The underutilization of oxycodone

The underutilization of oxycodone

fbullgetic cmultatim erutilization of Ada G. Rogers, RN Disct~ssion: Fixed dosages of oxycodone in combination with fixed dosages of acetaminophen o...

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fbullgetic cmultatim

erutilization of Ada G. Rogers, RN

Disct~ssion: Fixed dosages of oxycodone in combination with fixed dosages of acetaminophen or aspirin limit ths ~~~~~~~rof tablets that can be prescribed without causing unacceptable advrrse effects andior toxicity from acetaminophen or aspirin. When oxycodone gas firsr marketed in the United States, only the combination was available. More recently, oxycadane has been produced alone in tablets and oral solution, The tablets are 5 mg each, while the oral solution is 5 mg in la mL. Since t.his patient tolerated oxycodone and not morphine, it seemed appropriate to recommend oxycodone in a larger dosage. The SO mg dosage was selected based on her anal sic response to 45 mg of morphine elixir, ’ The patient’s pain was well controlled with the oxycodone SO mg oral solution plus aseratninuphen elixir 656 mg every 4 hr around the clock, without any side effects. There have been several patients who have had a similar ~x~~er~e~~~e.When acetaminophen or aspirin is medically contraindicated in patients taking the combination, oxycodane can be prescribed alone. Dosage should be increased to compensate for the loss of acetaminophen or aspirin. Children tolerate oxyeodone as well as adults.

I. Beaver WT, Wallenstein SL, Rogers A, Woude HW. Analgesic study of rudcinc nt4d oxycodonc in patients with CBI~CW. Comparison of Ural and intramuscular cndeine and of oral itnd intramuscular oxycodonr. 1 Pharm Exp ‘l&r 1978;207:92-100.

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