Oxycodone is marketed as OxyContin. OxyContin is used to treat moderate to severe chronic pain, but should not be the first analgesic administered. OxyContin has the main active ingredient oxycodone, which is an addictive opiate and analgesic. OxyContin also contains many inactive ingredients, including fillers, food colorings, coating and solubility agents.
Oxycodone
Oxycodone has the chemical formula C(18)H(21)NO(4)HCl, where the numbers in parentheses are the number of atoms in the chemical. Carbon is represented by "C," "H" is hydrogen, "N" is nitrogen, "O" is oxygen and "Cl" is chlorine. The chemical name of oxycodone is 4, 5α-epoxy-14-hydroxy-3-methoxy-17-methylmorphinan-6-one hydrochloride. Physically, oxycodone is white, has no odor and dissolves in water much more easily than in alcohol. Oxycodone is derived from thebaine, which is a chemical found in the poppy seed of the opium plant.
Oxycodone is an analgesic that works by binding to the mu opioid receptor. Oxycodone is addictive, as patients can easily become tolerant to the drug and, when taken off oxycodone, can suffer withdrawal symptoms. OxyContin pills come in 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 60 and 80 mg oxycodone dosages.
According to the "AARP Guide to Pills," common side effects of taking oxycodone include "pinpoint" or constricted pupils, sweating, dizziness, drowsiness, constipation, nausea, vomiting, headache, clumsiness, itching, dry mouth, flushing, decrease in urination, nervousness and confusion.
Coloring
All dosages of OxyContin contain titanium dioxide, which is a pearling agent that makes pills white and shiny. Depending on the dosage, OxyContin pills have different colors. The 10 mg pills remain white, but the 15 and 30 mg pills include black iron oxide, yellow iron oxide and red iron oxide, the 20 mg pills include red iron oxide, the 40 mg pills include yellow iron oxide, the 60 mg pills include red iron oxide and black iron oxide, and the 80 mg pills include yellow iron oxide and FD&C Blue #2 indigo carmine aluminum lake.
Fillers
OxyContin contains the filler hypromellose, and the 10 mg and 80 mg pills also contain the filler hydroxypropyl cellulose. Fillers make the OxyContin pill larger, help the active ingredient oxycodone bind to the rest of the pill and prevent moisture from getting into the pill.
Solubility Agents
OxyContin contains polyethylene glycol 400 and polyethylene oxide, and every dosage except the 10 mg and 80 mg pills contains polysorbate 80, also known as Tween 80. These chemicals increase the solubility of the active ingredient oxycodone, ensuring it is absorbed properly in the body.
Other Agents
OxyContin also contains the manufacturing additive magnesium stearate and the preservative butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Magnesium stearate is an oil that makes the OxyContin pill making process go faster by making the pill mix flow more smoother. BHT is a preservative, keeping OxyContin's active ingredient as as effective as possible.
References
- Oxycontin Prescribing Information
- Pubmed Health: Oxycodone
- "The AARP Guide to Pills: Essential Information on More Than 1,200 Prescription..."; Maryanne Hochadel and Jerry Avorn, M.D.; 2006
