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OxyIR

Generic name: oxycodoneox-i-KOE-done ]
Brand names: Oxaydo, OxyCONTIN, Roxicodone, RoxyBond, Xtampza ER, Oxyfast, OxyIR
Drug class: Opioids (narcotic analgesics)

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on Jan 23, 2024. Written by Cerner Multum.

What is OxyIR?

OxyIR is an opioid pain medication used to treat moderate to severe pain. This medicine is usually given after other treatments did not work or were not tolerated.

Extended-release OxyIR is for around-the-clock treatment of severe and chronic pain that requires longer treatment. OxyIR is not for use on an as-needed basis.

OxyIR may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

OxyIR side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives, difficult breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Opioid medicine can slow or stop your breathing, and death may occur, especially if you drink alcohol or use other drugs that cause drowsiness or slow breathing. A person caring for you should give naloxone and/or seek emergency medical attention if you have slow breathing with long pauses, blue colored lips, or if you are hard to wake up.

OxyIR may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

Serious breathing problems may be more likely in older adults and in those who are debilitated or have wasting syndrome or chronic breathing disorders.

Seek medical attention right away if you have symptoms of serotonin syndrome, such as: agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, shivering, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Common side effects of OxyIR may include:

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Warnings

MISUSE OF OPIOID MEDICINE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH.

Fatal side effects may occur if you also drink alcohol or use other drugs that cause drowsiness or slow breathing.

Using opioid medicine during pregnancy may cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the newborn.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use OxyIR if you are allergic to it, or if you have severe asthma, breathing problems or a stomach or bowel obstruction (including paralytic ileus).

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

Most forms of oxycodone are not approved for use in people under 18 years old. The extended-release tablets should not be given to a child younger than 11 years old.

Tell your doctor if you also use stimulant medicine, opioid medicine, herbal products, or medicine for depression, mental illness, Parkinson's disease, migraine headaches, serious infections, or prevention of nausea and vomiting. An interaction with OxyIR could cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.

May harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you use OxyIR during pregnancy, your baby could be born with life-threatening withdrawal symptoms, and may need medical treatment for several weeks.

Do not breastfeed. OxyIR in breast milk can cause life-threatening side effects in a nursing baby.

Long-term OxyIR may affect fertility in men or women. Pregnancy could be harder to achieve while either parent is using OxyIR.

How should I take OxyIR?

Follow the directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Never use OxyIR in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed. Tell your doctor if you feel an increased urge to use more of this medicine.

Never share opioid medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug addiction. MISUSE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH. Keep the medicine where others cannot get to it. Selling or giving away this medicine is against the law.

Never crush a pill or use the liquid to inhale the mixture or inject it into your vein. This could result in death.

Your dose needs may change if you switch to a different brand, strength, or form of this medicine. Avoid medication errors by using exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor.

Stop taking all other around-the-clock opioid pain medicines when you start taking extended-release OxyIR.

Swallow the extended-release forms whole to avoid exposure to a potentially fatal overdose. Do not crush, chew, break, open, or dissolve.

Take the extended-release capsules with food. Read and carefully follow the instructions for use on how to prepare and take this medicine if you cannot swallow extended release capsules whole or you use a feeding tube. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you don't understand these instructions.  

Measure liquid medicine with the supplied measuring device (not a kitchen spoon).

You may be given other medications to help prevent or treat certain side effects.

You may have withdrawal symptoms if you stop using OxyIR suddenly. Ask your doctor before stopping the medicine.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep your medicine in a place where no one can use it improperly.

Do not keep leftover medicine. Just one dose can cause death in someone using it accidentally or improperly. Ask your pharmacist about a drug take-back program, or flush the unused medicine down the toilet.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since OxyIR is used for pain, you are not likely to miss a dose. Skip any missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not use two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose can be fatal, especially in a child or person using opioid medicine without a prescription.

Your doctor may recommend you get naloxone (a medicine to reverse an opioid overdose) and keep it with you at all times. A person caring for you can give the naloxone if you stop breathing or don't wake up. Your caregiver must still get emergency medical help and may need to perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) on you while waiting for help to arrive.

Anyone can buy naloxone from a pharmacy or local health department. Make sure any person caring for you knows where you keep naloxone and how to use it.

What should I avoid while taking OxyIR?

Do not drink alcohol or any products that contain alcohol. Dangerous side effects or death could occur.

Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how OxyIR will affect you. Dizziness or drowsiness can causing falls, accidents, or severe injuries. Also avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy.

What other drugs will affect OxyIR?

You may have a fatal OxyIR overdose if you start or stop using certain medicines. Tell your doctor about all your medications. Tell your doctor about all your medications especially if you use medicine to treat HIV, antibiotic, antifungal medication, or seizure medication.

Many other drugs can be dangerous when used with opioid medicine. Tell your doctor if you also use:

This list is not complete and many other drugs may affect OxyIR. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Popular FAQ

Any drug that is classified as an "opioid" can cause constipation. Examples of commonly prescribed opioids that may cause this side effect include morphine, tramadol, fentanyl, methadone, hydrocodone, codeine and oxycodone. Continue reading

Immediate-release oxycodone has a half-life of just under 4 hours which means the pain-relieving effects of one dose will be gone within 6 to 24 hours, but it can remain detectable in saliva, urine, and hair for much longer. In saliva, oxycodone is detectable within minutes of taking it and lasts for up to 48 hours (2 days). Oxycodone is detectable in urine within 1 to 3 hours and will stay detectable for 1 to 4 days. Like most other opioids, oxycodone is detectable in hair for up to 90 days. Continue reading

How long opioid withdrawal lasts depends on the opioid you have been taking and whether it is a short-acting or long acting opioid.

If you have been using a short-acting opioid, acute opioid withdrawal lasts 4 to 10 days, with withdrawal symptoms starting 8 to 24 hours after last use.

If you have been using a long-acting opioid, acute opioid withdrawal lasts 10 to 20 days, with withdrawal symptoms starting 12 to 48 hours after last use. Continue reading

Immediate-release oxycodone starts to work quickly, within 10 to 30 minutes, but it may take up to 1 hour for it to be fully absorbed, and the full effects reached. Food can delay how quickly oxycodone takes to work, but not how much is absorbed. Continue reading

Oxycodone (also known as Oxy IR) and Oxycontin both contain oxycodone, but the main difference is that Oxycontin is the brand name of a long-acting form of oxycodone. Oxycontin releases oxycodone slowly and continuously over 12 hours and only needs to be given twice a day. Oxycodone is shorter-acting, with an average half-life of 3.2 hours, which means that half the dose of oxycodone is eliminated in 3.2 hours, which is why it is usually given four to six times a day to provide all-day pain relief. Oxycodone is usually given for acute pain, such as that following surgery or trauma, whereas Oxycontin may be given for chronic or long-term pain, such as that caused by cancer. Oxycontin should only be considered in those with chronic severe pain that have already found a trial of oxycodone to be beneficial. Continue reading

Withdrawal from oxycodone is likely to happen to people who have taken oxycodone consistently or misused oxycodone. Common symptoms of withdrawal include:

  • Anxiety
  • Cravings for oxycodone – these are one of the main symptoms that drive relapse
  • Diarrhea
  • Fast heartbeat
  • High blood pressure
  • Muscle aches
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Sleep disturbances/Insomnia
  • Stomach cramps
  • Sweating.
Continue reading

More FAQ

Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.