From the Guidelines
Oxycodone typically begins to work within 20-30 minutes when taken orally, with peak effects occurring around 1-2 hours after ingestion. The onset and duration can vary based on the formulation:
- Immediate-release: Effects last about 4-6 hours
- Extended-release: Effects last about 12 hours This information is crucial for managing patient expectations and optimizing pain relief strategies 1. It's essential to note that oxycodone is a potent opioid and can be habit-forming, so use cautiously and only for severe pain under medical supervision. When prescribing oxycodone, it's vital to consider the potential side effects, such as drowsiness, nausea, and constipation, and advise patients to avoid driving or operating machinery until they know how the medication affects them 1. Additionally, patients should be cautioned against consuming alcohol while taking oxycodone, as it can increase sedation and respiratory depression risks. The provided evidence from the Annals of Emergency Medicine 1 supports the use of oxycodone for acute pain management, but it's crucial to select the appropriate formulation and dosage based on individual patient needs and medical history.
From the Research
Onset of Action for Oxycodone
- The onset of action for oxycodone commences one hour after administration 2.
- In patients with short bowel syndrome, the time of maximum concentration of oxycodone varied from 30 minutes to approximately 90 minutes 3.
- For oral oxycodone, the effect manifests within 30 minutes, but the peak effect may take longer to achieve, with significant pain relief observed at 30 and 40 minutes after administration in some studies 4, 5.
- The onset of action may be influenced by individual factors, such as intestinal length and presence of the colon, which can affect the absorption of oxycodone 3.
Factors Influencing Onset of Action
- The absorption fraction of oxycodone tends to correlate positively with total intestinal length 3.
- Preservation of some or the entire colon seems to further increase the absorption fraction of oxycodone 3.
- Oral bioavailability of oxycodone ranges from 60 to 87%, which may also impact the onset of action 2.
Comparison with Other Opioids
- Oxycodone has a similar mechanism of action to other opioids, such as morphine, with a ratio of 1/1.5-2 for the treatment of cancer pain 2.
- The onset of action for oxycodone may be slower compared to intravenous morphine, but oral oxycodone can provide similar pain relief to intravenous morphine 30 minutes after administration 4.