OxyContin 10mg to Extampza Equivalent Dose
Extampza 10mg is equivalent to OxyContin 10mg—both formulations contain oxycodone extended-release and should be dosed identically on a milligram-to-milligram basis.
Direct Dose Conversion
Both OxyContin and Extampza (Xtampza ER) are extended-release oxycodone formulations designed for twice-daily dosing, and they share the same active ingredient at equivalent potency 1.
- The conversion is 1:1 (mg to mg) because both products deliver the same opioid (oxycodone) in extended-release formulations 2
- OxyContin 10mg = Extampza 10mg in terms of opioid content and morphine milligram equivalents (MME) 1
- Using the CDC conversion factor of 1.5 for oxycodone, both 10mg formulations equal 15 MME per dose, or 30 MME daily when dosed twice daily 1
Key Formulation Differences
While the dose equivalence is 1:1, the formulations differ significantly in their physical properties:
- Extampza uses DETERx microsphere-in-capsule technology that retains extended-release properties even when crushed or chewed, unlike OxyContin 3, 4, 5
- Extampza capsules can be opened and sprinkled on soft food or administered via feeding tube, which OxyContin tablets cannot 4
- Both maintain 12-hour dosing intervals with similar pharmacokinetic profiles when taken as directed 3
Clinical Considerations for Conversion
When switching from OxyContin 10mg to Extampza 10mg:
- No dose adjustment is required for the direct switch between these formulations 2
- The 10mg dose represents a relatively low opioid burden (30 MME/day), well below the 50 MME/day threshold where CDC recommends careful reassessment 1
- Both formulations are indicated for opioid-tolerant patients with chronic pain requiring around-the-clock analgesia, not for acute pain 1
Important Safety Caveats
- Extended-release opioids should never be used for acute pain or as-needed analgesia—they are exclusively for chronic pain in opioid-tolerant patients 1
- Tablets/capsules must be swallowed whole (though Extampza contents can be sprinkled); crushing OxyContin destroys the extended-release mechanism and risks overdose 5
- Equianalgesic conversions are estimates and cannot account for individual variability in genetics and pharmacokinetics 1