Medicine
Fact-checked

At WiseGEEK, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What Are the Different Types of Oxycodone Pills?

Andrea Cross
Andrea Cross

Oxycodone is an opioid painkiller, similar in effect to morphine. Derived from thebaine, the analgesic helps alleviate moderate to severe forms of pain. Generic oxycodone hydrochloride comes in 5- to 30-milligram doses every four to six hours as needed. There are additional, different types of oxycodone pills including time-release formulas and pills that have been compounded with other active ingredients, such as acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, and naloxone.

A well-known brand of time-release oxycodone pills is OxyContin. Time-release tablets are designed to provide pain relief for an extended amount of time, usually 12 hours, and are taken in a regular, continuous dose rather than as needed. Due to this, the tablets must be swallowed whole and not crushed or chewed, which can result in too much of the medication being absorbed too quickly. Time-release oxycodone is available in 10- to 160-milligram tablets. Dose is based on severity of pain, and patients are usually prescribed two tablets per day.

Oxycodone can be combined with ibuprofen.
Oxycodone can be combined with ibuprofen.

Brands including Percocet, Endocet, and Tylox combine oxycodone and acetaminophen. The acetaminophen is added to increase the effect of the oxycodone. These pills come in oxycodone/acetaminophen combinations of 2.5/325 milligrams, which is generally prescribed as one to two tablets every six hours with higher doses of 5/325, 7.5/500, and 10/650 milligrams. Patients normally take doses as one tablet every six hours as needed.

Percocet is a painkiller that combines oxycodone with acetaminophen.
Percocet is a painkiller that combines oxycodone with acetaminophen.

Percodan and Endodan are brands of oxycodone that include aspirin. The aspirin is combined with the oxycodone due to its anti-inflammatory properties and because it also helps to reduce pain and fever. These pills are also available in varying doses and prescribed according to the severity of a patient's pain. Typically, doctors prescribe them in doses of 2.5 or 4.5 milligrams of oxycodone combined with 325 milligrams of aspirin. The lesser dose can be taken in one to two pills every six hours and the greater as one tablet every six hours.

Some oxycodone pills contain aspirin to help treat fevers.
Some oxycodone pills contain aspirin to help treat fevers.

Oxycodone is also combined with ibuprofen. Combunox, for example, combines 5 milligrams of oxycodone with 400 milligrams of ibuprofen to be taken once every six hours as needed. The ibuprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, is included to help reduce pain and inflammation. Doctors recommend that this type of oxycodone pill should be taken for shorter periods of time than most, generally no more than seven days.

A doctor might prescribe oxycodone pills with naloxone to patients dealing with irritable bowel syndrome.
A doctor might prescribe oxycodone pills with naloxone to patients dealing with irritable bowel syndrome.

Finally, Targinact combines oxycodone pills with naloxone. Oxycodone causes constipation as a side effect, and this is reduced by the inclusion of naloxone. Doctors prescribe this type of tablet to patients with conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, where constipation can increase the risk of infection. Also available in variable doses according to the degree of pain, it is typically prescribed in oxycodone/naloxone ratios of 5/2.5, 10/5, 20/10, or 40/20 milligrams. Designed as a time-release formula, one pill is typically taken every 12 hours.

Oxycodone pills might contain ibuprofen to help treat inflammation and pain.
Oxycodone pills might contain ibuprofen to help treat inflammation and pain.

No matter which different type of oxycodone pills are prescribed, none should be taken with alcohol. All the pill types have similar side effects, including dizziness, nausea, and fatigue, and all should be reduced in dose before a patient stops taking them. Failure to taper oxycodone can result in a number of withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety, nausea, and insomnia.

Discussion Comments

shell4life

Are the oxycodone pills that contain acetaminophen more addictive than the ones that contain ibuprofen, aspirin, and naloxone? Since acetaminophen is supposed to enhance the effects of oxycodone, I would think that this type would be more powerful than the others at reducing pain.

giddion

@feasting – It almost sounds like your dosage was too high. Oxycodone can make you a little queasy, but it doesn't usually make you that nauseous.

I've taken Endodan before, and while it took away my appetite, it didn't make me feel like I was about to vomit. I took the lowest dosage possible, so maybe that is why I didn't feel sick.

feasting

I have a kidney condition, so I am not allowed to take aspirin or ibuprofen. I can only take acetaminophen and stronger pain medications that are combined with it.

I had been taking hydrocodone whenever I had a kidney cyst rupture. It normally was powerful enough to treat the pain, but once, I tried taking a Percocet when the pain was just too much.

I quickly became dizzy, and I experienced extreme nausea. I managed to keep from vomiting, but I felt very ill for hours.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Oxycodone can be combined with ibuprofen.
      By: Geo Martinez
      Oxycodone can be combined with ibuprofen.
    • Percocet is a painkiller that combines oxycodone with acetaminophen.
      By: ACphoto
      Percocet is a painkiller that combines oxycodone with acetaminophen.
    • Some oxycodone pills contain aspirin to help treat fevers.
      By: vladimirfloyd
      Some oxycodone pills contain aspirin to help treat fevers.
    • A doctor might prescribe oxycodone pills with naloxone to patients dealing with irritable bowel syndrome.
      By: JackF
      A doctor might prescribe oxycodone pills with naloxone to patients dealing with irritable bowel syndrome.
    • Oxycodone pills might contain ibuprofen to help treat inflammation and pain.
      By: Maridav
      Oxycodone pills might contain ibuprofen to help treat inflammation and pain.
    • Aspirin is often combined with oxycodone because of its anti-inflammatory properties.
      By: blueskies9
      Aspirin is often combined with oxycodone because of its anti-inflammatory properties.
    • Physicians have become more reticent to prescribe oxycodone because of the drug's extremely addictive properties.
      By: JJAVA
      Physicians have become more reticent to prescribe oxycodone because of the drug's extremely addictive properties.