Drugs Encyclopedia

Special precautions before taking oxycodone

The respiratory depressant effects of narcotics and their capacity to elevate cerebrospinal fluid pressure may be markedly exaggerated in the presence of head injury, other intracranial lesions, or a pre-existing increase in intracranial pressure. Furthermore, narcotics produce adverse reactions which may obscure the clinical course of patients with head injuries.

Before taking oxycodone,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to oxycodone, codeine, sulfites (some preparations of oxycodone contain sulfites and may cause allergic reactions), or any other drugs. If you are allergic to aspirin, tell your doctor and do not take any aspirin and oxycodone combination product (e.g., Percodan or Roxiprin).
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially other pain relievers; antidepressants; medications for cough, cold, allergies, dizziness, nausea, motion sickness; or schizophrenia; sedatives; sleeping pills; tranquilizers; and vitamins.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had hypothyroidism, Addison's disease, urethral stricture, prostatic hypertrophy, or lung or liver disease.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking oxycodone, call your doctor.
• if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking oxycodone.
• you should know that this drug may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this drug affects you.
• remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this drug.

Talk to your doctor about the safe use of alcohol. Alcohol and other CNS depressants may produce an additive CNS depression when taken with this combination product and should be avoided.

Hydrocodone, like all narcotics, may impair the mental and/or physical abilities required for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks such as driving a car or operating heavy machinery. You should know that this drug may make you drowsy and dizzy - do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how hydrocodone affects you.

Hydrocodone may be habit forming! Take this drug only for as long as it is prescribed, in the amounts prescribed, and no more frequently than prescribed!

Withdrawal symptoms may occur after you stop taking hydrocodone. Inform your physician if shortness of breath or breathing difficulty occur. May cause nausea, vomiting or constipation; notify your physician if these occur.

Hydrocodone is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether it will be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding during treatment.

Hydrocodone has been shown to be teratogenic in hamsters when given in doses 700 times the human dose. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Hydrocodone should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

Babies born to mothers who have been taking opioids regularly prior to delivery will be physically dependent. The withdrawal signs include irritability and excessive crying, tremors, hyperactive reflexes, increased respiratory rate, increased stools, sneezing, yawning, vomiting, and fever.

As with all narcotics, administration of hydrocodone to the mother shortly before delivery may result in some degree of respiratory depression in the newborn, especially if higher doses are used.

Hydrocodone suppresses the cough reflex. As with all narcotics, caution should be exercised when hydrocodone is used postoperatively and in patients with pulmonary disease.

Here you can read info about: proper use of oxycodone, oxycodone dosage, storage of oxycodone, precautions while using oxycodone, oxycodone side effects.