Oxycodone Viatris (Oxycodone Hydrochloride)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Oxycodone Viatris Used For?
Oxycodone Viatris is a prescription pain medication that contains oxycodone hydrochloride as its active ingredient. It belongs to a group of medicines called narcotic analgesics or opioids.
Primary Uses
Oxycodone Viatris is used for the short-term management of moderate to severe pain when other treatment options cannot effectively manage your pain or you cannot tolerate them.
How It Works
The active ingredient works by binding to receptors called opioid receptors in your central nervous system. This binding action changes your body’s perception of pain throughout the central nervous system, producing the pain-relieving effect.
Addiction Risk: You can become addicted to Oxycodone Viatris even if you take it exactly as prescribed. It may become habit forming causing mental and physical dependence.
How to Take Oxycodone Viatris
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor carefully. Take your medication at about the same time each day for the best effect.
Dosage Instructions
The usual dose is one tablet every six hours. Your doctor may prescribe a different dose for you. Swallow the tablets whole with a full glass of water after food or with milk. Continue taking for as long as your doctor tells you.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If you miss your dose and it’s less than 3 hours before your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose when scheduled. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, then return to your normal schedule.
Important: Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. This may increase your chance of getting unwanted side effects.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Dizziness, light-headedness, and confusion
- Drowsiness
- Constipation
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dry mouth
- Sweating
- Redness of the face
- Unusual tiredness or weakness
- Sleep apnea
- Sexual dysfunction
- Absence of menstrual periods
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Difficulty passing urine
- Irregular heart beat
- Decrease in body temperature
- Severe headache due to increased pressure in the head
- Loss of consciousness
- Difficulty or inability to breathe properly
- Severe dizziness
- Allergic reaction symptoms (itchy skin rash, skin blisters, skin discoloration)
- Severe upper abdominal pain possibly radiating to the back
Important Warnings
Oxycodone Viatris has serious risks including life-threatening breathing problems, addiction potential, and dangerous interactions with other medications.
Who Should Not Take Oxycodone Viatris
Do not take if you: have allergies to oxycodone or other narcotic analgesics; have head injury, brain tumor, epilepsy, heart problems, severe respiratory diseases, severe headaches; have history of alcohol/drug abuse or mental illness; are pregnant or breastfeeding; are taking MAO inhibitors within 14 days.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have: muscle weakness, underactive thyroid, kidney/liver disease, low blood pressure, prostate problems, bowel disorders, pancreas inflammation, gall bladder problems, adrenal gland disorders, sleep apnea, or history of drug addiction.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Do not take Oxycodone Viatris if you are pregnant as it may affect your developing baby. Do not breastfeed while taking this medicine as it passes into breast milk and may affect your baby. Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking this medicine.
Life-threatening Breathing Problems: Oxycodone Viatris can cause life-threatening or fatal breathing problems even when taken as recommended. Risk is higher when first starting or after dose increases, especially in older patients or those with lung problems.
Drug Interactions
Oxycodone Viatris can interact with many other medications, potentially causing dangerous effects including severe drowsiness, breathing problems, coma, and death.
Alcohol Interaction: Do not drink alcohol while taking Oxycodone Viatris. Using with alcohol or other drowsiness-causing medicines may result in severe drowsiness, breathing problems, coma and death.
- Sleeping tablets (benzodiazepines)
- Other pain relievers
- Antihistamines
- Antidepressants
- Antipsychotics
- Gabapentinoids (gabapentin, pregabalin)
- Anaesthetics
- Blood thinners (anticoagulants)
- Epilepsy medications
- Blood pressure medications
- Anxiety medications
- Cold and flu medicines
- Nausea and vomiting medications
- Travel sickness medications
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder medications
- Naloxone/naltrexone medications
Alcohol & Driving
Oxycodone Viatris can impair your mental and physical abilities, making it dangerous to drive or operate machinery.
Alcohol
Do not drink alcohol while taking Oxycodone Viatris. Combining alcohol with this medication can result in severe drowsiness, decreased awareness, breathing problems, coma, and death.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how Oxycodone Viatris affects you. This medicine may cause drowsiness and impair the mental and physical ability needed to drive safely or operate heavy machinery.
Storage
Keep tablets in the original pack until time to take them. Store in a cool, dry place where temperature stays below 30°C. Keep away from moisture, heat, and sunlight. Store in a locked cupboard at least 1.5 meters above ground, out of reach of children. Take expired or unwanted medicine to any pharmacy for safe disposal.
Overdose Information
If overdose occurs, immediately call triple zero (000) for an ambulance. Keep the person awake by talking to them or gently shaking them. Overdose symptoms include: slow/unusual/difficult breathing, drowsiness/dizziness/unconsciousness, slow/weak heartbeat, nausea/vomiting, convulsions, loss of coordination, difficulty walking, facial drooping, loss of vision, personality changes, trouble speaking, weak muscles. You can also contact the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26) or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
Frequently Asked Questions
The source doesn’t specify onset time, but you should take it every six hours as prescribed by your doctor for consistent pain relief.
Yes, Oxycodone Viatris should be taken after food or with milk to help reduce stomach upset.
Yes, you can become addicted to Oxycodone Viatris even if you take it exactly as prescribed. It may become habit forming causing mental and physical dependence.
Do not stop suddenly. You may experience withdrawal symptoms including nervousness, body aches, loss of appetite, increased heart rate, watery eyes, runny nose, chills, and increased sweating. Your doctor will gradually reduce your dose.
No, do not drink alcohol while taking this medicine. Combining alcohol with Oxycodone Viatris may result in severe drowsiness, breathing problems, coma, and death.
If you are over 65 years of age, you may have an increased chance of getting side effects. Your doctor will monitor you carefully and may adjust your dose.
If it’s less than 3 hours before your next dose, skip the missed dose. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, then return to your normal schedule. Never take a double dose.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.