Medicine

Patient information for Translation

Taking Oxycodone by mouth

Introduction

Oxycodone is a strong painkilling medicine that can be taken by mouth.  It works very well on many types of pain and can also be used to control feelings of breathlessness.

It comes in different forms and strengths, and you will be prescribed one which is most suitable for you after consultation with your doctor or nurse.  You will usually be started on a low dose which can be increased gradually to cope with more severe symptoms.  There is no maximum dose, and the medicine can be taken as long as necessary to control symptoms.

Fast acting oxycodone

• Fast acting oxycodone is also called ‘OxyNorm’ and it comes in capsule or liquid form

• It takes 20 – 30 minutes to start working and the effect lasts between three and four hours

• This type of oxycodone is taken to reduce ‘breakthrough pain’ which is a sudden flare of pain that breaks through the regular medication taken to manage it

• Breakthrough pain flares may come on for no apparent reason or may be the result of a specific movement or activity 

• The flares may vary in length and intensity

• Breakthrough medication is used on an ‘as required’ basis and works best when taken as soon as the pain starts.  It will usually be prescribed in addition to a slow release form of pain medication which is taken regularly round the clock
• Fast acting oxycodone used regularly every four hours is often effective for relieving the feeling of breathlessness
• If you are using the liquid form, you will need a syringe to measure out the correct dose

Slow release oxycodone

• Slow release oxycodone is also called ‘OxyContin’ and it comes as a tablet which is taken twice a day, morning, and evening 

• The tablets are effective for 12 hours and provide a steady source of pain relief throughout the period

Side effects of oxycodone

• You may feel more sleepy than usual for the first few days after starting oxycodone, but this feeling usually passes

• Constipation is a very common side effect so please seek help sooner rather than later if this happens to you as laxatives often need to be prescribed to manage this

• You may also find that you feel sick (nauseous) and need to take a medicine to help with this, but it may also pass within a few days

• If you are worried about other side effects when you start taking oxycodone, please mention these to your doctor or nurse

Large print and other languages
This information can be made available in alternative formats, such as easy read or large print, and may be available in alternative languages, upon request. For more information, speak to your clinical team.
 

এই তথ্যগুলো সহজে পড়া যায় অথবা বৃহৎ প্রিন্টের মত বিকল্প ফরম্যাটে পাওয়া যাবে, এবং অনুরোধে অন্য ভাষায়ও পাওয়া যেতে পারে। আরো তথ্যের জন্য আপনার ক্লিনিক্যাল টিমের সাথে কথা বলুন।

Na żądanie te informacje mogą zostać udostępnione w innych formatach, takich jak zapis większą czcionką lub łatwą do czytania, a także w innych językach. Aby uzyskać więcej informacji, porozmawiaj ze swoim zespołem specjalistów.

Macluumaadkaan waxaa loo heli karaa qaab kale, sida ugu akhrinta ugu fudud, ama far waa weyn, waxana laga yabaa in lagu heli luuqaado Kale, haddii la codsado. Wixii macluumaad dheeraad ah, kala hadal kooxda xarunta caafimaadka.

Bu bilgi, kolay okunurluk veya büyük baskılar gibi alternatif biçimlerde sunulabilir, ve talep üzerine Alternatif Dillerde sunulabilir. Daha fazla bilgi için klinik ekibinizle irtibata geçin.

یہ معلومات متبادل فارمیٹس میں دستیاب کی جا سکتی ہیں، جیسا کہ پڑھنے میں آسان یا بڑا پرنٹ  اور درخواست پر متبادل زبانوں میں بھی دستیاب ہو سکتی ہیں۔ مزید معلومات کے لیے، اپنی کلینکل ٹیم سے بات کریں'۔

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

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Reference: BH/PIN/1018

Publication date: Aug 2020

All our patient information leaflets are reviewed every three years.

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