on themselves and their unborn
child.
6. Patients should be advised that oxycodone hydrochloride tablets are a
potential drug of abuse. They should protect it from theft, and it should never
be given to anyone other than the individual for whom it was prescribed.
7. Patients should be advised that if they have been receiving treatment with
oxycodone hydrochloride tablets for more than a few weeks and cessation of
therapy is indicated, it may be appropriate to taper the oxycodone hydrochloride
tablets dose, rather than abruptly discontinue it, due to the risk of
precipitating withdrawal symptoms. Their physician can provide a dose schedule
to accomplish a gradual discontinuation of the medication.
Drug Interactions
Oxycodone is metabolized in part to oxymorphone via the
cytochrome p450 isoenzyme CYP206. While this pathway may be blocked by a variety
of drugs (e.g., certain cardiovascular drugs and antidepressants), such blockade
has not yet been shown to be of clinical significance with this agent. However,
clinicians should be aware of this possible interaction.
Neuromuscular Blocking Agents
Oxycodone, as well as other opioid analgesics, may enhance the
neuromuscular blocking action of skeletal muscle relaxants and produce an
increased degree of respiratory depression.
CNS Depressants
Patients receiving narcotic analgesics, general anesthetics,
phenothiazines, other tranquilizers, sedative-hypnotics or other CNS depressants
(including alcohol) concomitantly with oxycodone hydrochloride tablets may
exhibit an additive CNS depression. Interactive effects resulting in respiratory
depression, hypotension, profound sedation, or coma may result if these drugs
are taken in combination with the usual dosage of oxycodone hydrochloride
tablets. When such combined therapy is contemplated, the dose of one or both
agents should be reduced.
Mixed Agonist/Antagonist Opioid Analgesics
Agonist/antagonist analgesics (i.e., pentazocine, nalbuphine,
butorphanol and buprenorphine) should be administered with caution to patients
who have received or are receiving a course of therapy with a pure opioid
agonist analgesic such as oxycodone hydrochloride tablets. In this situation,
mixed agonist/antagonist analgesics may reduce the analgesic effect of oxycodone
hydrochloride tablets and/or may precipitate withdrawal symptoms in these
patients.
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
MAOIs have been reported to intensity the effects of at least one opioid drug
causing anxiety, confusion and significant depression of respiration or coma.
The use of oxycodone hydrochloride tablets is not recommended for patients
taking MAOIs or within 14 days of stopping such treatment.
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of
Fertility
Long-term studies have not been performed in animals to evaluate
the carcinogenic potential of oxycodone hydrochloride tablets or oxycodone. The
possible effects on male or female fertility have not been studied in
animals.
PregnancyTeratogenic Effects -Category B
Reproduction studies in Sprague-Dawley rats and New Zealand
rabbits revealed that oxycodone, when administered orally at doses up to 16
mg/kg (approximately 2 times the daily oral dose of 90 mg for adults on a mg/m*
basis) and 25 mg/kg (approximately 5 times the daily oral dose of 90 mg on a
mg/m2 basis), respectively, was not teratogenic or embryo-fetal toxic. There are
no adequate and well controlled studies of oxycodone in pregnant women. Because
animal reproductive studies are not always predictive of human responses,
oxycodone hydrochloride tablets should be used during pregnancy only if
potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
Nonteratogenic Effects
Neonates whose mothers have taken oxycodone chronically may
exhibit respiratory depression and/or withdrawal symptoms, either at birth
and/or in the nursery
Labor and Delivery
Oxycodone hydrochloride tablets are not recommended for use in
women during or immediately prior to labor. Occasionally, opioid analgesics may
prolong labor through actions which temporarily reduce the strength, duration
and frequency of uterine contractions. Neonates, whose mothers received opioid
analgesics during labor, should be observed closely for signs of respiratory
depression. A specific narcotic antagonist, naloxone, should be available for
reversal of narcotic-induced respiratory depression in the neonate.
Nursing Mothers
Oxycodone has been detected in breast milk. Withdrawal symptoms
can occur in breast-feeding infants when maternal administration of an opioid
analgesic is stopped. Ordinarily, nursing should not be undertaken while a
patient is receiving oxycodone hydrochloride tablets since oxycodone may be
excreted in milk.
Pediatric Use
The safety and efficacy of oxycodone hydrochloride tablets in
pediatric patients have not been evaluated.
Geriatric Use
Of the total number of subjects in clinical studies of oxycodone
hydrochloride tablets, 20.8% (112/538) were 65 and over, while 7.2% (39/538)
were 75 and over. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were
observed between these subjects and younger subjects, and other reported
clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the
elderly and younger patients, but greater sensitivity of some older individuals
cannot be ruled out.
Hepatic Impairment
Since oxycodone is extensively metabolized, its clearance may
decrease in hepatic failure patients. Dose initiation in patients with hepatic
impairment should follow a conservative approach. Dosages should be adjusted
according to the clinical situation.
Renal Impairment
Published data reported that elimination of oxycodone was
impaired in end-stage renal failure. Mean elimination half-life was prolonged in
uremic patients due to increased volume of distribution and reduced clearance.
Dose initiation should follow a conservative approach. Dosages should be
adjusted according to the clinical situation.
Ambulatory Patients
Oxycodone hydrochloride tablets may impair the mental and/or
physical abilities required for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks
such as driving a car or operating machinery. The patient using this drug should
be cautioned accordingly.