Patient was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking Oxycontin as follows:
- Drink plenty of water with Oxycontin and keep up with your daily fluid requirements without fail. This can help prevent episodes of constipation. Also, maintain compliance with laxative intake, as recommended by your doctor.
- Do not change the dose on Oxycontin without consulting your doctor.
- Do not share your Oxycontin with any family and friends. Keep a regular track of the number of pills left in your pillbox, to prevent a chance for abuse, as this is one of the most commonly abused drug.
- Do not take Oxycontin with alcohol. Both alcohol and Oxycontin depress the respirations. When taken together, their effects on respirations can get added up and lead to severe respiratory depression, coma, and can even be fatal. Also, though Oxycontin individually does not cause much damage to the liver, combining Oxycontin with alcohol can increase the chance for liver injury.
- Oxycontin is metabolized by the liver and individuals with history of compromised liver function cannot metabolize Oxycontin and this can lead to increased blood levels of Oxycontin for longer duration, leading to toxicity. Oxycontin should be avoided or used with extreme caution in such individuals. Observe compliance with any labs ordered for evaluation of hepatic function.
