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    Oxycodone molecular structure

    Oxycodone Stats & Data

    Oxy Oxynorm Percocet Oxycontin Oxycodone hcl
    NPS DataHub
    MW351.83
    FormulaC18H22ClNO4
    CAS124-90-3
    IUPAC4,5.alpha.-Epoxy-14-hydroxy-3-methoxy-17-methylmorphinan-6-one.hydrochloride
    SMILES[Cl-].COc1ccc2CC3N(C)CCC45C(Oc1c24)C(=O)CCC35O.[H+]
    InChIKeyMUZQPDBAOYKNLO-RKXJKUSZSA-N
    Chemical Class Opioid
    Psychoactive Class Depressant
    Half-Life ~3.2 hours (IR apparent elimination); ~4.5 hours reported for ER formulation (apparent, formulation‑dependent).

    Pharmacology

    DrugBank
    State Solid Vd 2.6L/kg. Clearance Total plasma clearance is 1.4L/min in adults.

    Description

    Oxycodone is a semisynthetic opioid analgesic derived from thebaine in Germany in 1917. It is currently indicated as an immediate release product for moderate to severe pain and as an extended release product for chronic moderate to severe pain requiring continuous opioid analgesics for an extended period. The first oxycodone containing product, Percodan, was approved by the FDA on April 12, 1950.

    Mechanism of Action

    The full mechanism of oxycodone is not known. Under conditions of inflammation or hyperalgesia, opioid receptors in the heart, lungs, liver, gastrointestinal tract, and reproductive system are upregulated and transported to nerve terminals. Oxycodone and its active metabolites, noroxycodone, oxymorphone, and noroxymorphone are opioid agonists. These compounds passively diffuse across the blood brain barrier or may be actively transported across by an unknown mechanism. Oxycodone and its active metabolites can selectively bind to the mu opioid receptor, but also the kappa and delta opioid receptors in the central nervous system and periphery, and induce a G protein coupled receptor signalling pathway. Activation of mu opioid receptors inhibits N-type voltage operated calcium channels, inhibiting responses to pain.

    Pharmacodynamics

    Oxycodone acts directly on a number of tissues not related to its analgesic effect. These tissues include the respiratory centre in the brain stem, the cough centre in the medulla, muscles of the pupils, gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, endocrine system, and immune system. Oxycodone's effect on the respiratory centre is dose dependant respiratory depression. The action on the cough centre is suppression of the cough reflex. Pupils become miopic or decrease in size, peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract slows, and muscle tone in the colon may increase causing constipation. In the cardiovascular system histamine may be released leading to pruritis, red eyes, flushing, sweating, and decreased blood pressure. Endocrine effects may include increased prolactin, decreased cortisol, and decreased testosterone. It is not yet known if the effects of opioids on the immune system are clinically significant.

    Metabolism

    Oxycodone's hepatic metabolism is extensive and completed by 4 main reactions. CYP3A4 and 3A5 perform N-demethylation, CYP2D6 performs O-demethylation, unknown enzymes perform 6-keto-reduction, and unknown enzymes perform conjugation. Oxycodone is metabolized by CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 to noroxycodone and then by CYP2D6 to noroxymorphone. Noroxycodone and noroxymorphone are the primary circulating metabolites. Noroxycodone can also be 6-keto-reduced to alpha or beta noroxycodol. Oxycodone can be metabolized by CYP2D6 to oxymorphone and then by CYP3A4 to noroxymorphone. Oxymorphone can also be 6-keto-reduced to alpha or beta oxymorphol. Oxycodone can also be 6-keto-reduced to alpha and beta oxycodol. The active metabolites noroxycodone, oxymorphone, and noroxymorphone can all be conjugated before elimination.

    Absorption

    Oxycodone has an oral bioavailability of 60% to 87% that is unaffected by food. The area under the curve is 135ng/mL\*hr, maximum plasma concentration is 11.5ng/mL, and time to maximum concentration is 5.11hr in patients given a 10mg oral immediate release dose of oxycodone.

    Toxicity

    Patients experiencing an overdose may present with respiratory depression, sleepiness, stupor, coma, skeletal muscle flaccidity, cold sweat, constricted pupils, bradycardia, hypotension, partial or complete airway obstruction, atypical snoring, and death. Overdose should be treated by maintaining airway, ventilation, and oxygenation. Oxygen and vasopressor treatment may be necessary to treat circulatory shock and pulmonary edema and defibrillation may be required for cardiac arrest of arrhythmia. Naloxone, nalmefene, or naltrexone may be used to counteract the effects of opioids but patients should be monitored in case further doses are required. The intraperitoneal LD50 in mice is 320mg/kg, the oral LD50 is 426mg/kg. The oral lowest dose causing toxic effects in humans is 0.14mg/kg and subcutaneously in rats it is 1.53mg/kg. Oxycodone is pregnancy category B according to the FDA. There is a paucity of data regarding oxycodone use in pregnancy, though animal studies show no teratogenic effects. Rats given oxycodone during lactation showed smaller offspring, though after lactation, they recovered to normal size. Oxycodone is excreted in breast milk and so patients should not breastfeed while taking oxycodone due to risk of sedation and respiratory depression in infants. No studies on the carcinogenicity of oxycodone have been performed.

    Indication

    Oxycodone is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. There is also an extended release formulation indicated for chronic moderate to severe pain requiring continuous opioid analgesics for an extended period.

    Half-life

    The apparent elimination half life of oxycodone is 3.2 hours for immediate release formulations and 4.5 hours for extended release formulations. Noroxycodone has a half life of 5.8 hours, oxymorphone has a half life of 8.8 hours, noroxymorphone has a half life of 9 hours.

    Protein Binding

    45%. Oxycodone is primarily bound to serum albumin and to a lesser degree alpha1-acid glycoprotein.

    Elimination

    Oxycodone and its metabolites are eliminated in the urine. Unbound noroxycodone makes up 23% of the dose recovered in urine and oxymorphone makes up <1%. Conjugated oxymorphone makes up 10% of the recovered dose. Free and conjugated oxycodone makes up 8.9% of the recovered dose, noroxymorphone makes up 14%, and reduced metabolites make up 18%.

    Receptor Profile

    Receptor Actions

    Agonists
    μ-opioid receptor agonist (full)
    κ-opioid receptor agonist (partial)
    δ-opioid receptor agonist (partial)

    Receptor Binding

    Mu-type opioid receptor agonist
    Kappa-type opioid receptor agonist
    Delta-type opioid receptor agonist
    Voltage-dependent N-type calcium channel subunit alpha-1B inhibitor

    History & Culture

    1916–1917

    Oxycodone was first synthesized from the opium poppy alkaloid thebaine by Martin Freund and Edmund Speyer at the University of Frankfurt in Germany, with their synthesis published in 1916. Clinical application of the drug followed the next year, when it was initially employed for postoperative pain management among Central Powers soldiers during World War I, administered both intravenously and intramuscularly. Edmund Speyer, born to a Jewish family in Frankfurt am Main in 1878, would later become a victim of the Holocaust. He perished on May 5, 1942, during the second day of deportations from the Łódź Ghetto—a fate documented in the ghetto's chronicle. When Freund died in 1920, Speyer had authored his obituary for the German Chemical Society.

    1928–1945

    In early 1928, Merck introduced a combination product containing scopolamine, oxycodone, and ephedrine under the German initials SEE, later renamed Scophedal in 1942. This formulation was expressly designed to produce what its patent application and package insert described as "very deep analgesia and profound and intense euphoria," along with tranquilization and anterograde amnesia useful for surgical and battlefield injury cases. The ephedrine component was added to counteract circulatory and respiratory depression. The preparation became known as the "Miracle Drug of the 1930s" across Continental Europe and was selected by the Wehrmacht as a battlefield analgesic. Oxycodone was reportedly chosen over other opiates because it produced less sedation at equivalent analgesic doses compared to morphine, hydromorphone, and hydrocodone. Personal notes from Adolf Hitler's physician, Theodor Morell, reveal that Hitler received repeated injections of "Eukodal" (Merck's oxycodone product) and Scophedal, along with other opioids including pethidine, codeine, and morphine. Records indicate that oxycodone supplies became unobtainable after late January 1945 as the war concluded. Scophedal remained in production until 1987, though the formulation can still be extemporaneously compounded.

    1939–1950

    Oxycodone entered the American pharmaceutical market in May 1939. The first oxycodone-containing product to receive FDA approval was Percodan, granted on April 12, 1950. These initial formulations established oxycodone as a recognized option within American pain management practice.

    1995–2011

    During the early 1990s, Purdue Pharma, a privately held company headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, developed a controlled-release oxycodone formulation marketed as OxyContin (the suffix referencing its continuous, extended-duration pain relief). The FDA granted approval in 1995 without requiring long-term efficacy studies or formal assessment of the drug's addiction potential. Upon release, OxyContin was promoted as a breakthrough for patients experiencing moderate to severe pain, and it rapidly became a commercial success, reportedly generating approximately $35 billion in revenue for Purdue Pharma. However, the controlled-release mechanism proved vulnerable to circumvention—crushing the tablets released the full oxycodone dose immediately rather than gradually. David Kessler, who served as FDA commissioner during the approval, later characterized the decision as "certainly one of the worst medical mistakes." By 2011, oxycodone had become the leading cause of drug-related deaths in the United States, though heroin and fentanyl overtook it in this regard from 2012 onward.

    2017–2019

    The role of Purdue Pharma and its owners in the emerging opioid crisis became subject to intense public examination. In October 2017, The New Yorker published an investigation examining Mortimer Sackler and Purdue Pharma's connection to marketing practices that may have contributed to widespread oxycodone dependence. The article traced how business approaches pioneered by Raymond and Arthur Sackler in direct pharmaceutical marketing were subsequently applied to OxyContin promotion. In 2019, The New York Times published reporting based on verified documents from a Massachusetts lawsuit filed by Attorney General Maura Healey. These materials revealed that Richard Sackler, son of Raymond Sackler, had instructed company officials in 2008 to "measure our performance by Rx's by strength, giving higher measures to higher strengths." The lawsuit alleged that both Purdue Pharma and members of the Sackler family were aware that prescribing high doses of OxyContin over extended periods would increase the risk of serious adverse effects, including the development of addiction.

    2010–2013

    In August 2010, Purdue Pharma introduced a reformulated OxyContin line incorporating a polymer called Intac, engineered to resist crushing or dissolution in water and thereby reduce non-medical use. The FDA approved relabeling this reformulated version as abuse-resistant in April 2013. The agency had revoked approval for the original sustained-release formulation due to documented widespread misuse. Despite its complex and often controversial history, oxycodone maintains its place as a therapeutic alternative on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines and is available in generic form. As of 2023, it ranked as the 49th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 13 million prescriptions dispensed annually.

    Subjective Effect Notes

    physical: The physical effects of oxycodeine can be broken down into several components which progressively intensify proportional to dosage. The general head space of codeine is described by many as one of intense euphoria, relaxation, anxiety suppression and pain relief.

    cognitive: The cognitive effects of codeine can be broken down into several components which progressively intensify proportional to dosage.

    Effect Profile

    Curated + 445 Reports
    Opioid 7.0

    Strong euphoria and itching/nausea with moderate sedation and pain relief

    Euphoria / Warmth×3
    109.5
    Analgesia×2
    62.6
    Sedation / Relaxation×1
    74.6
    Itching / Nausea×1
    108.0
    Catalog Erowid

    Empirical Duration

    Erowid Reports
    Onset Come Up Peak Offset
    Oral (21 reports)

    Tolerance & Pharmacokinetics

    drugs.wiki
    Half-Life
    ~3.2 hours (IR apparent elimination); ~4.5 hours reported for ER formulation (apparent, formulation‑dependent).
    Addiction Potential
    High. Marked risks of tolerance, dependence, use disorder, and overdose—especially with frequent/high doses or when combined with other CNS depressants.

    Tolerance Decay

    Full tolerance 5d Half tolerance 4d Baseline ~14d

    Opioid tolerance to euphoria/analgesia builds within days of daily use and decays over 1–4 weeks of abstinence; tolerance to constipation and pupillary effects lags. Tolerance to respiratory depression may not keep pace with loss of subjective sedation—risk rises after breaks or when switching products. Values are approximate and synthesis‑based (clinical/anecdotal).

    Cross-Tolerances

    Morphine
    80% ●●○
    Hydrocodone
    80% ●●○
    Heroin (diacetylmorphine)
    80% ●●○
    Fentanyl
    60% ●○○
    Hydromorphone
    80% ●●○

    Experience Report Analysis

    Erowid BlueLight
    350 Reports
    2000–2021 Date Range
    88 With Age Data
    30 Effects Detected

    Demographics

    Gender Distribution

    Age Distribution

    Reports Over Time

    Effect Analysis

    Erowid + Bluelight

    Effects aggregated from 400 experience reports (350 Erowid + 95 Bluelight)

    400 Reports
    122 Effects Detected
    48 Positive
    54 Adverse
    20 Neutral

    Effect Sentiment Distribution

    Confidence Distribution

    Positive Effects 48

    Contentment 60.0% 86%
    Euphoria 54.2% 92%
    Empathy 39.4% 70%
    Sedation 34.3% 88%
    Anxiety Suppression 28.0% 79%
    Stimulation 26.5% 81%
    Drowsiness 26.0% 87%
    Sociability Enhancement 24.0% 85%
    Body High 22.5% 91%
    Thought Deceleration 22.0% 80%
    Music Enhancement 20.5% 85%
    Numbness 18.0% 84%
    Tactile Enhancement 14.0% 85%
    Warmth 14.0% 90%
    Tingling 14.0% 85%
    Focus Enhancement 12.8% 82%
    Peace 12.0% 84%
    Bliss 12.0% 89%
    Joy 12.0% 87%
    Pressure 10.0% 84%

    Adverse Effects 54

    Nausea 34.2% 85%
    Confusion 14.0% 70%
    Ataxia 14.0% 80%
    Dry Mouth 12.0% 83%
    Vomiting 12.0% 92%
    Headache 10.3% 70%
    Body Load 10.0% 74%
    Dizziness 10.0% 85%
    Sweating 8.5% 83%
    Motor Impairment 8.2% 90%
    Irritability 8.0% 75%
    Memory Suppression 7.5% 78%
    Pupil Dilation 7.0% 77%
    Body Temperature Change 6.0% 78%
    Fear 6.0% 85%
    Amnesia 6.0% 82%
    Muscle Tension 4.6% 70%
    Increased Heart Rate 4.3% 70%
    Blurred Vision 4.0% 82%
    Dysphoria 4.0% 85%

    Dose-Response Correlation

    How effect frequency changes across dose levels

    Oral

    View data table
    Effect Light (n=15) Common (n=59) Strong (n=10) Heavy (n=32)
    Sedation 66.7% 33.9% 20.0% 28.1%
    Euphoria 33.3% 55.9% 60.0% 53.1%
    Empathy 40.0% 44.1% 40.0% 31.2%
    Anxiety Suppression 33.3% 40.7% 40.0% 25.0%
    Stimulation 33.3% 23.7% 30.0% 40.6%
    Nausea 40.0% 35.6% 40.0% 31.2%
    Music Enhancement 33.3% 39.0% 30.0% 25.0%
    Focus Enhancement 13.3% 10.2% 30.0% 6.2%
    Body High 0% 13.6% 30.0% 12.5%
    Tactile Enhancement 26.7% 15.3% 20.0% 15.6%
    Hospital 0% 10.2% 0% 25.0%
    Confusion 0% 5.1% 20.0% 9.4%
    Auditory Effects 0% 15.3% 0% 18.8%
    Visual Distortions 0% 13.6% 0% 18.8%
    Color Enhancement 13.3% 16.9% 0% 15.6%

    Insufflated

    View data table
    Effect Common (n=14) Strong (n=19) Heavy (n=45)
    Euphoria 64.3% 68.4% 60.0%
    Sedation 50.0% 31.6% 28.9%
    Nausea 50.0% 31.6% 40.0%
    Anxiety Suppression 42.9% 31.6% 22.2%
    Stimulation 28.6% 42.1% 33.3%
    Body High 35.7% 21.1% 20.0%
    Empathy 21.4% 15.8% 33.3%
    Music Enhancement 28.6% 26.3% 11.1%
    Auditory Effects 28.6% 10.5% 15.6%
    Tactile Enhancement 21.4% 0% 11.1%
    Focus Enhancement 21.4% 10.5% 20.0%
    Motor Impairment 21.4% 0% 4.4%
    Headache 0% 21.1% 8.9%
    Sweating 0% 15.8% 17.8%
    Hospital 14.3% 15.8% 11.1%

    Subjective Effect Ontology

    Experience Reports

    Structured effect tags extracted from 445 Erowid & Bluelight experience reports using a controlled vocabulary of 220+ canonical effects across 15 domains.

    Emotional

    euphoria 217 56.2% empathy 138 39.4% anxiety suppression 112 26.0%

    Gastrointestinal

    nausea 137 33.4%

    Motor

    sedation 137 38.1% stimulation 106 24.6%

    6 unique effects extracted · Derived from Erowid & Bluelight reports

    Dose–Effect Mapping

    Experience Reports

    How reported effects shift across dose tiers, based on 350 experience reports.

    Insufflated dose range: 15.0–40.0 mg (median 30.0 mg)
    Effect Common (n=14) Strong (n=19) Heavy (n=45)
    euphoria
    64%
    68%
    60%
    sedation
    50%
    32%
    29%
    nausea
    50%
    32%
    40%
    anxiety suppression
    43%
    32%
    22%
    stimulation
    29%
    42%
    33%
    body high
    36%
    21%
    20%
    empathy
    21%
    16%
    33%
    music enhancement
    29%
    26%
    11%
    auditory effects
    29%
    10%
    16%
    tactile enhancement
    21%
    11%
    focus enhancement
    21%
    10%
    20%
    motor impairment
    21%
    4%
    headache
    21%
    9%
    sweating
    16%
    18%
    hospital
    14%
    16%
    11%
    confusion
    14%
    16%
    16%
    dissociation
    14%
    10%
    9%
    visual distortions
    14%
    7%
    color enhancement
    14%
    10%
    7%
    jaw clenching
    14%

    Showing top 20 of 28 effects

    Oral dose range: 10.0–40.0 mg (median 20.0 mg)
    Effect Light (n=15) Common (n=59) Strong (n=10) Heavy (n=32)
    sedation
    67%
    34%
    20%
    28%
    euphoria
    33%
    56%
    60%
    53%
    empathy
    40%
    44%
    40%
    31%
    anxiety suppression
    33%
    41%
    40%
    25%
    stimulation
    33%
    24%
    30%
    41%
    nausea
    40%
    36%
    40%
    31%
    music enhancement
    33%
    39%
    30%
    25%
    focus enhancement
    13%
    10%
    30%
    6%
    body high
    14%
    30%
    12%
    tactile enhancement
    27%
    15%
    20%
    16%
    hospital
    10%
    25%
    confusion
    5%
    20%
    9%
    auditory effects
    15%
    19%
    visual distortions
    14%
    19%
    color enhancement
    13%
    17%
    16%
    dissociation
    15%
    9%
    headache
    13%
    10%
    9%
    memory suppression
    13%
    3%
    9%
    appetite suppression
    13%
    pain relief
    10%
    12%

    Showing top 20 of 29 effects

    Risk Escalation

    Sentiment Analysis

    Average frequency of positive vs adverse effects across dose tiers (Oral)

    Light n=15
    7 positive 27.6% 5 adverse 22.6%
    Common n=59
    9 positive 25.4% 10 adverse 12.6%
    Strong n=10
    7 positive 34.3% 3 adverse 33.3%
    Heavy n=32
    10 positive 21.8% 10 adverse 13.1%
    View effect breakdown

    Adverse Effects

    Effect Light (n=15) Common (n=59) Strong (n=10) Heavy (n=32) Change
    Anxiety Suppression
    33%
    41%
    40%
    25%
    -24%
    Nausea
    40%
    36%
    40%
    31%
    -22%
    Confusion
    5%
    20%
    9%
    +84%
    Headache
    13%
    10%
    9%
    -29%
    Memory Suppression
    13%
    3%
    9%
    -29%
    Appetite Suppression
    13%
    0%
    Motor Impairment
    5%
    12%
    +145%
    Pupil Dilation
    10%
    9%
    -7%
    Sweating
    7%
    9%
    +38%
    Muscle Tension
    5%
    9%
    +84%
    Increased Heart Rate
    6%
    0%
    Seizure
    3%
    0%

    Positive Effects

    Effect Light (n=15) Common (n=59) Strong (n=10) Heavy (n=32) Change
    Euphoria
    33%
    56%
    60%
    53%
    +59%
    Empathy
    40%
    44%
    40%
    31%
    -22%
    Stimulation
    33%
    24%
    30%
    41%
    +21%
    Music Enhancement
    33%
    39%
    30%
    25%
    -24%
    Focus Enhancement
    13%
    10%
    30%
    6%
    -53%
    Body High
    14%
    30%
    12%
    -8%
    Tactile Enhancement
    27%
    15%
    20%
    16%
    -41%
    Color Enhancement
    13%
    17%
    16%
    +17%
    Pain Relief
    10%
    12%
    +22%
    Introspection
    6%
    0%

    Risk Escalation

    Sentiment Analysis

    Average frequency of positive vs adverse effects across dose tiers (Insufflated)

    Common n=14
    8 positive 29.5% 5 adverse 28.6%
    Strong n=19
    7 positive 27.8% 8 adverse 18.4%
    Heavy n=45
    10 positive 20.7% 10 adverse 14.0%
    View effect breakdown

    Adverse Effects

    Effect Common (n=14) Strong (n=19) Heavy (n=45) Change
    Nausea
    50%
    32%
    40%
    -20%
    Anxiety Suppression
    43%
    32%
    22%
    -48%
    Motor Impairment
    21%
    4%
    -79%
    Headache
    21%
    9%
    -57%
    Sweating
    16%
    18%
    +12%
    Confusion
    14%
    16%
    16%
    9%
    Jaw Clenching
    14%
    0%
    Memory Suppression
    10%
    13%
    +26%
    Increased Heart Rate
    10%
    7%
    -36%
    Pupil Dilation
    10%
    7%
    -36%
    Muscle Tension
    4%
    0%

    Positive Effects

    Effect Common (n=14) Strong (n=19) Heavy (n=45) Change
    Euphoria
    64%
    68%
    60%
    -6%
    Stimulation
    29%
    42%
    33%
    +16%
    Body High
    36%
    21%
    20%
    -43%
    Empathy
    21%
    16%
    33%
    +55%
    Music Enhancement
    29%
    26%
    11%
    -61%
    Tactile Enhancement
    21%
    11%
    -48%
    Focus Enhancement
    21%
    10%
    20%
    -6%
    Color Enhancement
    14%
    10%
    7%
    -53%
    Introspection
    7%
    0%
    Pain Relief
    4%
    0%

    Dosage Distribution

    Dose distribution from experience reports

    Oral

    Median: 20.0 mg IQR: 10.0–40.0 mg n=120

    Insufflated

    Median: 30.0 mg IQR: 15.0–40.0 mg n=84

    Real-World Dose Distribution

    62K Doses

    From 508 individual dose entries

    Oral (n=235)

    Median: 15.0mg 25th: 10.0mg 75th: 30.0mg 90th: 40.0mg
    mg/kg median: 0.227 mg/kg 75th: 0.441

    Insufflated (n=185)

    Median: 20.0mg 25th: 10.0mg 75th: 35.0mg 90th: 46.0mg
    mg/kg median: 0.245 mg/kg 75th: 0.49

    Intravenous (n=12)

    Median: 21.25mg 25th: 20.0mg 75th: 40.0mg 90th: 40.0mg
    mg/kg median: 0.339 mg/kg 75th: 0.511

    Common Combinations

    Most co-occurring substances in experience reports

    Form / Preparation

    Most common forms and preparations reported

    Body-Weight Dosing

    Dose relative to body weight from reports with weight data

    Oral

    Median: 0.236 mg/kg IQR: 0.138–0.456 mg/kg n=119

    Insufflated

    Median: 0.368 mg/kg IQR: 0.189–0.588 mg/kg n=84

    Unknown

    Median: 1.43 mg/kg IQR: 1.225–1.695 mg/kg n=5

    Redose Patterns

    Redosing behavior across 301 reports

    30.2% Redosed
    1.4 Avg Doses
    40m Median Interval

    Opioid Equivalence (MME)

    NIH HEAL 2024 & CDC 2022
    ⚠ Citation & Disclaimer: Conversion factors sourced from the NIH HEAL Initiative MME Calculator (Adams et al., PAIN 2025), the CDC 2022 Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain, and the MDCalc MME Calculator. These are approximate equianalgesic ratios for educational reference only. Individual responses vary significantly based on genetics, tolerance, cross-tolerance, and route of administration. This is not medical advice. Do not use these conversions to adjust opioid dosing without professional medical guidance.
    6.7 mg Oxycodone 10 mg Morphine (oral)
    MME factor 1.5×

    Oxycodone 6.7 mg oral ≈ 10 mg Morphine oral

    Evidence level: High (A).

    Legal Status

    1931 Convention for Limiting the Manufacture and Regulating the Distribution of Narcotic Drugs (League of Nations) 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (United Nations, Schedule I)
    Country Status Notes
    Australia Schedule 8 (Poisons Standard) / Schedule I (Narcotic Drugs Act) Listed in Schedule I of the Commonwealth's Narcotic Drugs Act 1967 pursuant to international treaty obligations. Additionally classified as Schedule 8 under the Poisons Standard, designating it as a controlled drug available for medical use but requiring restriction of manufacture, supply, distribution, possession, and use to reduce potential for abuse and dependence.
    Austria Prescription only (AMG/SMG) Legal for medical use under the Arzneimittelgesetz (Medicines Act). Possession or sale without a valid prescription is prohibited under the Suchtmittelgesetz (Addiction Substances Act).
    Canada Schedule I (CDSA) Controlled substance under Schedule I of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Note that Canadian scheduling differs significantly from the United States system. Possession and distribution without authorization carry criminal penalties.
    Germany Anlage III BtMG Listed in Appendix III of the Betäubungsmittelgesetz (Narcotics Act), meaning it is a controlled narcotic available for medical prescription. Only licensed physicians, dentists, and veterinarians may prescribe oxycodone, and the federal government regulates prescriptions through reporting requirements.
    Hong Kong Schedule 1, Part I (Dangerous Drugs Ordinance) Regulated under Part I of Schedule 1 of Chapter 134, the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance. Unauthorized possession, manufacture, and trafficking are criminal offenses.
    Netherlands List I (Opiumwet) Classified as a List I substance under the Opium Act, designating it as a 'hard drug' associated with significant health risks. Despite this classification, physicians retain the ability to prescribe oxycodone for legitimate medical purposes under the Medicines Act.
    Russia Schedule II Classified as a Schedule II controlled substance under Russian narcotics legislation. Medical use is permitted under strict regulation.
    Singapore Class A (Misuse of Drugs Act) Listed as a Class A drug, attracting the most severe penalties under Singapore law. Unauthorized manufacture carries a minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment plus 5 strokes of the cane, with maximum penalties of life imprisonment or 30 years plus 15 strokes. Trafficking offenses carry minimum penalties of 5 years imprisonment plus 5 strokes, and maximum penalties of 20 years plus 15 strokes.
    Switzerland Verzeichnis A Specifically named as a controlled substance under Verzeichnis A of Swiss narcotics legislation. Medicinal use is permitted with appropriate prescription.
    Turkey Red prescription only Designated as a 'red prescription' substance, indicating the highest level of prescription control in Turkey. Possession or sale without a valid red prescription is illegal.
    United Kingdom Class A / Schedule 2 Controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act as a Class A substance, considered among those most likely to cause harm. Possession without prescription is punishable by up to seven years imprisonment, an unlimited fine, or both. Dealing carries penalties up to life imprisonment. Also listed as Schedule 2 under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, permitting medical prescription.
    United States Schedule II Controlled under the Controlled Substances Act since 1970. Illegal to sell without a DEA license and illegal to purchase or possess without a valid prescription. The FDA revoked approval of the original sustained-release OxyContin formulation in 2010 due to widespread misuse, with reformulated abuse-deterrent versions subsequently approved.

    Harm Reduction

    drugs.wiki

    • Combining oxycodone with other CNS depressants (alcohol, benzodiazepines, Z-drugs, gabapentinoids, GHB) greatly magnifies risks of overdose, respiratory depression, and death; this is a leading driver of fatalities. TripSit and clinical reviews flag opioid+benzo/gaba combos as dangerous; gabapentinoid co-prescription doubles opioid-related mortality in observational data. • CYP3A4 strongly affects oxycodone exposure. Adding an inhibitor (e.g., azole antifungals, macrolides, protease inhibitors, grapefruit) after you’re stable on a dose can acutely raise oxycodone levels and cause overdose; starting/stopping inducers (rifampin/carbamazepine/phenytoin/St. John’s wort) can lower levels or, when stopped, rebound them upward. This warning appears in the oxycodone label summaries (MedGen/NCBI) and DrugBank metabolism section. • CYP2D6 inhibitors (fluoxetine, paroxetine, bupropion, some SSRIs/SNRIs) reduce formation of oxymorphone and can change effect profile (sometimes less analgesia but more parent-drug sedation). Use extra caution if adding/stopping these. Label summaries note enhanced effects when 3A4 and 2D6 inhibitors are combined. • Counterfeit “oxycodone/Percocet” tablets are common; drug-checking projects repeatedly find fentanyl, fluorofentanyl, nitazenes (e.g., metonitazene, protonitazepyne), and benzodiazepines (e.g., bromazolam) instead of oxycodone. Use fentanyl test strips, but know they do not detect nitazenes; many onsite FTIR devices also miss <5% content. Laboratory checking where available is safer. • Keep naloxone (or nalmefene) accessible and teach people around you to use it. Naloxone reverses opioid respiratory depression; multiple doses may be required with potent adulterants. Community distribution programs show thousands of overdose reversals. • If you only have acetaminophen-containing products (e.g., Percocet), track total daily APAP from all sources and stay ≤4,000 mg/day to avoid liver injury. Consider a properly performed cold-water extraction (CWE) to reduce APAP before non-medical use; never rely on CWE to make unsafe doses “safe.” • Prefer oral dosing. Avoid injecting or smoking crushed tablets: insoluble binders and tamper-resistant matrices raise risks of emboli and serious tissue/organ harm; TripSit explicitly flags IV use of oxycodone tablets as extremely dangerous. • Do not chew/crush ER products (e.g., OxyContin) for non-medical use: this can release the full dose at once (“dose dumping”) and sharply increase overdose risk. Redose cautiously and leave several hours between doses because sedation/respiratory depression can outlast euphoria. Label summaries and clinical texts warn about this. • When using alone is unavoidable, use tiny test doses, avoid mixing depressants, and arrange a check-in or use an overdose-detection line; know basic rescue breathing. If someone is unresponsive, call emergency services, give naloxone, and provide rescue breathing until help arrives. • Chronic use: constipation is near-universal; hydrate, use fiber/osmotic laxatives as needed. Opioid-induced hyperalgesia can occur; increasing doses may paradoxically worsen pain—seek medical review. • Driving/operating machinery is unsafe while affected. People with sleep apnea, COPD, or on sedatives are at higher risk of nocturnal hypoventilation—start at low doses and avoid co-depressants.

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