Dosing Recommendations for Oxycodone

[Guest guest]

Angie,

You wrote, " is up to 12 oxycodone a day too many? Not with the Tylenol but

the plain 5 mg kind. "

The first thing to consider would be to see what your prescription says. It

is important to follow that and discuss it with your MD prior to making

changes, if possible. To get some background data to support your cause, I go

to

the PDR and see what the recommendation is for oxycodone dosing. It recommends

starting at 5 mg, increasing the dose 5 mg as needed for effective pain

control for breakthrough pain. For long term pain control use a controlled

release

preparation. There is no limit as to how high a daily dose may be, as there

are no toxic substances in oxycodone. Dose should be regulated on efficacy,

side effects, and tolerance. Opiod tolerant patient may need 160 - 320 mg

Oxycontin every 8 -12 hours.

Therefore a daily dose could be 5 mg to 960 mg+.

If you are taking a maximum of 12 tabs a day, that is only 60 mg oxycodone.

Of course, if you are on a controlled release form, add that amount to this

total, as well.

I currently take 80 mg a day. At one time I was taking 580 mg a day. As soon

as I am able to cut down I do to avoid becoming excessively opiod tolerant.

The reason why it is important to go to a pain management specialist if

possible is that they are more familiar and more comfortable writing large dose

scripts.

Karyn E. , RN

Executive Director, PAI

Indianapolis, Indiana