Oxycontin side effects: A detailed guide

This article describes possible side effects of Oxycontin. To learn more about Oxycontin, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Oxycontin is a brand-name medication that comes as an extended-release oral tablet. (With extended release, the drug slowly releases into your body over time.) Oxycontin isn’t available in a generic version.

Boxed warnings

Oxycontin has boxed warnings about the following risks. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

• risk of misuse and addiction
• risk of serious respiratory depression
• risk of accidental ingestion
• risk of serious effects if taken with certain medications
• risk of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome

For more information about the risk of misuse and addiction, see the “Misuse and Oxycontin” section below. To learn more about the risk of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, see the “Warnings for Oxycontin” section below. For details about the other risks, see the “Side effects of Oxycontin in detail” section below.

Need a diagnosis or prescription quickly? For certain health conditions, Optum Perks offers personalized on-demand care with no appointment required. For $25, answer a few questions online and receive a diagnosis and treatment plan from a board certified healthcare professional in 15 minutes or less. Get started here.

More common side effects of Oxycontin

Oxycontin may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.

Commonly reported side effects of Oxycontin include:

• constipation
• nausea
• drowsiness
• dizziness
• itchiness

Mild side effects of Oxycontin

Oxycontin may cause certain mild side effects. Most often, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.

Mild side effects of Oxycontin that occurred in studies include:

• abdominal pain
• appetite loss
• constipation
• dizziness
• drowsiness
• dry mouth
• feeling anxious or nervous
• fever or chills
• headache
• hiccups
• indigestion
• itchiness
• nausea
• sweating more than usual
• twitching
• vomiting
• weakness
• mild allergic reaction*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of Oxycontin in detail” section below.

Oxycontin may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.

Serious side effects of Oxycontin

Oxycontin may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from Oxycontin, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.

After the FDA approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Oxycontin.

Serious side effects of Oxycontin that occurred in studies or have been reported include:

• adrenal insufficiency (inability of adrenal glands to produce enough cortisol hormone)
• low blood pressure, including when standing or sitting up, that can lead to fainting and injury
• withdrawal side effects
• opioid-induced hyperalgesia (increased sensitivity to pain due to opioid drugs)
• central nervous system (CNS) depression*
• severe allergic reaction*
• risk of misuse and addiction†
• risk of serious respiratory depression‡
• risk of accidental ingestion‡
• risk of serious effects if taken with certain medications‡
• risk of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome§

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of Oxycontin in detail” section below.
† Oxycontin has a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. For more information, see the “Misuse and Oxycontin” section below.
‡ Oxycontin has a boxed warning for this side effect. For more details, see the “Side effects of Oxycontin in detail” section below.
§ Oxycontin has a boxed warning for this side effect. To learn more, see the “Warnings for Oxycontin” section below.

Download the free Optum Perks Discount Card to save up to 80% on some prescription medications.

Common questions about side effects of Oxycontin

Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of Oxycontin. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

How do side effects of Oxycontin compare with those seen with Percocet?

Side effects of Oxycontin and Percocet are similar. Both Oxycontin and Percocet contain oxycodone as an active ingredient. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) Percocet also contains acetaminophen. This means Percocet can cause liver-related side effects, including liver damage. These side effects aren’t expected with Oxycontin.

Shared side effects of Oxycontin and Percocet include constipation, CNS depression, and problems with your adrenal glands. Both Oxycontin and Percocet have numerous boxed warnings about serious risks, including the risk of respiratory depression and risk of accidental ingestion and overdose. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the FDA. You can learn more about these risks in the “Side effects of Oxycontin in detail” section below.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about how the side effects of Oxycontin and Percocet compare.

Does Oxycontin cause long-term side effects?

Yes, in some cases, Oxycontin may cause long-term side effects. These can occur if you take the drug for a long time, or they may last for a while after you’ve stopped taking the drug.

Examples of long-term side effects reported with Oxycontin include:

• Withdrawal side effects: With withdrawal side effects, you have symptoms when you stop taking a drug your body is dependent on. The risk of this side effect increases when Oxycontin is used long term.
• Adrenal insufficiency: With adrenal insufficiency, your adrenal glands cannot produce enough cortisol hormone. The risk of this side effect increases if Oxycontin is used for longer than 1 month.
• Risk of misuse and addiction: Oxycontin has a boxed warning for the risk of misuse and addiction. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. To learn more, see the “Misuse and Oxycontin” section below.

Talk with your doctor to learn more about these side effects and how to manage them. You can ask your doctor for more information about how long these side effects of Oxycontin may last.

Misuse and Oxycontin

Oxycontin has a boxed warning for the risk of misuse and addiction. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA.

Like other opioid drugs, Oxycontin has a risk of misuse and addiction. Misuse occurs when a drug is taken in a way other than how it’s prescribed. With addiction, you continue taking a drug despite it causing harm.

Due to these risks, Oxycontin is a Schedule II controlled substance. This means it has a proven medical use, but it also has a very high risk of misuse and addiction. Doctors and pharmacists must follow strict laws when prescribing and dispensing controlled substances. These laws are in place to help prevent misuse and addiction.

Be sure to let your doctor know if you have a substance use disorder before you start taking Oxycontin. If you have opioid use disorder or another substance use condition, your doctor may prescribe a medication other than Oxycontin.

Side effects of Oxycontin in detail

Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of Oxycontin.

Boxed warnings

Oxycontin has several boxed warnings about serious risks and side effects.

Risk of serious respiratory depression

Life threatening respiratory depression is a reported effect of opioid drugs, including Oxycontin. This side effect can occur even when Oxycontin is used as prescribed by your doctor.

With respiratory depression, you develop slow, shallow, and ineffective breathing. Other symptoms can include shortness of breath, confusion, and bluish-colored lips, fingers, or toes.

The risk of respiratory depression is higher when you first begin treatment with Oxycontin and any time your dosage is increased. Consuming alcohol while taking Oxycontin also raises this risk. Taking certain medications or substances may also increase the risk of respiratory depression. See “Risk of serious effects if taken with certain medications” below to learn more.

Ways to manage

If you experience symptoms of respiratory depression, you or another person should immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Your doctor may prescribe you naloxone (Narcan) along with Oxycontin. Naloxone is a medication that can treat respiratory depression in an emergency by reversing the effects of Oxycontin. You or another person should still contact 911 or other emergency medical services after using naloxone to treat respiratory depression.

Risk of accidental ingestion

Accidental ingestion of just one dose of Oxycontin can cause a life threatening or fatal overdose. This risk is particularly high in children.

Ways to manage

Keep your Oxycontin prescription out of reach from children and stored somewhere safe where others cannot easily access or find it. If someone in your home accidentally takes a dose of Oxycontin, call 911 or your local emergency number. Or seek emergency medical attention right away. If you have naloxone medication on hand, you can also give a dose while waiting for emergency services to arrive.

Risk of serious effects if taken with certain medications

Certain medications increase the risk of serious effects if they are taken together with Oxycontin. These medications include:

• benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam (Xanax)
• sedatives, such as eszopiclone (Lunesta)
• muscle relaxants, such as cyclobenzaprine
• other opioid drugs, such as fentanyl

Serious side effects caused by these drug interactions include respiratory depression and coma. In extreme cases, death may occur.

Ways to manage

Be sure to provide your doctor and pharmacist with a complete list of all medications you take before starting treatment with Oxycontin. Your doctor may suggest changes to your treatment plan to avoid this interaction. If the interaction is unavoidable, your doctor will prescribe the lowest dose of Oxycontin and the interacting medication needed to treat your condition. They’ll also reevaluate your need for Oxycontin throughout your treatment.

Central nervous system depression

Oxycontin may cause CNS depression. Your CNS consists of your brain and spinal cord. With CNS depression, activity in your brain and spinal cord slows down.

CNS depression can cause mild or serious symptoms. Mild CNS depression symptoms were more common than serious symptoms in studies of Oxycontin.

Mild symptoms of CNS depression include drowsiness, which was common in studies of Oxycontin. Other mild symptoms include problems with coordination and slurred or slowed speech, which rarely occurred in studies. More serious symptoms of CNS depression include slowed breathing, confusion, and poor judgment.

Certain factors can increase the risk of CNS depression with Oxycontin. These include consuming alcohol while taking Oxycontin and taking Oxycontin with other medications that can cause CNS depression. To learn more, see the “Warnings for Oxycontin” section below and “Boxed warnings” above.

Ways to manage

If you experience mild symptoms of CNS depression, tell your doctor right away. But if your symptoms feel severe, call 911 or your local emergency number. Or seek the closest emergency room.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Oxycontin can cause an allergic reaction.

Symptoms can be mild or serious, and they may include:

• itchiness
• skin rash
• swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
• swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Oxycontin, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.

Warnings for Oxycontin

Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking Oxycontin.

Boxed warnings

This drug has boxed warnings about the following risks. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA.

• risk of misuse and addiction
• risk of serious respiratory depression
• risk of accidental ingestion
• risk of serious effects if taken with certain medications
• risk of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome

For more information about the risk of misuse and addiction, see the “Misuse and Oxycontin” section above. To learn more about the risk of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, see the “Oxycontin and pregnancy” section below. For details about the other risks, see the “Side effects of Oxycontin in detail” section above.

Other warnings

It may not be safe for you to take Oxycontin if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether Oxycontin is a safe treatment option for you.

Before taking Oxycontin, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:

• asthma, sleep apnea, or other breathing or lung conditions
• epilepsy or seizures
• obstruction in your stomach or intestines, such as paralytic ileus
• head injury
• brain tumor
• increased pressure in the brain
• liver conditions, such as cirrhosis
• kidney conditions, such as chronic kidney disease
• substance use disorder
• problems with urination
• pancreas conditions, such as chronic pancreatitis
• gallbladder conditions, such as gallstones
• past allergic reaction to Oxycontin

Oxycontin and pregnancy

Oxycontin has a boxed warning about certain risks if the drug is used during pregnancy. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA.

Risk of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome

Like other opioids, Oxycontin has a boxed warning about the risk of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) if the drug is used long term during pregnancy.

If you need to take Oxycontin long term during pregnancy, your doctor will likely treat NOWS in your newborn following delivery. NOWS can be life threatening if not treated promptly and appropriately. Your child may need to remain in the hospital for several days or a few weeks to treat NOWS following delivery.

If you are pregnant or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor about treatment options for pain during pregnancy. They can develop a plan to address your pain needs during this time.

Oxycontin and breastfeeding

Oxycontin should not be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. Your doctor may recommend other ways to feed your child during treatment with Oxycontin.

Oxycontin and alcohol

Oxycontin is known to interact with alcohol. You should avoid consuming alcohol while taking Oxycontin.

Both alcohol and Oxycontin can cause CNS depression. Combining the two raises the risk of severe CNS depression, which can cause life threatening respiratory depression. Oxycontin has a boxed warning for the risk of respiratory depression. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. To learn more, see the “Side effects of Oxycontin in detail” section above.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with Oxycontin.

What to ask your doctor

This article describes common and serious side effects of Oxycontin. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• Does Oxycontin have similar side effects as other forms of oxycodone?
• Does my health history raise my risk of side effects if I take Oxycontin?
• How can I lower my risk of side effects from taking Oxycontin?

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.