Caution should be exercised in
| • | elderly or debilitated patients, |
| • | patients with severe impairment of lung, liver or kidney function, |
| • | myxoedema, hypothyroidism, |
| • | Addison's disease (adrenal insufficiency), |
| • | intoxication psychosis (e.g. alcohol), |
| • | prostatic hypertrophy, |
| • | alcoholism, known opioid dependence, |
| • | delirium tremens, |
| • | pancreatitis, |
| • | diseases of the biliary tract, biliary or ureteric colic, |
| • | conditions with increased brain pressure, |
| • | disturbances of circulatory regulation, |
| • | epilepsy or seizure tendency and |
| • | 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.
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 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 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).
Drug dependence, tolerance and potential for abuse
For all patients, prolonged use of this product may lead to drug dependence (addiction), even at therapeutic doses. The risks are increased in individuals with current or past history of substance misuse disorder (including alcohol misuse) or mental health disorder (e.g., major depression).
Additional support and monitoring may be necessary when prescribing for patients at risk of opioid misuse.
A comprehensive patient history should be taken to document concomitant medications, including over-the-counter medicines and medicines obtained on-line, and past and present medical and psychiatric conditions.
Patients may find that treatment is less effective with chronic use and express a need to increase the dose to obtain the same level of pain control as initially experienced. Patients may also supplement their treatment with additional pain relievers. These could be signs that the patient is developing tolerance. The risks of developing tolerance should be explained to the patient.
Overuse or misuse may result in overdose and/or death. It is important that patients only use medicines that are prescribed for them at the dose they have been prescribed and do not give this medicine to anyone else.
Patients should be closely monitored for signs of misuse, abuse, or addiction.
The clinical need for analgesic treatment should be reviewed regularly.
Drug withdrawal syndrome
Prior to starting treatment with any opioids, a discussion should be held with patients to put in place a withdrawal strategy for ending treatment with oxycodone hydrochloride.
Drug withdrawal syndrome may occur upon abrupt cessation of therapy or dose reduction. When a patient no longer requires therapy, it is advisable to taper the dose gradually to minimise symptoms of withdrawal. Tapering from a high dose may take weeks to months.
The opioid drug withdrawal syndrome is characterised by some or all of the following: restlessness, lacrimation, rhinorrhoea, yawning, perspiration, chills, myalgia, mydriasis and palpitations. Other symptoms may also develop including irritability, agitation, anxiety, hyperkinesia, tremor, weakness, insomnia, anorexia, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, increased blood pressure, increased respiratory rate or heart rate.
If women take this drug during pregnancy, there is a risk that their newborn infants will experience neonatal withdrawal syndrome.
Hyperalgesia
Hyperalgesia may be diagnosed if the patient on long-term opioid therapy presents with increased pain. This might be qualitatively and anatomically distinct from pain related to disease progression or to breakthrough pain resulting from development of opioid tolerance. Pain associated with hyperalgesia tends to be more diffuse than the pre-existing pain and less defined in quality. Symptoms of hyperalgesia may resolve with a reduction of opioid dose.
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 Oxylan 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 Oxylan 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 Oxylan 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.
Abuse
Abuse of oral dosage forms by parenteral administration can be expected to result in serious adverse events, which may be fatal.
The prolonged-release tablets must be swallowed whole, and not broken, crushed or chewed. The administration of broken, chewed or crushed prolonged-release oxycodone tablets leads to rapid release and absorption of a potentially fatal dose of oxycodone (see section 4.9).
Surgical procedures
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. The use of oxycodone prolonged-release tablets is not recommended prior to and during the first 12-24 hours after surgical procedures. Do not use for acute post-operative pain owing to the increased risk of persistent post-operative opioid use (PPOU) and opioid-induced ventilatory impairment (OIVI). If further treatment with oxycodone is indicated, the dose should be adjusted to the new post-operative requirements.
Special care should be taken when oxycodone is used in patients undergoing bowel- surgery. Opioids should only be administered post-operatively when the bowel function has been restored.
The safety of Oxylan prolonged-release tablets used pre-operatively has not been established and can therefore not be recommended.
Children
Oxycodone hydrochloride prolonged-release tablets have not been studied in children younger than 12 years of age. The safety and efficacy of the tablets have not been demonstrated and the use in children younger than 12 years of age is therefore not recommended.
Patients with severe hepatic impairment
Patients with severe hepatic impairment should be closely monitored.
Hepatobiliary disorders
Oxycodone may cause dysfunction and spasm of the sphincter of Oddi, thus 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.
Alcohol
Concomitant use of alcohol and Oxylan prolonged-release tablets may increase the undesirable effects of Oxylan prolonged-release tablets; concomitant use should be avoided.
Anti-Doping Warning
The use of Oxylan may produce positive results in doping controls.
Use of Oxylan as a doping agent may become a health hazard.
Sodium
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per prolonged-release tablet, that is to say essentially 'sodium-free'.