Oxycodone chloride (0.07 mg kg-1) was given by intravenous bolus to nine young adult surgical patients on the first postoperative day. Plasma was sampled for up to 12 h. Mean values of t1/2z, CL and Vss were 222 min, 0.78 l min-1 and 2.60 l kg-1, respectively. The concentrations of the metabolite noroxycodone was also measured. The mean AUC(0,12) ratio of noroxycodone to oxycodone was 0.33. Oxymorphone was not detected.