Patient was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking Oxycodone as follows:
- Drink plenty of water with Oxycodone 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 Oxycodone without consulting your doctor.
- Do not share your Oxycodone 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 Oxycodone with alcohol. Both alcohol and Oxycodone 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 Oxycodone individually does not cause much damage to the liver, combining Oxycodone with alcohol can increase the chance for liver injury.
- Oxycodone is metabolized by the liver and individuals with history of compromised liver function cannot metabolize Oxycodone and this can lead to increased blood levels of Oxycodone for longer duration, leading to toxicity. Oxycodone should be avoided or used with extreme caution in such individuals. Observe compliance with any labs ordered for evaluation of hepatic function.
