Table of Contents
Key Points
- Oxycodone is a commonly prescribed opioid pain medication used to treat severe or chronic pain.
- Oxycodone is available in single-ingredient formulas or in combination formulas with acetaminophen.
- Oxycodone can stay in the body long after its effects have worn off.
- Stopping oxycodone use suddenly can cause severe withdrawal symptoms.
Oxycodone is a generic prescription opioid medication that’s prescribed to relieve moderate to severe pain, such as pain following a major surgery or cancer-related pain. While oxycodone can be effective for treating pain, it carries the risk of abuse, addiction, or overdose, particularly when combined with other drugs.
If you’re taking oxycodone, it’s important to know how long the effects of the drug last and how long it stays in your system to avoid overdose or potential interactions.
What Is Oxycodone?
Oxycodone is a prescription medication used to treat moderate to severe pain. It’s an opioid analgesic, which means it works by changing the way you feel pain by blocking pain signals in the body.[1] It also activates the opioid receptors in the nervous system. Unlike opiates, which are naturally occurring like morphine, oxycodone is an opioid. Other opioids include hydrocodone, methadone, and fentanyl.
There are single-ingredient oxycodone medications under the brands Roxicodone and Oxycontin, but it also comes in combination formulas with acetaminophen under the brand Percocet. All forms of oxycodone are a controlled substance Schedule II, which means they have accepted medical uses but a high risk of dependence and abuse.
Due to the potency and risks of oxycodone, the drug is only used when non-opioid analgesics or other treatment options are not effective or not well-tolerated. It’s typically prescribed short-term for as-needed pain relief, but some types of severe and chronic pain may require long-term use of oxycodone.
How Quickly Does Oxycodone Work?
Oxycodone is a powerful painkiller that may be used for different purposes, including chronic pain conditions or to manage pain after surgery. It’s effective and works quickly. However, serious risks make doctors more cautious about prescribing it unless the condition is moderate to severe and hasn’t been treated adequately using other treatment options.
Oxycodone comes in slow-release tablets and standard tablets, capsules, oral liquid, or fast-acting injections. These forms are used for short-term (acute) pain, while the extended-release tablets treat severe and chronic pain. Extended-release tablets are not intended for as-needed pain relief but for long-term daily pain management.
For immediate-release formulations, oxycodone begins to work in as little as 10-15 minutes.[2] Longer-acting formulas may take about an hour to start working.[3]
Effects of Oxycodone
As a painkiller, the most desirable effect of oxycodone is pain relief, but people may misuse or abuse the drug to experience euphoria or other effects.
Some of the side effects of oxycodone include:[4]
- Headache
- Drowsiness
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Tiredness
- Stomach pain
- Vomiting
- Flushing, itching, or red eyes
There is a risk of more serious side effects with oxycodone, including:[5]
- Cold, clammy skin
- Noisy or shallow breathing
- A slow heart rate or weak pulse
- A light-headed feeling
- Confusion or unusual thoughts or behaviors
- Low cortisol levels with nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, worsening tiredness
- Seizures
It’s possible to be allergic to oxycodone with potentially dangerous symptoms like swelling of the mouth or throat and difficulty breathing. Oxycodone can cause a buildup of serotonin in the body – serotonin syndrome – with symptoms like agitation, hallucinations, shivering, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, loss of coordination, and vomiting or diarrhea.[6] These effects require rapid medical attention.
Oxycodone Half-Life
The half-life of a drug refers to how long it takes the body to eliminate half of the drug’s concentration. It takes about five half-lives for a drug to clear from the body completely. Oxycodone’s half-life is about 3-4 hours, but it may be detectable for longer periods.[7]
The specific half-life can vary depending on the oxycodone formulation: Short-acting oxycodone dosage forms may last 3-5 hours, while long-acting oxycodone dosage forms last about 4.5 hours.[8] Oxycodone myristate ER formulations last about 5.6 hours.[9]
How Long Does Oxycodone Stay in Your System?
Oxycodone can stay in your system for different periods according to several factors, including your health, weight, how long you’ve been taking the drug, your organ function, and more.
Different drug tests can detect oxycodone within different timeframes. Urine tests can detect oxycodone use for 1-4 days after last use, while a blood test can detect the drug for 3-6 hours based on its half-life.[10] Saliva tests may detect oxycodone for up to 48 hours after last use.[11] Hair tests generally have the longest detection windows for oxycodone and other drugs, which is up to 90 days after last use.[12]
Factors That Influence How Long Oxycodone Stays in Your System
Oxycodone’s duration in the body can be influenced by many different factors, including:
- Age: Generally, older adults have a slower drug metabolism than younger adults. Oxycodone can accumulate in older adults and may worsen side effects, including drowsiness and dizziness.
- Formulation: Oxycodone is available in short- and long-acting formulations. The longer-acting forms cause oxycodone to stay in the body for longer periods.
- Genetics: Some people metabolize oxycodone faster than others because of their individual genetics and specific liver enzymes like CYP3A4 and CYP2D6.[13]
- Kidney health: People with kidney problems may experience oxycodone accumulating in the body and metabolizing more slowly.
- Liver health: Oxycodone is mostly metabolized by the liver, so people with liver problems may metabolize the drug more slowly.
- Weight: Most people metabolize oxycodone at the same rate, but people who are extremely overweight or underweight may experience differences in drug metabolism.
Oxycodone Overdose
Oxycodone has serious risks of addiction, overdose, and possible death, particularly when it’s combined with other central nervous system (CNS) depressants like alcohol, other opioids, or benzodiazepines.[14] Taking too much of this drug or combining it with other drugs can cause severe drowsiness or dangerously slowed breathing.
An oxycodone overdose is a medical emergency. Overdose symptoms can include severe drowsiness, pinpoint pupils, slowed breathing, or stopped breathing.[15] Naloxone is a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses, but it’s still important to get emergency medical help.
Oxycodone Withdrawal
Oxycodone withdrawal can occur if you’ve taken oxycodone for long periods or misused the drug. Over time, your body builds a tolerance to oxycodone, so you need higher doses to get the same effects. This can develop dependence, which means your body becomes used to the presence of the drug and needs it to function. If you stop taking it suddenly or reduce your dosage, you can experience withdrawal symptoms like:[16]
- Anxiety
- Oxycodone cravings that may cause relapse
- Diarrhea
- Fast heartbeat
- High blood pressure
- Muscle aches
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sleep disturbances
- Insomnia
- Stomach cramps
- Sweating
The duration and severity of withdrawal symptoms can vary by several factors, including how long you’ve been taking oxycodone and its dosage form. If you’re taking a short-acting oxycodone, acute withdrawal lasts 4-10 days with symptoms that start 8-24 hours after last use.[17] if you’re taking longer-acting oxycodone, acute withdrawal lasts 10-20 days, with symptoms that start 12-48 hours after the last use.[18]
While oxycodone withdrawal isn’t generally life-threatening, the severe symptoms can cause complications like electrolyte imbalances. Because of this, it’s important not to stop taking oxycodone or reduce your dose without speaking to your doctor about how to do so safely.
Understand Oxycodone Use and Duration
Oxycodone has relatively short-acting effects, except in extended-release formulations, but it can stay in your system for much longer. If you’re concerned about a drug test or a possible drug interaction while taking oxycodone, don’t stop taking it on your own. Talk to your doctor about how to safely stop taking oxycodone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding Oxycodone duration and effects
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