oxycodone
Last reviewed 01/2018
Oxycodone is an opioid analgesic usually used in palliative care.
- has good oral bioavailability and considered to be 1.5 to 2 times more potent than oral morphine
- an alternative option if morphine is not tolerated
- care should be taken to ensure clarity when prescribing immediate release capsules or modified release tablets. The modified release tablets also deliver a small dose which is immediate release
- oxycodone 5mg -7.5mg has the approximate equivalence to 10mg oral morphine on duration of repeated dosing
Reference:
- (1) West Midlands Palliative Care Physicians (2007). Palliative care - guidelines for the use of drugs in symptom control.