Oxycodone overdose: Oxycodone is a powerful opioid that, when administered correctly, can be effective for pain relief. But it may result in physical reliance and addiction when oxycodone maximum doses are taken continuously. The FDA has approved the immediate-release version of oxycodone for the treatment of acute or persistent moderate to severe pain for which opioid medicine is considered acceptable and for which other pain management approaches are ineffective.

The FDA has approved the extended-release formulation for the treatment of chronic pain that cannot be well managed with other painkillers and is severe enough to necessitate ongoing long-term opioid therapy. For immediate-release formulations, the oxycodone to morphine dose equivalent ratio is roughly 1 to 1.5, while for extended-release versions, it is 1 to 2.

What is oxycodone?

Oxycodone is a controlled drug that has several medicinal applications, primarily for the treatment of severe pain. It is frequently sold under the product names OxyContin and other names. When using oxycodone under a doctor’s supervision and in accordance with its recommended dosages, the majority of people may take effective doses without experiencing any harmful consequences or oxycodone overdose.

Oxycodone formulation and strength available

There are several different forms of oxycodone, including tablets, capsules, and oral solutions.

• Immediate-release tablets come in strengths of 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, and 30 mg, whereas capsules come in only a dose of 5 mg. The oral concentrate comes in a dosage of 100 mg/5 mL, whereas the oral solution comes in a strength of 5 mg/ 5 mL. Due to the high risk of abuse, the producers stopped supplying the 160 mg dose.
• Extended-release tablets come in dosages of 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg, and 80 mg. Tablets are meant to be swallowed whole; they should not be chewed, mashed, or dissolved in liquid.
• Abuse-prone tablets come in strengths of 9 mg, 13.5 mg, 18 mg, 27 mg, and 36 mg.
• Oxycodone can be combined with other analgesics such as acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen.
• Oxycodone may be injected intramuscularly or administered intravenously in some nations.

How much oxycodone is too much?

It depends on the individual how much oxycodone is too much. People who have a high tolerance to the drug will generally need more of the oxycodone doses to experience the consequences of an oxycodone overdose, but people who combine oxycodone with other drugs may overdose on less of the drug. 

Oxycodone overdoses occurred in all formulations of oxycodone, whether the drug was immediate-release or extended-release, according to scientific reports.

High-dose formulations were related to more overdoses, while immediate-release formulations had a greater rate of lethal overdoses. The normal lethal dose of oxycodone is 80 mg, but this will differ depending on the individual’s tolerance, gender, weight, and other medications used in combination with oxycodone.

How much oxycodone can you take at once?

Oxycodone Immediate-Release Dosage: Initial dosages of immediate-release oxycodone for opioid beginners are lower. Generally, immediate-release oxycodone hydrochloride tablets in a dosage range of 5 to 15 mg every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain are given to people who have never been exposed to opioid analgesics.

Oxycodone-Extended-Release Dosage: Oxycodone-Extended-Release initial doses are conservative in opioid-naive individuals. For those who require continuous around-the-clock therapy for an extended period of time, doctors typically recommend starting with 10 mg of oxycodone extended-release tablets.

How does accidental oxycodone overdose happen?

For a variety of reasons, it is possible to overdose on oxycodone. First, you run the risk of overdosing if you take more drugs than usual in an attempt to relieve your pain. Oxycodone causes you to feel high because oxycodone has the ability to produce euphoria.

In some cases, you may purposefully overdose on oxycodone in an attempt to “get high” or become drunk. Or you might combine oxycodone with alcohol or other drugs that depress the central nervous system and overdose. However, some people purposefully overdose on oxycodone in an effort to harm themselves or commit suicide.

How much oxycodone can cause an overdose?

Your body’s current opioid exposure determines how much oxycodone is safe for you to take. Your tolerance level for oxycodone, opiates, or opioids will determine how much Oxycodone is too much for you. It also matters what kind of oxycodone you are taking to determine safe dosage levels.

Oxycodone comes in two different concentrations and has two different effects: immediate action and controlled release. Additionally, as doses are increased, doctors take into account a variety of factors, such as your age, weight, general health, and use of other medications. Thus, the appropriate dosage of oxycodone depends on your individual needs.

There are, however, some fundamental standards to follow. Single doses of controlled-release oxycodone larger than 40 mg or total daily doses of controlled-release oxycodone greater than 80 mg are too much for someone just starting the medication. When given to patients who are new to oxycodone, these doses may result in severe respiratory depression.

Lethal Dose of Oxycodone

There are numerous doses and sizes of oxycodone pills available. It serves as the main constituent in brand-name medications like OxyContin and Percocet. Percocet is an immediate-release medicine that contains acetaminophen, an over-the-counter pain reliever. OxyContin is an extended-release medication that only contains oxycodone.

There are several factors to consider, making it difficult to determine the lethal dose of oxycodone. For instance, a person using Percocet may overdose sooner because the acetaminophen upsets their liver. Another example is when someone takes a large dose of OxyContin but doesn’t start feeling its effects until much later because it’s an extended-release drug.

Many people obtain these medications from family or friends and abuse them for the euphoric benefits, despite the fact that they are meant to treat pain. A person who has never taken oxycodone but is overweight may be able to tolerate a higher dose than someone who weighs less and has used the drug previously. Because of this, we are unable to give a precise dose of what would be lethal.

Causes of Oxycodone overdose

An overdose of an opiate substance like oxycodone may result from a variety of possible factors.

• Children, who are more susceptible to the effects of opiate medicines like OxyContin, may unintentionally or accidentally swallow the medication and experience overdose symptoms from a small amount of the substance due to their smaller size and slower metabolism.
• Seniors have been known to mistakenly take more medication than recommended because they forget how much they have already taken, don’t think the medication is working quickly enough for them, or both.
• Oxycodone overdose is more likely to occur in drug users for a variety of reasons, such as taking too much of the drug, mixing it with substances that make overdosing more likely, or purposefully overdosing on the drug to injure oneself.
• The risk of an individual overdosing on an opiate medicine like oxycodone might be affected by a variety of additional factors. For example, persons who are younger, heavier, and have eaten a heavy meal may be less likely to overdose on a substance than those who are older, lighter, or who take the substance on an empty stomach. Males are less prone to overdose on the same dosage of oxycodone than females because they typically have larger bodies. 
• The risk of an overdose might also depend on a person’s drug tolerance level.