Oxycodone

Excerpt

Oxycodone is a potent semisynthetic opioid with agonistic properties on mu-, kappa-, and delta-type opioid receptors. This drug is beneficial when used judiciously for pain management, yet it carries the risk of inducing physical dependence and addiction. The immediate-release formulation of oxycodone is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for managing acute or chronic moderate-to-severe pain when opioid medication is considered suitable and alternative pain management strategies are inadequate. The extended-release formulation is FDA-approved for managing severe pain that necessitates continuous, long-term opioid treatment when no alternative options are available to address the pain.