Oxycodone (Controlled Release)

Patients who have chronic, severe pain sometimes take controlled release oxycodone. This medication is an opioid medication; it works by blocking pain impulses coming from the nervous system. Controlled release tablets are taken once a day by mouth and continually release themselves into the bloodstream in order to keep pain under control for long periods of time.

Side Effects/Warnings

Swallow tablets whole; don’t crush, chew, split or otherwise break them. If a tablet breaks before being swallowed, too much medication can be released into the bloodstream at once, causing a fatal overdose. Similarly, this medication should only be used for chronic, severe pain, not to relieve occasional or mild pain. Patients should only take this medication if they have become tolerant to other narcotic medications they are on for chronic pain so that they don’t overdose.