Acute overdose with oxycodone can be manifested by miosis, respiratory depression, hypotension and hallucinations. Circulatory failure and somnolence progressing to stupor or deepening coma, hypotonia, bradycardia, pulmonary oedema and death may occur in more severe cases.
The effects of overdosage will be potentiated by the simultaneous ingestion of alcohol or other psychotropic drugs.
Treatment of oxycodone overdosage: primary attention should be given to the establishment of a patent airway and institution of assisted or controlled ventilation. The pure opioid antagonists such as naloxone are specific antidotes against symptoms from opioid overdose. Other supportive measures should be employed as needed.
In the case of massive overdosage, administer naloxone intravenously (0.4 to 2 mg for an adult and 0.01 mg/kg body weight for children) if the patient is in a coma or respiratory depression is present. Repeat the dose at 2 minute intervals if there is no response. If repeated doses are required then an infusion of 60% of the initial dose per hour is a useful starting point. A solution of 10 mg made up in 50 ml dextrose will produce 200 micrograms/ml for infusion using an IV pump (dose adjusted to the clinical response). Infusions are not a substitute for frequent review of the patient's clinical state. Intramuscular naloxone is an alternative in the event that IV access is not possible. As the duration of action of naloxone is relatively short, the patient must be carefully monitored until spontaneous respiration is reliably re-established. Naloxone is a competitive antagonist and large doses (4 mg) may be required in seriously poisoned patients.
For less severe overdosage, administer naloxone 0.2 mg intravenously followed by increments of 0.1 mg every 2 minutes if required.
The patient should be observed for at least 6 hours after the last dose of naloxone.
Naloxone should not be administered in the absence of clinically significant respiratory or circulatory depression secondary to oxycodone overdosage. Naloxone should be administered cautiously to persons who are known, or suspected, to be physically dependent on oxycodone. In such cases, an abrupt or complete reversal of opioid effects may precipitate pain and an acute withdrawal syndrome.
Additional/other considerations:
- Consider activated charcoal (50 g for adults, 10-15 g for children), if a substantial amount has been ingested within 1 hour, provided the airway can be protected. It may be reasonable to assume that late administration of activated charcoal may be beneficial for prolonged release preparations; however there is no evidence to support this.
- Longtec tablets will continue to release and add to the oxycodone load for up to 12 hours after administration and the management of oxycodone overdosage should be modified accordingly. Gastric contents may therefore need to be emptied as this can be useful in removing unabsorbed drug, particularly when a prolonged release formulation has been taken.
Three years
Oxycodone must not be used in any situation where opioids are contraindicated: severe respiratory depression with hypoxia, paralytic ileus, acute abdomen, delayed gastric emptying, severe chronic obstructive lung disease, cor pulmonale, severe bronchial asthma, elevated carbon dioxide levels in the blood, moderate to severe hepatic impairment, chronic constipation.
Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine
Not applicable.
Lactose monohydrate
Povidone K30
Ammoniomethacrylate co-polymer
Sorbic acid
Triacetin (10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg, 80 mg and 120 mg tablets)
Glycerol triacetate (5 mg tablets)
Stearyl alcohol
Talc
Magnesium stearate
Hypromellose (E464)
Titanium dioxide (E171)
Macrogol 400
In addition the tablets contain the following:
Film coat (Opadry blue 0620843) (5mg)
Film coat (Opadry white Y-5-18024A (10mg)
Film coat (Opadry grey 05B7512) (15 mg)
Film coat (Opadry pink YS-1-14518-A (20 mg)
Film coast (Opadry brown YS-1-16518) (30 mg)
Film coat (Opadry yellow YS-1-12525-A) (40 mg)
Film coat (Opadry red 15B25501) (60 mg)
Film coat (Opadry green Y-5-11167-A) (80 mg)
Hydroxypropylcellulose (10 mg and 80 mg tablets)
Iron oxide (E172) (15 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg, 80 mg and 120 mg tablets)
Polysorbate 80 (20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg and 120 mg tablets)
Brilliant blue (E133) (5 mg tablets)
Indigo carmine (E132) (80 mg tablets)
Prolonged release, round, convex tablet.
The 5 mg tablets are light blue, marked OC on one side and 5 on the other.
The 10 mg tablets are white, marked OC on one side and 10 on the other.
The 15 mg tablets are grey, marked OC on one side and 15 on the other.
The 20 mg tablets are pink, marked OC on one side and 20 on the other.
The 30 mg tablets are brown, OC on one side and 30 on the other.
The 40 mg tablets are yellow, marked OC on one side and 40 on the other.
The 60 mg tablets are red, marked OC on one side and 60 on the other.
The 80 mg tablets are green, marked OC on one side and 80 on the other.
The 120 mg tablets are purple, marked OC on one side and 120 on the other.
Adverse drug reactions are typical of full opioid agonists. Tolerance and dependence may occur. Constipation may be prevented with an appropriate laxative. If nausea and vomiting are troublesome, oxycodone may be combined with an anti-emetic.
The following frequency categories form the basis for classification of the undesirable effects:
| Term | Frequency |
| Very common Common Uncommon Rare Very rare Frequency not known | >1/10 >1/100 to <1/10 >1/1,000 to < 1/100 >1/10,000 to <1/1,000 <1/10,000 Cannot be estimated from the available data |
Immune system disorders:
Uncommon: hypersensitivity
Frequency not known: anaphylactic reaction, anyphylactoid reaction
Metabolism and nutrition disorders:
Common: decreased appetite
Uncommon: dehydration
Psychiatric disorders:
Common: anxiety, confusional state, depression, insomnia, nervousness, abnormal thinking, abnormal dreams
Uncommon: agitation, affect lability, euphoric mood, hallucinations, decreased libido, drug dependence , disorientation, mood altered, restlessness, dysphoria
Frequency not known: aggression
Nervous system disorders:
Very common: somnolence, dizziness, headache
Common: tremor, lethargy, sedation
Uncommon: amnesia, convulsion, hypertonia, hypoaesthesia, involuntary muscle contractions, speech disorder, syncope, paraesthesia, dysgeusia, hypotonia
Frequency not known: hyperalgesia
Eye disorders:
Uncommon: visual impairment, miosis
Ear and labyrinth disorders:
Uncommon: vertigo
Cardiac disorders:
Uncommon: palpitations (in the context of withdrawal syndrome), supraventricular tachycardia
Vascular disorders:
Uncommon: vasodilation, facial flushing
Rare: hypotension, orthostatic-hypotension
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders:
Common: dyspnoea, bronchospasm, cough decreased
Uncommon: respiratory depression, hiccups
Gastrointestinal disorders:
Very common: constipation, nausea, vomiting
Common: abdominal pain, diarrhoea, dry mouth, dyspepsia
Uncommon: dysphagia, flatulence, eructation, ileus, gastritis
Frequency not known: dental caries
Hepato-biliary disorders:
Uncommon: increased hepatic enzymes, biliary colic
Frequency not known: cholestasis
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders:
Very common: pruritus
Common: rash, hyperhidrosis
Uncommon: dry skin, exfoliative dermatitis
Rare: urticaria
Renal and urinary disorders:
Uncommon: urinary retention, ureteral spasm
Reproductive system and breast disorders:
Uncommon: erectile dysfunction, hypogonadism
Frequency not known: amenorrhoea
General disorders and administration site conditions:
Common: asthenia, fatigue
Uncommon: drug withdrawal syndrome, malaise, oedema, peripheral oedema, drug tolerance, thirst, pyrexia, chills
Frequency not known: drug withdrawal syndrome neonatal
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.
Teratogenicity
Oxycodone had no effect on fertility or early embryonic development in male and female rats at doses as high as 8 mg/kg/d. Also, oxycodone did not induce any deformities in rats at doses as high as 8 mg/kg/d or in rabbits at doses as high as 125 mg/kg/d. Dose-related increases in developmental variations (increased incidences of extra (27) presacral vertebrae and extra pairs of ribs) were observed in rabbits when the data for individual foetuses were analyzed. However, when the same data were analyzed using litters as opposed to individual foetuses, there was no dose-related increase in developmental variations although the incidence of extra presacral vertebrae remained significantly higher in the 125 mg/kg/d group compared to the control group. Since this dose level was associated with severe pharmacotoxic effects in the pregnant animals, the foetal findings may have been a secondary consequence of severe maternal toxicity.
In a study of peri- and postnatal development in rats, maternal body weight and food intake parameters were reduced for doses > 2 mg/kg/d compared to the control group. Body weights were lower in the F1 generation from maternal rats in the 6 mg/kg/d dosing group. There were no effects on physical, reflexological, or sensory developmental parameters or on behavioural and reproductive indices in the F1 pups (the NOEL for F1 pups was 2 mg/kg/d based on body weight effects seen at 6 mg/kg/d). There were no effects on the F2 generation at any dose in the study.
Carcinogenicity
Studies of oxycodone in animals to evaluate its carcinogenic potential have not been conducted owing to the length of clinical experience with the drug substance.
Mutagenicity
The results of in-vitro and in-vivo studies indicate that the genotoxic risk of oxycodone to humans is minimal or absent at the systemic oxycodone concentrations that are achieved therapeutically.
Oxycodone was not genotoxic in a bacterial mutagenicity assay or in an in-vivo micronucleus assay in the mouse. Oxycodone produced a positive response in the in-vitro mouse lymphoma assay in the presence of rat liver S9 metabolic activation at dose levels greater than 25 μg/mL. Two in-vitro chromosomal aberrations assays with human lymphocytes were conducted. In the first assay, oxycodone was negative without metabolic activation but was positive with S9 metabolic activation at the 24 hour time point but not at other time points or at 48 hour after exposure. In the second assay, oxycodone did not show any clastogenicity either with or without metabolic activation at any concentration or time point.
For the treatment of moderate to severe pain in patients with cancer and post-operative pain. For the treatment of severe pain requiring the use of a strong opioid.
Pharmacotherapeutic group: Natural opium alkaloids
ATC code: N02A A05
Oxycodone is a full opioid agonist with no antagonist properties. It has an affinity for kappa, mu and delta opiate receptors in the brain and spinal cord. Oxycodone is similar to morphine in its action. The therapeutic effect is mainly analgesic, anxiolytic, antitussive and sedative.
Gastrointestinal Systems
Opioids may induce spasm of the sphincter of Oddi.
Endocrine system
Opioids may influence the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal or -gonadal axes. Some changes that can be seen include an increase in serum prolactin, and decreases in plasma cortisol and testosterone. Clinical symptoms may be manifest from these hormonal changes.
Other pharmacological effects
In-vitro and animal studies indicate various effects of natural opioids, such as morphine, on components of the immune system; the clinical significance of these findings is unknown. Whether oxycodone, a semisynthetic opioid, has immunological effects similar to morphine is unknown.
Clinical studies
The efficacy of Longtec tablets has been demonstrated in cancer pain, post- operative pain and severe non-malignant pain such as diabetic neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, low back pain and osteoarthritis. In the latter indication, treatment was continued for up to 18 months and proved effective in many patients for whom NSAIDs alone provided inadequate relief. The efficacy of Longtec tablets in neuropathic pain was confirmed by three placebo-controlled studies.
In patients with chronic non-malignant pain, maintenance of analgesia with stable dosing was demonstrated for up to three years.
Compared with morphine, which has an absolute bioavailability of approximately 30%, oxycodone has a high absolute bioavailability of up to 87% following oral administration. Oxycodone has an elimination half-life of approximately 3 hours and is metabolised principally to noroxycodone and oxymorphone. Oxymorphone has some analgesic activity but, is present in the plasma in low concentrations and is not considered to contribute to oxycodone's pharmacological effect.
The release of oxycodone from Longtec tablets is biphasic with an initial relatively fast release providing an early onset of analgesia followed by a more controlled release, which determines the 12 hour duration of action. The mean apparent elimination half-life of Longtec is 4.5 hours, which leads to steady-state being achieved in about one day.
Release of oxycodone from Longtec tablets is independent of pH.
Longtec tablets have an oral bioavailability comparable with conventional oral oxycodone, but the former achieve maximal plasma concentrations at about 3 hours rather than about 1 to 1.5 hours. Peak and trough concentrations of oxycodone from Longtec tablets 10 mg administered 12-hourly are equivalent to those achieved from conventional oxycodone 5 mg administered 6-hourly.
All strengths of Longtec tablets are bioequivalent in terms of both rate and extent of absorption. Ingestion of a standard high-fat meal does not alter the peak oxycodone concentration or the extent of oxycodone absorption from Longtec tablets.
Elderly
The AUC in elderly subjects is 15% greater when compared with young subjects.
Gender
Female subjects have, on average, plasma oxycodone concentrations up to 25% higher than males on a body weight adjusted basis. The reason for this difference is unknown.
Patients with renal impairment
Preliminary data from a study of patients with mild to moderate renal dysfunction show peak plasma oxycodone and noroxycodone concentrations approximately 50% and 20% higher, respectively and AUC values for oxycodone, noroxycodone and oxymorphone approximately 60%, 60% and 40% higher than normal subjects, respectively. There was an increase in t½ of elimination for oxycodone of only 1 hour.
Patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment
Patients with mild to moderate hepatic dysfunction showed peak plasma oxycodone and noroxycodone concentrations approximately 50% and 20% higher, respectively, than normal subjects. AUC values were approximately 95% and 75% higher, respectively. Oxymorphone peak plasma concentrations and AUC values were lower by 15% to 50%. The t½ elimination for oxycodone increased by 2.3 hours.
02/08/2016
Qdem Pharmaceuticals Ltd
Cambridge Science Park
Milton Road
Cambridge CB4 0AB
Do not store above 25°C
1) Polypropylene containers with polyethylene lids (containing 28, 56 or 112 tablets).
2) PVC blister packs with aluminium foil backing (containing 28, 56 or 112 tablets).
Not all pack sizes may be marketed
PL 40431/0001 - 0009
Pregnancy
Longtec tablets are not recommended for use in pregnancy nor during labour.
There are limited data from the use of oxycodone in pregnant women.
Infants born to mothers who have received opioids during the last 3 to 4 weeks before giving birth should be monitored for respiratory depression.
Withdrawal symptoms may be observed in the newborn of mothers undergoing treatment with oxycodone.
Breastfeeding
Oxycodone may be secreted in breast milk and may cause respiratory depression in the newborn. Longtec tablets should, therefore, not be used in breast-feeding mothers.
5 mg tablet contains 4.5 mg of oxycodone as 5 mg of oxycodone hydrochloride.
10 mg tablet contains 9.0 mg of oxycodone as 10 mg of oxycodone hydrochloride.
15 mg tablet contains 13.5 mg of oxycodone as 15 mg of oxycodone hydrochloride.
20 mg tablet contains 18.0 mg of oxycodone as 20 mg of oxycodone hydrochloride.
30 mg tablet contains 27 mg of oxycodone as 30 mg of oxycodone hydrochloride.
40 mg tablet contains 36.0 mg of oxycodone as 40 mg of oxycodone hydrochloride.
60 mg tablet contains 54 mg of oxycodone as 60 mg of oxycodone hydrochloride.
80 mg tablet contains 72.0g of oxycodone as 80 mg of oxycodone hydrochloride.
120 mg tablet contains 108 mg of oxycodone as 120 mg of oxycodone hydrochloride.
Excipient with known effect:
Contains lactose monohydrate
The major risk of opioid excess is respiratory depression. Caution must be exercised when administering oxycodone to the debilitated elderly; patients with severely impaired pulmonary function, patients with impaired hepatic or renal function; patients with myxedema, hypothyroidism, Addisons disease, toxic psychosis, prostate hypertrophy, adrenocortical insufficiency, alcoholism, delirium tremens, diseases of the biliary tract, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disorders, hypotension, hypovolaemia, raised intracranial pressure, head injury (due to risk of increased intracranial pressure) or patients taking MAO inhibitors.
Longtec tablets should not be used where there is a possibility of paralytic ileus occurring. Should paralytic ileus be suspected or occur during use, Longtec tablets should be discontinued immediately.
Longtec are not recommended for pre-operative use or within the first 12-24 hours post-operatively.
As with all opioid preparations, Longtec tablets should be used with caution following abdominal surgery, as opioids are known to impair intestinal motility, and should not be used until the physician is assured of normal bowel function.
Patients about to undergo additional pain relieving procedures (e.g. surgery, plexus blockade) should not receive Longtec tablets for 12 hours prior to the intervention. If further treatment with Longtec tablets is indicated then the dosage should be adjusted to the new post-operative requirement.
For appropriate patients who suffer with chronic non-malignant pain, opioids should be used as part of a comprehensive treatment programme involving other medications and treatment modalities. A crucial part of the assessment of a patient with chronic non-malignant pain is the patient's addiction and substance abuse history.
If opioid treatment is considered appropriate for the patient, then the main aim of treatment is not to minimise the dose of opioid but rather to achieve a dose which provides adequate pain relief with a minimum of side effects. There must be frequent contact between physician and patient so that dosage adjustments can be made. It is strongly recommended that the physician defines treatment outcomes in accordance with pain management guidelines. The physician and patient can then agree to discontinue treatment if these objectives are not met.
The patient may develop tolerance to the drug with chronic use and require progressively higher doses to maintain pain control. Prolonged use of this product may lead to physical dependence and a withdrawal syndrome may occur upon abrupt cessation of therapy.. When a patient no longer requires therapy with oxycodone, it may be advisable to taper the dose gradually to prevent symptoms of withdrawal. The opioid abstinence or withdrawal syndrome is characterised by some or all of the following: restlessness, lacrimation, rhinorrhoea, yawning, perspiration, chills, myalgia, mydriasis and palpitations. Other symptoms also may develop, including: irritability, anxiety, backache, joint pain, weakness, abdominal cramps, insomnia, nausea, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhoea, or increased blood pressure, respiratory rate or heart rate.
Hyperalgesia that will not respond to a further dose increase of oxycodone may occur, particularly in high doses. An oxycodone dose reduction or change to an alternative opioid may be required.
Oxycodone has an abuse profile similar to other strong opioids. Oxycodone may be sought and abused by people with latent or manifest addiction disorders. There is potential for development of psychological dependence [addiction] to opioid analgesics, including oxycodone. Longtec should be used with particular care in patients with a history of alcohol and drug abuse.
As with other opioids, infants who are born to dependent mothers may exhibit withdrawal symptoms and may have respiratory depression at birth.
Longtec tablets must be swallowed whole, and not broken, chewed or crushed. The administration of broken, chewed, or crushed Longtec tablets leads to a rapid release and absorption of a potentially fatal dose of oxycodone.
Concomitant use of alcohol and Longtec may increase the undesirable effects of Longtec; concomitant use should be avoided.
Abuse of oral dosage forms by parenteral administration can be expected to result in other serious adverse events, such as local tissue necrosis, infection, pulmonary granulomas, increased risk of endocarditis, and valvular heart injury, which may be fatal.
Empty matrix (tablets) may be seen in the stools.
Oxycodone may impair the ability to drive and use machines. Oxycodone may modify patients' reactions to a varying extent depending on the dosage and individual susceptibility. Therefore, patients should not drive or operate machinery if affected.
This medicine can impair cognitive function and can affect a patient's ability to drive safely. This >
- The medicine has been prescribed to treat a medical or dental problem; and
- You have taken it according to the instructions given by the prescriber and in the information provided with the medicine.
- Please note that it is still an offence to drive if you are unfit because of the medicine (i.e. your ability to drive is being affected).â€
Details regarding a new driving offence concerning driving after drugs have been taken in the UK may be found here: https://www.gov.uk/drug-driving-law
Adults over 18 years:
Longtec tablets should be taken at 12-hourly intervals. The dosage is dependent on the severity of the pain, and the patient's previous history of analgesic requirements.
Longtec tablets are not intended for use as a prn analgesic.
Increasing severity of pain will require an increased dosage of Longtec tablets, using the 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg, 80 mg or 120 mg tablet strengths, either alone or in combination, to achieve pain relief. The correct dosage for any individual patient is that which controls the pain and is well tolerated for a full 12 hours. Patients should be titrated to pain relief unless unmanageable adverse drug reactions prevent this. If higher doses are necessary, increases should be made in 25% - 50% increments. The need for escape medication more than twice a day indicates that the dosage of Longtec tablets should be increased.
The usual starting dose for opioid naïve patients or patients presenting with severe pain uncontrolled by weaker opioids is 10 mg, 12-hourly. Some patients may benefit from a starting dose of 5 mg to minimise the incidence of side effects. The dose should then be carefully titrated, as frequently as once a day if necessary, to achieve pain relief. For the majority of patients, the maximum dose is 200 mg 12-hourly. However, a few patients may require higher doses. Doses in excess of 1000 mg daily have been recorded.
Conversion from oral morphine:
Patients receiving oral morphine before Longtec therapy should have their daily dose based on the following ratio: 10 mg of oral oxycodone is equivalent to 20 mg of oral morphine. It must be emphasised that this is a guide to the dose of Longtec tablets required. Inter-patient variability requires that each patient is carefully titrated to the appropriate dose.
Elderly patients:
A dose adjustment is not usually necessary in elderly patients.
Controlled pharmacokinetic studies in elderly patients (aged over 65 years) have shown that, compared with younger adults, the clearance of oxycodone is only slightly reduced. No untoward adverse drug reactions were seen based on age, therefore adult doses and dosage intervals are appropriate.
Paediatric population:
Longtec should not be used in patients under 18 years of age.
Patients with renal or hepatic impairment:
The plasma concentration in this population may be increased. The dose initiation should follow a conservative approach in these patients. The recommended adult starting dose should be reduced by 50% (for example a total daily dose of 10 mg orally in opioid naïve patients), and each patient should be titrated to adequate pain control according to their clinical situation.
Use in non-malignant pain:
Opioids are not first-line therapy for chronic non-malignant pain, nor are they recommended as the only treatment. Types of chronic pain which have been shown to be alleviated by strong opioids include chronic osteoarthritic pain and intervertebral disc disease. The need for continued treatment in non-malignant pain should be assessed at regular intervals.
Method of administration
Longtec tablets are for oral use.
Longtec tablets must be swallowed whole and not broken, chewed or crushed.
Duration of treatment:
Oxycodone should not be used for longer than necessary.
Discontinuation of treatment:
When a patient no longer requires therapy with oxycodone, it may be advisable to taper the dose gradually to prevent symptoms of withdrawal.
None.
15th February 2008 / 19th July 2013
There can be an enhanced CNS depressant effect during concomitant therapy with drugs which affect the CNS such as tranquillisers, anaesthetics, hypnotics, anti-depressants, sedatives, phenothiazines, neuroleptic drugs, other opioids, muscle relaxants and antihypertensives.
Concomitant administration of oxycodone with anticholinergics or medicines with anticholinergic activity (e.g. tricyclic anti-depressants, antihistamines, antipsychotics, muscle relaxants, anti-Parkinson drugs) may result in increased anticholinergic adverse effects. Oxycodone should be used with caution and the dosage may need to be reduced in patients using these medications.
MAO inhibitors are known to interact with narcotic analgesics. MAO inhibitors cause CNS excitation or depression with hypertensive or hypotensive crisis.
Alcohol may enhance the pharmacodynamic effects of Longtec; concomitant use should be avoided.
Oxycodone is metabolised mainly by CYP3A4, with a contribution from CYP2D6. The activities of these metabolic pathways may be inhibited or induced by various co-administered drugs or dietary elements.
CYP3A4 inhibitors, such as macrolide antibiotics (e.g. clarithromycin, erythromycin and telithromycin), azole-antifungals (e.g. ketoconazole, voriconazole, itraconazole, and posaconazole), protease inhibitors (e.g. boceprevir, ritonavir, indinavir, nelfinavir and saquinavir), cimetidine and grapefruit juice may cause a reduced plasma clearance of oxycodone that could cause an increase of the plasma concentrations of oxycodone. Therefore the oxycodone dose may need to be adjusted accordingly.
Some specific examples are provided below:
- Itraconazole, a potent CYP3A4 inhibitor, administered 200 mg orally for five days, increased the AUC of oral oxycodone. One average, the AUC was approximately 2.4 times higher (range 1.5 - 3.4).
- Voriconazole, a CYP3A4 inhibitor, administered 200 mg twice-daily for four days (400 mg given as first two doses), increased the AUC of oral oxycodone. On average, the AUC was approximately 3.6 times higher (range 2.7 - 5.6).
- Telithromycin, a CYP3A4 inhibitor, administered 800 mg orally for four days, increased the AUC of oral oxycodone. On average, the AUC was approximately 1.8 times higher (range 1.3 - 2.3).
- Grapefruit Juice, a CYP3A4 inhibitor, administered as 200 ml three times a day for five days, increased the AUC of oral oxycodone. On average, the AUC was approximately 1.7 times higher (range 1.1 - 2.1).
CYP3A4 inducers, such as rifampicin, carbamazepine, phenytoin and St John's Wort may induce the metabolism of oxycodone and cause an increased clearance of oxycodone that could cause a reduction of the plasma concentrations of oxycodone. The oxycodone dose may need to be adjusted accordingly.
Some specific examples are provided below:
- St John's Wort, a CYP3A4 inducer, administered as 300 mg three times daily for fifteen days, reduced the AUC of oral oxycodone. On average the AUC was approximately 50% lower (range 37 - 57%).
- Rifampicin, a CYP3A4 inducer, administered as 600 mg once-daily for seven days, reduced the AUC of oral oxycodone. On average, the AUC was approximately 86% lower.
Drugs that inhibit CYP2D6 activity, such as paroxetine and quinidine, may cause decreased clearance of oxycodone which could lead to an increase in oxycodone plasma concentrations. Concurrent administration of quinidine resulted in an increase in oxycodone Cmax by 11%, AUC by 13%, and t½ elim. by 14%. Also an increase in noroxycodone level was observed, (Cmax by 50%; AUC by 85%, and t½ elim. by 42%). The pharmacodynamic effects of oxycodone were not altered.
