Caution should be exercised in
- elderly or debilitated patients
- patients with severe impairment of lung, liver or kidney function
- central sleep apnoea
- myxoedema, hypothyroidism
- concomitant use of centrally depressant substances
- Addison's disease (adrenal insufficiency)
- intoxication psychosis (e.g. alcohol)
- prostatic hypertrophy
- alcoholism, known opioid dependence
- drug addiction, substance or alcohol abuse
- delirium tremens
- pancreatitis
- diseases of the biliary tract, biliary or ureteric colic
- obstructive or inflammatory intestinal diseases,
- conditions with increased brain pressure (including head injuries)
- disturbances of circulatory regulation (including hypotension, hypovolaemia)
- in patients taking MAO inhibitors
Opioids, such as oxycodone hydrochloride, may influence the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal or -gonadal axes. Some changes that can be seen include an increase in serum prolactin and decreases in plasma cortisol and testosterone. Clinical symptoms may manifest from these hormonal changes.
Oxycodone should not be used where there is a possibility of paralytic ileus occurring. Should paralytic ileus be suspected or occur during use, Oxycodone Hydrochloride G.L. Pharma 10 mg/ml solution for injection/infusion should be discontinued immediately.
Perioperative use, abdominal surgery
Oxycodone Hydrochloride G.L. Pharma 10 mg/ml solution for injection/infusion should be used with caution pre- or intra-operatively and within the first 12-24 hours post-operatively. Depending on the type and extent of surgery, the anaesthetic procedure selected, other co-medication and the individual condition of the patient, the exact timing for initiating post-operative treatment with oxycodone depends on a careful risk-benefit assessment for each individual patient.
As with all opioid preparations, oxycodone products should be used with caution following abdominal surgery as opioids are known to impair intestinal motility and should not be used until the physician is assured of normal bowel function.
For appropriate patients who suffer with chronic non-malignant pain, opioids should be used as part of a comprehensive treatment programme involving other medications and treatment modalities. A crucial part of the assessment of a patient with chronic non-malignant pain is the patient's addiction and substance abuse history.
If opioid treatment is considered appropriate for the patient, then the main aim of treatment is not to minimise the dose of opioid but rather to achieve a dose which provides adequate pain relief with a minimum of side effects.
Respiratory depression
The major risk of opioid excess is respiratory depression. Caution must be exercised when administering oxycodone to the debilitated elderly; patients with severely impaired pulmonary function, impaired hepatic or renal function; patients with myxoedema, hypothyroidism, Addison's disease, toxic psychosis, prostate hypertrophy, adrenocortical insufficiency, alcoholism, delirium tremens, diseases of the biliary tract, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disorders, hypotension, hypovolaemia, head injury (due to risk of increased intracranial pressure) or patients taking MAO inhibitors.
Sleep-related breathing disorders
Opioids can cause sleep-related breathing disorders including central sleep apnoea (CSA) and sleep-related hypoxemia. Opioid use increases the risk of CSA in a dose-dependent fashion. In patients who present with CSA, consider decreasing the total opioid dosage.
Risk from concomitant use of sedative medicines such as benzodiazepines or related drugs
Concomitant use of Oxycodone Hydrochloride G.L. Pharma and sedative medicines such as benzodiazepines or related drugs may result in sedation, respiratory depression, coma and death. Because of these risks, concomitant prescribing with these sedative medicines should be reserved for patients for whom alternative treatment options are not possible. If a decision is made to prescribe Oxycodone Hydrochloride G.L. Pharma concomitantly with sedative medicines, the lowest effective dose should be used, and the duration of treatment should be as short as possible.
The patients should be followed closely for signs and symptoms of respiratory depression and sedation. In this respect, it is strongly recommended to inform patients and their caregivers to be aware of these symptoms (see section 4.5).
Adrenal insufficiency
Opioids, such as oxycodone hydrochloride, may occasionally cause reversible adrenal insufficiency, with some hormonal changes including increases in serum prolactin, and decreases in plasma cortisol and testosterone. Clinical symptoms may include e.g. severe abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, low blood pressure, extreme fatigue, decreased appetite, and weight loss. Adrenal insufficiency may require monitoring and glucocorticoid replacement therapy.
MAO-inhibitors
Oxycodone should be used with caution in patients administered MAO-inhibitors or who have received MAO-inhibitors during the last two weeks (see section 4.5).
Tolerance, physical dependence and tapering off
The patient may develop tolerance to the medicinal product with chronic use and require progressively higher doses to maintain pain control.
Prolonged use of oxycodone may lead to physical dependence and a withdrawal syndrome may occur upon abrupt cessation of therapy. When a patient no longer requires therapy with oxycodone, it may be advisable to taper the dose gradually to prevent withdrawal symptoms. The opioid abstinence or withdrawal syndrome is characterised by some or all of the following: restlessness, lacrimation, rhinorrhoea, yawning, perspiration, chills, myalgia, mydriasis and palpitations. Other symptoms also may develop, including irritability, anxiety, backache, joint pain, weakness, abdominal cramps, insomnia, nausea, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhoea, or increased blood pressure, respiratory rate or heart rate.
Hyperalgesia
Hyperalgesia that will not respond to a further dose increase of oxycodone may very rarely occur, particularly in high doses. An oxycodone dose reduction or change to an alternative opioid may be required.
Opioid Use Disorder (abuse and dependence)
Tolerance and physical and/or psychological dependence may develop upon repeated administration of opioids such as oxycodone.
Repeated use of Oxycodone Hydrochloride G.L. Pharma 10 mg/ml solution for injection/infusion may lead to Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). A higher dose and longer duration of opioid treatment can increase the risk of developing OUD. Abuse or intentional misuse of Oxycodone Hydrochloride G.L. Pharma 10 mg/ml solution for injection/infusion may result in overdose and/or death. The risk of developing OUD is increased in patients with a personal or a family history (parents or siblings) of substance use disorders (including alcohol use disorder), in current tobacco users or in patients with a personal history of other mental health disorders (e.g. major depression, anxiety and personality disorders).
Before initiating treatment with Oxycodone Hydrochloride G.L. Pharma and during the treatment, treatment goals and a discontinuation plan should be agreed with the patient (see section 4.2). Before and during treatment the patient should also be informed about the risks and signs of OUD. If these signs occur, patients should be advised to contact their physician.
Patients will require monitoring for signs of drug-seeking behavior (e.g. too early requests for refills). This includes the review of concomitant opioids and psycho-active drugs (like benzodiazepines). For patients with signs and symptoms of OUD, consultation with an addiction specialist should be considered.
As with other opioids, infants who are born to dependent mothers may exhibit withdrawal symptoms and may have respiratory depression at birth (see section 4.6).
Hepatobiliary disorders
Oxycodone may cause dysfunction and spasm of the sphincter of Oddi, thus raising intrabiliary pressure and increasing the risk of biliary tract symptoms and pancreatitis. Therefore, oxycodone has to be administered with caution in patients with pancreatitis and diseases of the biliary tract.
Parenteral abuse
Abuse of oral dosage forms by parenteral administration can result in serious adverse events, which may be fatal.
Alcohol
The intake of oxycodone hydrochloride with alcoholic beverages has to be avoided as alcohol may enhace the frequency of adverse reactions. Oxycodone hydrochloride should be used with particular care in patients with a history of alcohol and drug abuse.
Sodium chloride
This medicinal product contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per ampoule, i.e. essentially 'sodium-free'.