Dosage of Oxycodone ER: An Introduction
The dose of
oxycodone ER (
OxyContin®) that your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
- The type and dose of other painkillers you have taken
- The severity of your pain
- How you respond to oxycodone ER
- Other medications you are taking
- Other medical conditions you may have.
As is always the case, do not adjust your dosage unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
Oxycodone ER Dosing for Pain
There is great variation in the dosage of oxycodone ER that can be tolerated and that will effectively relieve pain, depending on several factors. People who have taken oxycodone ER or other similar medications for a long time may need (and will tolerate) larger oxycodone ER doses. Also, some people seem to naturally be more sensitive to oxycodone ER than others.
It is common for healthcare providers to start patients with a low dosage of a short-acting oxycodone product and increase the dosage as necessary and as tolerated. Once the dosing is stable (if continued pain control is needed), the healthcare provider may recommend a switch to oxycodone ER.
The 60 mg, 80 mg, and 160 mg strengths are inappropriate (and probably dangerous) for people who are not accustomed to opioid medications.
Officially, oxycodone ER is recommended only for twice-a-day use. However, it is often prescribed "
off-label" for use three times a day (every eight hours).
