Acetaminophen and Oxycodone

Generic name: Oxycodone And Acetaminophen
Drug class: Narcotic analgesic combinations

Usage of Acetaminophen and Oxycodone

Oxycodone and acetaminophen is a combination medication for moderate to severe pain. Oxycodone is an opioid pain reliever that belongs to the group of medicines called narcotic analgesics. Acetaminophen  is used for pain relief and to reduce fever.  Oxycodone and acetaminophen were originally marketed under the brand name Percocet. Other brands have also been available Nalocet, Primlev, Endocet (discontinued), Roxicet (discontinued), Xartemis XR (discontinued), and generic oxycodone and acetaminophen products are available.

Due to the risks of addiction, abuse, and misuse, even at recommended doses, oxycodone and acetaminophen is only prescribed when treatment with non-opioid pain-relieving medication has not been tolerated or has not provided adequate pain relief.

Acetaminophen and Oxycodone side effects

Serious side effects of oxycodone with acetaminophen may include:

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to acetaminophen and oxycodone: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Opioid medicine can slow or stop your breathing, and death may occur. A person caring for you should seek emergency medical attention if you have slow breathing with long pauses, blue-colored lips, or if you are hard to wake up.

In rare cases, acetaminophen may cause a severe skin reaction that can be fatal. This could occur even if you have taken acetaminophen in the past and had no reaction. Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor right away if you have skin redness or a rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

  • noisy breathing, sighing, shallow breathing;
  • a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
  • weakness, tiredness, fever, unusual bruising or bleeding;
  • confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior;
  • problems with urination;
  • liver problems - nausea, upper stomach pain, tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
  • low cortisol levels - nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dizziness, worsening tiredness or weakness.

    • 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.

    Serious breathing may be more likely in older adults and those who are overweight, malnourished, or debilitated.

    Long-term use of opioid medication may affect fertility (ability to have children) in men or women. It is not known whether opioid effects on fertility are permanent.

    Common oxycodone with acetaminophen side effects include:

  • dizziness, drowsiness, feeling tired;
  • headache;
  • constipation, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain;
  • blurred vision;
  • itching, red eyes, or flushing;
  • feelings of extreme happiness or sadness; or
  • dry mouth.

    • 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.

    Before taking Acetaminophen and Oxycodone

    You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to acetaminophen, or oxycodone or any inactive ingredients, or if you have:

  • severe asthma or breathing problems; or
  • a blockage in your stomach or intestines.

    • To make sure oxycodone with acetaminophenis safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

  • liver disease;
  • a drug or alcohol addiction;
  • kidney disease;
  • a head injury or seizures;
  • urination problems; or
  • problems with your thyroid, pancreas, or gallbladder.

    • Pregnancy 

    If you use opioid medicine while you are pregnant, your baby could become dependent on the drug. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after it is born. Babies that are born dependent on opioids may need medical treatment for several weeks.

    Breastfeeding

    Do not breastfeed. Oxycodone with acetaminophen can pass into breast milk and cause drowsiness, breathing problems, or death in a nursing baby.

    Relate drugs

    How to use Acetaminophen and Oxycodone

    Use: For the management of acute pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatments are inadequate.

    Usual Adult Dose for Pain:

    Oxycodone 2.5 mg/acetaminophen 300 or 325 mg tablets:

  • 1 to 2 tablets every 6 hours
  • Maximum dose: 12 tablets in 24 hours

    • Oxycodone 5 mg/acetaminophen 300 or 325 mg: 

  • 1 tablet orally every 6 hours as needed for pain
  • Maximum dose: 12 tablets in 24 hours

    • Oxycodone 7.5 mg/acetaminophen 300 or 325 mg tablets: 

  • 1 tablet orally every 6 hours as needed for pain
  • Maximum dose: 8 tablets in 24 hours

    • Oxycodone 10 mg/acetaminophen 300 or 325 mg:

  •  1 tablet orally every 6 hours as needed for pain
  • Maximum dose: 6 tablets in 24 hours

    • Oxycodone 5 mg/acetaminophen 325 mg per 5 mL Oral Solution:

  • Oxycodone 5 mg/acetaminophen 325 mg (5 mL) orally every 6 hours as needed for pain
  • Maximum dose: Oxycodone 60 mg/acetaminophen 3900 mg (60 mL) in 24 hours
  • Always verify dose in mg and mL prior to administration

    • Comments:

  • Doses should be individually titrated to provide adequate analgesia while minimizing adverse reactions.
  • Because of the risks of addiction, abuse and misuse, the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration consistent with individual patient treatment goals should be used.
  • Monitor patients closely for respiratory depression within the first 24 to 72 hours of initiating therapy and following any increase in dose.

    • Warnings

    MISUSE OF OPIOID MEDICINE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it.

    An overdose of acetaminophen can damage your liver or cause death. Call your doctor at once if you have pain in your upper stomach, loss of appetite, dark urine, or jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes).

    Stop taking oxycodone with acetaminophen and call your doctor right away if you have skin redness or a rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling.

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

    Oxycodone may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it. Oxycodone with acetaminophen can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

    Fatal side effects can occur if you use opioid medicine with alcohol, or with other drugs that cause drowsiness or slow your breathing.

    What other drugs will affect Acetaminophen and Oxycodone

    You may have breathing problems or withdrawal symptoms if you start or stop taking certain other medicines. Tell your doctor if you also use an antibiotic, antifungal medication, heart or blood pressure medication, seizure medication, or medicine to treat HIV or hepatitis C.

    Opioid medication can interact with many other drugs and cause dangerous side effects or death. Be sure your doctor knows if you also use:

  • cold or allergy medicines, bronchodilator asthma/COPD medication, or a diuretic ("water pill");
  • medicines for motion sickness, irritable bowel syndrome, or overactive bladder;
  • other narcotic medications - opioid pain medicine or prescription cough medicine;
  • a sedative like Valium - diazepam, alprazolam, lorazepam, Xanax, Klonopin, Versed, and others;
  • drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing - a sleeping pill, muscle relaxer, medicine to treat mood disorders or mental illness;
  • drugs that affect serotonin levels in your body - a stimulant, or medicine for depression, Parkinson's disease, migraine headaches, serious infections, or nausea and vomiting.

    • This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with acetaminophen and oxycodone, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here.  To check for interactions with oxycodone with acetaminophen click the link below.

    Disclaimer

    Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

    The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

    Popular Keywords