A narcotic alkaloid, C18H21NO4, related to codeine, used as an analgesic and a sedative chiefly in the form of its hydrochloride salt.
[(HYDR)OXY + COD(EINE) + -ONE.]
Dictionary:
ox·y·co·done (ŏk'sĭ-kō'dōn') ![]() |
| 5min Related Video: oxycodone |
| Dental Dictionary: oxycodone |
trade name: Roxicodone; drug class: synthetic opioid analgesic (Controlled Substance Schedule II); action: attaches to opiate receptors in the central nervous system; uses: moderate-to-severe pain, normally used in combination with aspirin or acetaminophen, the opioid found in Percodan, Percocet, and Tylox.
| Drug Info: Oxycodone |
Brand names: Endocodone®Eth-OxyDoseOxyContin®OxyFast®OxyIR®Percolone®Roxicodone®Roxicodone® Intensol
Chemical formula:

Oxycodone sustained-release tablets
What are oxycodone sustained-release tablets?
OXYCODONE (OxyContin®) relieves moderate to severe pain. This type of oxycodone is for people who need pain medicine for more than a few days. These tablets are specially designed to release oxycodone over a period of time. Do not share this medicine with anyone else. Federal law prohibits the transfer of oxycodone to any person other than the patient for whom it was prescribed. Generic oxycodone sustained-release tablets are available.
What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
if you frequently drink alcohol-containing beverages or have a history of drug abuse
abnormal bladder function, difficulty urinating
constipation
heart disease
intestinal disease
kidney disease
liver disease
lung disease, severe asthma, or breathing difficulties
mental problems
seizures
other chronic health condition
an unusual or allergic reaction to oxycodone, codeine, hydrocodone, morphine, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
pregnant or trying to get pregnant
breast-feeding
How should I take this medicine?
Take oxycodone sustained-release tablets (OxyContin®) by mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Do not take OxyContin® on an "as needed" basis; OxyContin® should be taken on a regular basis only for the condition for which it was prescribed. Swallow the tablets with a drink of water. Do not break, crush, or chew OxyContin® tablets; this will cause the release of a large amount of oxycodone to be absorbed into your body at once, which can be dangerous causing an overdose and serious adverse reactions. If oxycodone upsets your stomach, you can take it with food or milk. If you are taking OxyContin® 160 mg tablets, it is important to avoid high-fat foods around the time you are taking you medicine.
Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.
Do NOT share this medicine with anyone.
What if I miss a dose?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.What drug(s) may interact with oxycodone?
delavirdine
imatinib, STI-571
medicines for high blood pressure
medicines for seizures
rifampin
ritonavir
Because oxycodone can cause drowsiness, other medicines that also cause drowsiness may increase this effect of oxycodone. Some medicines that cause drowsiness are:
alcohol-containing medicines
barbiturates such as phenobarbital
certain antidepressants or tranquilizers
muscle relaxants
certain antihistamines used in cold medicines
Ask your prescriber or health care professional about other medicines that may increase the effect of oxycodone.
Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.
What should I watch for while taking oxycodone?
Tell your prescriber or health care professional if your pain does not go away, if it gets worse, or if you have new or different type of pain. Report episodes of breakthough pain and adverse reactions to your health care provider. This will help your prescriber adjust your medication appropriately. Do not adjust the dose of your therapy without consulting your prescriber.
Use exactly as directed by your prescriber or health care professional. If you are taking oxycodone on a regular basis, do not suddenly stop taking it. Your body becomes used to the oxycodone and when you suddenly stop taking it, you may develop a severe reaction. This does NOT mean you are "addicted" to oxycodone. Addiction is a behavior related to getting and using a drug for a non-medical reason. If you have pain, you have a medical reason to take pain medicine such as oxycodone to control your pain. If you do stop oxycodone treatment after several days, your prescriber will gradually decrease your dose over a period of time to avoid any adverse reactions.
You may get drowsy or dizzy when you first start taking oxycodone or change doses. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how oxycodone affects you. Stand or sit up slowly as this reduces the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. These effects may be worse if you are an older patient. The drowsiness should decrease after taking oxycodone for a couple of days. If you have not slept because of your pain, you may sleep more the first few days your pain is controlled to catch-up on missed sleep.
Be careful taking other medicines which may also make you tired. This effect may be worse when taking these medicines with oxycodone. Alcohol can increase possible drowsiness, dizziness, confusion and affect your breathing. Avoid alcohol while taking oxycodone.
Oxycodone will cause constipation. Make sure to take a laxative and/or a stool softener while taking oxycodone. Try to have a bowel movement at least every 23 days. If you do not have a bowel movement for 3 days or more call your prescriber or health care professional. They may recommend using an enema or suppository to help you move your bowels. You may pass empty tablets (matrix "ghosts") in your colostomy or in your stool, this is of no concern since the active medication has already been absorbed.
Your mouth may get dry. Drinking plenty of water, chewing sugarless gum or sucking on hard candy may help to relieve dry mouth symptoms. Have regular dental checks.
Rarely, oxycodone may cause you to have hallucinations (to see things that are not really there) or cause your legs or arms to "jerk" or have spasms. If you experience these effects, call your prescriber or health care professional.
What side effects may I notice from taking oxycodone?
Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:
Rare or uncommon:
breathing difficulties, wheezing
cold, clammy skin
seizures
slow or fast heartbeat
severe rash
unusual weakness
More common:
confusion
lightheadedness or fainting spells
nervousness or restlessness
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
itching
clumsiness, unsteadiness
constipation
decrease or difficulty passing urine
dizziness, drowsiness
dry mouth
flushing
headache
nausea, vomiting
pinpoint pupils
sweating
Where can I keep my medicine?
Keep out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot open. Do not share or give this medicine to anyone else. Avoid accidental swallowing of oxycodone by someone (especially children) other than the person for whom it was prescribed as this may result in severe effects and possibly death. OxyContin contains oxycodone, which can be a target for people who abuse prescription medicines. Therefore, keep your tablets in a secure place, to protect them from theft. Never give them to anyone else. Selling or giving away this medicine is dangerous and against the law.
Store at room temperature between 1530 degrees C (5986 degrees F). Protect from light. Keep container tightly closed. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date
Last updated: 7/1/2002
Important Disclaimer: The drug information provided here is for educational purposes only. It is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the diagnosis, treatment and advice of a medical professional. This drug information does not cover all possible uses, precautions, side effects and interactions. It should not be construed to indicate that this or any drug is safe for you. Consult your medical professional for guidance before using any prescription or over the counter drugs.
| Veterinary Dictionary: oxycodone |
A semisynthetic narcotic analgesic derived from morphine.
| Wikipedia: Oxycodone |
|
Oxycodone
|
|
| Systematic (IUPAC) name | |
| 4,5α-epoxy-14-hydroxy-3-methoxy-17-methylmorphinan-6-one | |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | 76-42-6 |
| ATC code | N02AA05 N02 (in combinations) |
| PubChem | 5284603 |
| DrugBank | APRD00387 |
| ChemSpider | 4447649 |
| Chemical data | |
| Formula | C18H21NO4 |
| Mol. mass | 315.364 g/mol |
| SMILES | eMolecules & PubChem |
| Synonyms | dihydrohydroxycodeinone, 14-hydroxydihydrocodeinone, 6-deoxy-7,8-dihydro-14-hydroxy-3-O-methyl-6-oxomorphine[1] |
| Pharmacokinetic data | |
| Bioavailability | Up to 87% |
| Protein binding | 45% |
| Metabolism | Hepatic (CYP450: 2D6 substrate) |
| Half life | 3 - 4.5 hr |
| Excretion | Urine (19% unchanged) |
| Therapeutic considerations | |
| Pregnancy cat. |
B/D (prolonged use or in high doses at term) |
| Legal status |
Controlled (S8)(AU) Schedule I(CA) Class A(UK) Schedule II(US) |
| Dependence Liability | Moderate - High |
| Routes | oral, intramuscular, intravenous, intranasal, subcutaneous, transdermal, rectal, epidural[2] |
| |
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Oxycodone is an opioid analgesic medication synthesized from opium-derived thebaine. It was developed in 1916 in Germany, as one of several new semi-synthetic opioids in an attempt to improve on the existing opiates and opioids: morphine, diacetylmorphine (heroin), and codeine.[2]
Currently it is best known as the main active ingredient in a number of oral medications commonly prescribed for the relief of moderate to severe pain. Oxycodone can be combined with inert binders (e.g., OxyContin, Roxicodone, OxyIR); with paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen (e.g., Percocet, Endocet, Tylox, Roxicet); with aspirin (e.g., Percodan, Endodan, Roxiprin); and with ibuprofen (Combunox). Of the oral medications containing oxycodone, OxyContin is notable for its sales; for controversies concerning its patent status and marketing; and for its potentials for hazardous use, harmful use, dependence, and diversion.
Contents |
Oxycodone's chemical name is derived from codeine. The chemical structures are very similar, differing only in that
It is also similar to hydrocodone, differing only in that it has a hydroxyl group at carbon-14.[3]
The synonyms for oxycodone in the academic literature include "dihydrohydroxycodeinone",[1][4][5] "Eucodal",[4][5] "Eukodal",[2][6] "14-hydroxydihydrocodeinone",[1][4] and "Nucodan".[4][5] In a UNESCO convention, the translations of "oxycodone" are oxycodone (French), oxicodona (Spanish), والأوآسيكودون (Arabic), 羟考酮 (Chinese), and оксикодон (Russian).[7] The word "oxycodone" should not be confused with "oxandrolone", "oxazepam", "oxybutynin", "oxytocin", or "Roxanol".[8]
Freund and Speyer of the University of Frankfurt in Germany first synthesized oxycodone from thebaine in 1916,[9] a few years after the German pharmaceutical company Bayer had stopped the mass production of heroin due to hazardous use, harmful use, and dependence. It was hoped that a thebaine-derived drug would retain the analgesic effects of morphine and heroin with less dependence. To some extent this was achieved, as oxycodone does not have the same immediate effect as heroin or morphine nor does it last as long.
The first clinical use of the drug was documented in 1917.[6] It was first introduced to the US market in May 1939.
The International Narcotics Control Board estimates that 11.5 tons[clarification needed] of oxycodone were manufactured worldwide in 1998, which grew to 75.2 tons in 2007.[10] Of all countries, the United States had the highest total consumption of oxycodone in 2007 (82% of the world total of 51.6 tons).[10] In addition, in 2007 the U.S. had the highest per capita consumption of oxycodone, followed by Canada, Denmark, Australia, and Norway.[10]
OxyContin is the brand name of a time-release formula of oxycodone produced by the pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma.[11] It was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1995 and first introduced to the U.S. market in 1996.[11] By 2001, OxyContin was the best-selling non-generic narcotic pain reliever in the U.S.; in 2002, over 7.2 million prescriptions were written for it, for total sales of $1.5 billion.[11] An analysis of data from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration found that retail sales of oxycodone "jumped nearly six-fold between 1997 and 2005."[12] Mundipharma distributes OxyContin in Australia,[13] China,[14] and Europe.[15]
OxyContin is available in 5 mg (blue) tablets in Canada and the U.K.; 10 mg (white) in Canada, the U.S., and the U.K.; 15 mg (grey) in the U.S.; 20 mg (pink) in Canada, the U.S., and the U.K.; 30 mg (brown) in the U.S.; 40 mg (tan) in Canada, the U.S., and the U.K.; 60 mg (red) in the U.S.; and 80 mg (green) in Canada, the U.S., and the U.K.[16][17][18] In 2001, Purdue Pharma suspended distribution of 160 mg tablets in the U.S. because of the "possibility of illicit use of tablets of such high strength."[11][19]
Slang terms for OxyContin include "Hillbilly Heroin", "Killers", "OC", "Oxy", "Oxycoffin", and "Oxycotton".[20][21][22] The word "OxyContin" should not be confused with "morphine sulfate", "MS Contin", "Oxandrin", "oxybutynin", "oxytocin", or "Roxicodone".[8][23] Among those names the final given, Roxicodone, being the same drug, Oxycodone, but IR rather than ER: "-contin" being Oxycodone continuous release or Extended Release. Roxicodone being Instant Release, or rapid (Rox(i)codone) release. This mistake may be a fatal one to casual users rather than users with high tolerances who may prefer the immediate release to even feel an effect, such as long term heroin addicts.
Purdue has multiple patents for OxyContin, but has been involved in a series of ongoing legal battles on the validity of these patents. On June 7, 2005, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld a decision from the previous year that some of Purdue’s patents for OxyContin could not be enforced.[24] This decision allowed and led to the immediate announcement from Endo Pharmaceuticals that they would begin launching a generic version of all four strengths of OxyContin.[25] Purdue, however, had already made negotiations with another pharmaceutical company (IVAX Pharmaceuticals) to distribute their brand OxyContin in a generic form.[25] This contract was severed, and as of October 2005 Watson Pharmaceuticals became the exclusive U.S. distributor of Purdue-manufactured generic versions of OxyContin tablets in 10-, 20-, 40-, and 80-milligram dosages.[26]
On February 1, 2006, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision revising its June 7, 2005, decision.[27] This time the court vacated the lower court's "judgment that the patents-in-suit are unenforceable due to inequitable conduct," and the case was "remanded for further proceedings."[27]
Purdue Pharma has since announced resolution of its infringement suits with Endo,[28] Teva,[29] IMPAX,[30] and Mallinckrodt.[31] Endo and Teva each agreed to cease selling generic forms of OxyContin.[28][29] IMPAX negotiated a temporary, and potentially renewable, license.[30] In 2008, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals reintroduced generic OxyContin in the strengths of 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg and 80 mg, which was made possible by a temporary royalties-bearing license with Purdue Pharma that expires in 2009.[31]
Critics have accused Purdue Pharma of putting profits ahead of public interest by applying "significant political pressure" to attempt to reverse South Carolina's requiring prior approval before a person with Medicaid can receive the drug;[32] for "fail[ing] to adequately warn consumers of the risks" of OxyContin such as dependence;[33] and for promoting the drug "aggressively" and by means such as "promotional beach hats, pedometers and swing-music CDs."[33][34]
In May 2007 Purdue Pharma "agreed to pay $19.5 million" in fines relating to aggressive off-label marketing practices of OxyContin in 26 states and the District of Columbia.[35] In specific, the company encouraged dosing more frequent than the recommended interval of 12 hours, and did not fully disclose the risk of hazardous or harmful use.[35]
Later in May 2007 Purdue Pharma and three of its top executives pleaded guilty in a Virginia federal court to charges that they misbranded OxyContin by representing it to have "less euphoric effect and less abuse potential" than it actually has, and by claiming that people taking the drug at low doses could stop taking it suddenly without symptoms of withdrawal.[36] The FDA had not approved these claims.[37] The company and the executives were to pay $634 million in fines for felony and misdemeanor misbranding.[36]
In October 2007, officials in Kentucky filed a lawsuit against Purdue Pharma for misleading health care providers and consumers "regarding the appropriate uses, risks and safety of OxyContin"; as of mid-2008, however, the case had been "consolidated with other lawsuits into a single multi-litigation suit" in a federal court in New York.[38]
Oxy·IR immediate-release oxycodone tablets from Purdue Pharma in Canada are available in 5, 10, and 20 mg strengths.[17]
OxyNorm is available in 5, 10, and 20 mg capsules, and also as a 5 mg/5 ml liquid in 250 ml bottles in Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K.[39][40][41] In addition, OxyNorm is available in a 10 mg/ml liquid concentrate for oral use in the U.K., and in a 10 mg/ml solution for injection or infusion in New Zealand and the U.K.[41][42]
Percocet (oxycodone with paracetamol/acetaminophen) tablets are available in the U.S. with 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 mg of oxycodone and varying amounts of acetaminophen.[43]
Depalgos (oxycodone with paracetamol) tablets are marketed in Italy, with 325mg Paracetamol and 5, 10, and 20mg oxycodone. Recent legislation in Italy has made it easier for physicians to prescribe this medication and other opioids to pain patients.[44]
Percodan tablets available in the U.S. contain 4.8355 mg of oxycodone HCl and 325 mg of aspirin.[45]
Proladone suppositories, available in Australia, contain 30 mg of oxycodone pectinate.[46]
Injectable oxycodone hydrochloride or tartrate is available in ampoules and multi-dose vials in many European countries and to a lesser extent various places in the Pacific Rim. For this purpose, the most common trade names are Eukodol and Eucodol. The German-language package insert for an oxycodone injectable indicates that the preferred route of injection is intramuscular.
Roxicodone, a generic oxycodone product designed to have an immediate release effect for rapid pain relief, is available in 5 mg (white), 15 mg (green), and 30 mg (blue) tablets; in a 5 mg per 5 ml oral solution; and in a 20 mg per ml liquid concentrate.[47][48] On March 31, 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration directed Boehringer Ingelheim Roxane and Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals to cease manufacture and distribution of 5 mg Roxicodone tablets in the U.S. because they lacked proper approval.[49]
Targin is a tablet with a prolonged-release oxycodone/naloxone combination.
In a 2008 review written by authors who "are members of advisory boards and speaker panels for Mundipharma," prolonged-release oxycodone (i.e., OxyContin) was found to be superior to placebo in randomized controlled trials concerning diabetic neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, osteoarthritis, ambulatory laparoscopic tubal ligation surgery, unilateral total knee arthroplasty, and abdominal/gynaecological surgery.[50]
In 2001, the European Association for Palliative Care recommended that oral hydromorphone or oxycodone, "if available in both normal release and modified release formulations for oral administration," be second-line alternatives to oral morphine for cancer pain.[51] There is no evidence that any opioids are superior to morphine in relieving the pain of cancer, and no controlled trials have shown oxycodone to be superior to morphine.[52] However, switching to an alternative opioid can be useful if adverse effects are troublesome, although the switch can be in either direction, i.e. some patients have fewer adverse effects on switching from morphine to oxycodone and vice versa.
A group of Australian researchers has proposed (based on a 1997 study in rats) that oxycodone, unlike morphine (the effect of which is mediated by μ-opioid receptors), acts on κ-opioid receptors.[53] Further research by this group indicates the drug appears to be a κ2b-opioid agonist.[54] However, this has been disputed, primarily on the basis that oxycodone produces effects typical of μ-opioid agonists.[55]
Research by a Japanese group suggests that the effect of oxycodone is mediated by different receptors in different situations. Specifically, in diabetic mice the κ-opioid receptor appears to be involved in the antinociceptive effects of oxycodone,[56] while in non-diabetic mice the μ1-opioid receptor seems to be primarily responsible for these effects.[57]
After a dose of conventional oral oxycodone, peak plasma levels of the drug are attained in approximately one hour;[58] in contrast, after a dose of OxyContin (an oral continuous release formulation), peak plasma levels of oxycodone occur in about three hours.[16]
Oxycodone in the blood is distributed to skeletal muscle, liver, intestinal tract, lungs, spleen, and brain.[16] Conventional oral preparations of oxycodone start to reduce pain within 10–15 minutes; in contrast, OxyContin starts to reduce pain within 1 hour.[3]
Oxycodone is metabolized to α and β oxycodol; oxymorphone, then α and β oxymorphol and noroxymorphone; and noroxycodone, then α and β noroxycodol and noroxymorphone (N-desmethyloxycodone).[58] These metabolites are true only for humans.[59] As many as six metabolites for oxycodone (14-hydroxydihydromorphinone, 14-hydroxydihydrocodeine, 14-hydroxydihydrocodeinone N-oxide {oxycodone N-oxide}, 14-hydroxydihydroisocodeine, 14-hydroxydihydrocodeine N-oxide, and noroxycodone) have been found in rabbits.[60] A study using conventional oral oxycodone concluded that oxycodone itself, and not its metabolites, is responsible for the drug's opioid effects on the brain.[58]
Unlike morphine and hydromorphone, oxycodone is metabolized by the cytochrome P450 enzyme system in the liver, making it vulnerable to drug interactions.[16] Some people are fast metabolizers resulting in reduced analgesic effect but increased adverse effects, while others are slow metabolisers resulting in increased toxicity without improved analgesia.[61][62] The dose of OxyContin must be reduced in patients with reduced hepatic function.[3]
Oxycodone and its metabolites are mainly excreted in the urine and sweat; therefore, it accumulates in patients with renal impairment.[3]
Oxycodone can be administered orally, intranasally, via intravenous/intramuscular/subcutaneous injection or rectally. The bioavailability of oral administration averages 60–87%, with rectal administration yielding the same results; intranasal varies between individuals with a mean of 46%[63].
Oxycodone is approximately 1.5–2 times as potent as morphine when administered orally.[64][65] However, 10–15 mg of oxycodone produces an analgesic effect similar to 10 mg of morphine when administered intramuscularly.[66] Therefore, as a parenteral dose, morphine is approximately up to 50% more potent than oxycodone.
There are no comparative trials showing that oxycodone is more effective than any other opioid. In palliative care, morphine remains the gold standard;[52] however, oxycodone can be useful as an alternative opioid if a patient has troublesome adverse effects with morphine.
In 1954, William S. Burroughs wrote to Allen Ginsberg claiming certain experts, from as early as the beginning of the 1930s, maintained that the "oxygen bridge" on the oxycodone molecule added "cocaine-like" effects to its profile.[67]
The most commonly reported effects include constipation, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, lightheadedness, headache, dry mouth, anxiety, pruritus, euphoria, and diaphoresis.[68] It has also been claimed to cause dimness in vision due to miosis. Some patients have also experienced loss of appetite, nervousness, abdominal pain, diarrhea, ischuria, dyspnea, and hiccups,[16] although these symptoms appear in less than 5% of patients taking oxycodone. Rarely, the drug can cause impotence, enlarged prostate gland, and decreased testosterone secretion.[69]
In high doses, overdoses, or in patients not tolerant to opiates, oxycodone can cause shallow breathing, bradycardia, cold, clammy skin, apnea, hypotension, miosis (pupil constriction), circulatory collapse, respiratory arrest, and death.[16]
There is a high risk of experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms if a patient discontinues oxycodone abruptly. Therefore therapy should be gradually discontinued rather than abruptly discontinued. People who use oxycodone in a hazardous or harmful fashion are at even higher risk of severe withdrawal symptoms as they tend to use higher than prescribed doses. The symptoms of oxycodone withdrawal are the same as for other opiate based painkillers and may include "anxiety, nausea, insomnia, muscle pain, muscle weakness, fevers, and other flu like symptoms."[20]
Withdrawal symptoms have also been reported in a newborn whose mother had been either injecting OxyContin or orally taking percocet during pregnancy.[70]
Instances of hazardous use, harmful use, and diversion of OxyContin have increased in the U.S. beginning in the late 1990s.[71] The slang term hillbilly heroin for OxyContin refers to the occurrence of the "earliest reported cases of Oxycontin abuse" in the U.S. in rural areas such as Appalachia.[72] Diversion of OxyContin in the U.S. may occur through "fraudulent prescriptions, doctor shopping, over-prescribing, and pharmacy theft."[71]
A 2003 study by the Government Accountability Office found four factors that may have contributed to hazardous use, harmful use, and diversion of OxyContin in the U.S.:[11]
A study published in 2005 examined the prevalence of hazardous or harmful use of opiate analgesics among "recreational drug users and street addicts" as perceived by "key informants" throughout the U.S.; the authors found that hazardous or harmful use of opiates was increasing in general, but that of the drugs studied hazardous or harmful use of OxyContin "was mentioned most frequently."[73] Purdue Pharma has attempted to reformulate the 10–40 mg strengths of OxyContin to prevent the release of a high percentage of the oxycodone by crushing; however, in 2008 a joint panel convened by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was "concerned that abusers could find a way to manipulate the new formulation."[74]
The illegal use of OxyContin began in Australia in the early 2000s partly because the government's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme subsidises the drug.[22][75] By 2007, 51% of a national sample of injection drug users in Australia had reported using oxycodone, and 27% had injected it in the last six months.[76]
Hazardous use, harmful use, and diversion of OxyContin in the U.K. commenced in the early- to mid-2000s.[77] The first known death due to OxyContin overdose in the U.K. occurred in 2002.[78]
Research has shown that the brains of adolescent mice, which were exposed to OxyContin, can sustain lifelong and permanent changes in their reward system.[79][80] It is notable that the vast majority of OxyContin related deaths are attributed to ingesting substantial quantities of oxycodone in combination with another depressant of the central nervous system such as alcohol, barbiturates and related drugs.[81]
Oxycodone is subject to international conventions on narcotic drugs. In addition, oxycodone is subject to national laws that differ by country.
The 1931 Convention for Limiting the Manufacture and Regulating the Distribution of Narcotic Drugs of the League of Nations included oxycodone (but incorrectly called it "dihydrohydrooxycodeinone" instead of "dihydrohydroxycodeinone").[82] The 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of the United Nations, which replaced the 1931 convention, categorized oxycodone in Schedule I.[83] Global restrictions on Schedule I drugs include "limit[ing] exclusively to medical and scientific purposes the production, manufacture, export, import, distribution of, trade in, use and possession of" these drugs; "requir[ing] medical prescriptions for the supply or dispensation of [these] drugs to individuals"; and "prevent[ing] the accumulation" of quantities of these drugs "in excess of those required for the normal conduct of business."[83]
Oxycodone is in Schedule I (derived from the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs) of the Commonwealth's Narcotic Drugs Act 1967.[84] In addition, it is in Schedule 8 of the Australian Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons ("Poisons Standard"), meaning that it is a "controlled drug... which should be available for use but require[s] restriction of manufacture, supply, distribution, possession and use to reduce abuse, misuse and physical or psychological dependence."[85]
Oxycodone is a controlled substance under Schedule I of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA).[86] Every person who seeks or obtains from a practitioner either the substance or an authorization to obtain the substance must disclose to that practitioner information on all controlled substances and authorizations for controlled substances obtained from any other practitioner within the preceding 30 days; otherwise, the person may be found "guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years".[86] Anyone possessing the substance for the purpose of trafficking "is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for life".[86]
The drug is in Appendix III of the Narcotics Act ("Betäubungsmittelgesetz" or BtMG).[87] The law states that only physicians, dentists and veterinarians ("Ärzte, Zahnärzte und Tierärzte") can prescribe oxycodone, and that the federal government can regulate the prescriptions (e.g., by requiring reporting).[87]
Oxycodone is regulated under Part I of Schedule 1 of Hong Kong's Chapter 134 Dangerous Drugs Ordinance.[88] The penalty for trafficking (Section 4) or manufacturing (Section 6) the substance is a $5,000,000 HKD fine and/or life imprisonment.[88] In Section 8 of the Ordinance, possession of the substance for consumption without licence from the Department of Health is illegal and subject to a $1,000,000 HKD fine and/or 7 years of imprisonment.[88] Per Sections 22-23, only specific health professionals and others (e.g., "a person in charge of a laboratory used for the purposes of research") may possess and supply the substance.[88] Anyone who supplies the substance without a valid prescription can be fined $10,000 HKD according to Section 31.[88]
Oxycodone is a Class A drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act.[89] For Class A drugs, which are "considered to be the most likely to cause harm," possession without a prescription is punishable by up to seven years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.[90] Dealing of the drug illegally is punishable by up to life imprisonment, an unlimited fine, or both.[90] In addition, oxycodone is a Schedule 2 drug per the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 which "provide certain exemptions from the provisions of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971."[91]
Under the Controlled Substances Act, oxycodone is a Schedule II drug because it "has a high potential for abuse," because it "has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions," and because use of the drug "may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence."[92] According to Section 829 of the Act, Schedule II drugs must be dispensed only with the written prescription of a practitioner except in certain situations (e.g., "dispensed directly by a practitioner, other than a pharmacist," or "dispensed upon oral prescription (i.e. telephone)" in "emergency situations").[92] Furthermore, Section 829 specifies that prescriptions for Schedule II drugs cannot be refilled.[92]
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