Oxymorphone

Generic name: Oxymorphone
Drug class: Opioids (narcotic analgesics)

Usage of Oxymorphone

Oxymorphone is an opioid medicine that is used to treat moderate to severe pain.

The extended-release form of oxymorphone is for around-the-clock treatment of pain and should not be used on an as-needed basis for pain.

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

Oxymorphone 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. 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.

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

weak or shallow breathing, breathing that stops;

a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

seizure (convulsions);

chest pain, wheezing, cough with yellow or green mucus;

severe vomiting;

high levels of serotonin in the body--agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, shivering, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; or

low cortisol levels--nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dizziness, worsening tiredness or weakness.

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

Common side effects of oxymorphone may include:

dizziness, drowsiness;

headache, tiredness; or

stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation.

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 Oxymorphone

You should not take oxymorphone if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

severe asthma or breathing problems;

severe liver disease; or

a stomach or bowel obstruction (including paralytic ileus).

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

breathing problems, sleep apnea (breathing that stops during sleep);

a head injury or seizures;

drug or alcohol addiction, or mental illness;

urination problems;

liver or kidney problems; or

problems with your gallbladder, pancreas, or thyroid.

If you use opioid medicine during pregnancy, your baby could be born with life-threatening withdrawal symptoms, and may need medical treatment for several weeks.

Ask a doctor before using opioid medicine if you are breastfeeding. Tell your doctor if you notice severe drowsiness or slow breathing in the nursing baby.

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How to use Oxymorphone

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

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.

Stop using all other around-the-clock opioid pain medications when you start taking oxymorphone.

Take oxymorphone on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.

Take the medicine at the same times each day.

Swallow the tablet whole to avoid exposure to a potentially fatal overdose. Do not crush, chew, break, or dissolve.

Take only one extended-release tablet at a time. To avoid choking, do not lick or wet the tablet before placing it in your mouth.

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

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

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Keep track of your medicine. You should be aware if anyone is using it improperly or without a prescription.

Do not keep leftover opioid medication. Just one dose can cause death in someone using this medicine accidentally or improperly. Ask your pharmacist where to locate a drug take-back disposal program. If there is no take-back program, flush the unused medicine down the toilet.

Warnings

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

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

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 Oxymorphone

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

medicine for allergies, asthma, blood pressure, motion sickness, irritable bowel, or overactive bladder;

other opioid medicines;

a benzodiazepine sedative like Valium, Klonopin, or Xanax;

sleep medicine, muscle relaxers, or other drugs that make you drowsy; or

drugs that affect serotonin, such as antidepressants, stimulants, or medicine for migraines or Parkinson's disease.

This list is not complete. Many drugs may affect oxymorphone, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

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