7 Oxycodone Side Effects to Know About

Oxycodone (Roxicodone, Oxycontin) is a prescription opioid medication. It may be prescribed to treat pain that can’t be managed by non-opioid medications. 

If you take an opioid, it’s helpful to understand possible risks. For example, being aware of oxycodone side effects and interactions can help keep you safe.

Oxycodone side effects at a glance

Like all opioids, oxycodone has possible side effects to be aware of. Mild side effects can usually be managed at home. But more serious side effects might need medical attention.

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Common, and usually mild, side effects:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Constipation

• Drowsiness

• Dizziness

• Headache

• Itching

• Trouble sleeping

• Weakness or lack of energy

Rare but serious side effects:

• Misuse

• Slowed breathing

• Overdose

• Withdrawal symptoms (if stopped abruptly)

• Increased risk of seizures

• Increased risk of falls

• Severely low blood pressure

• Adrenal insufficiency (low levels of the hormone cortisol)

We’ll cover seven of these oxycodone side effects more in depth below and give you some pharmacist-backed tips for managing them.

1. Nausea and vomiting

Nausea is a common side effect of opioids, including oxycodone. Vomiting may also occur.

If your nausea is mild, you may be able to manage it at home. Some tips that may help include taking oxycodone with food, drinking enough water, and eating smaller but more frequent meals.

Luckily, nausea from opioids usually gets better on its own. But if you’re experiencing nausea or vomiting that isn’t improving, your prescriber may recommend lowering your dose of oxycodone or switching to a different pain medication. 

Additionally, they may recommend an anti-nausea medication. Some of these medications are prescription only, but several are available over the counter (OTC) as well. Talk to your prescriber about which option may be best for you.

Good to know: Nausea and vomiting can be signs of other health problems, including adrenal insufficiency. Adrenal insufficiency is a more severe side effect of oxycodone that’s more likely with long-term use. Symptoms include tiredness, weakness, and low blood pressure. So if you have nausea and vomiting that doesn’t improve, talk to your prescriber. They may order blood tests to check for other causes.

2. Constipation

Constipation is a common side effect of oxycodone. It can happen anytime during treatment, and it doesn’t usually improve on its own. Some tips to help minimize constipation include staying hydrated, eating a healthy diet with plenty of fiber, and exercising regularly.

If lifestyle changes don’t work, your prescriber may recommend medications to ease constipation. Options include OTC laxatives or prescription medications, and sometimes these medications are combined. For example, a stimulant laxative like senna (Senokot, Ex-Lax) and a stool softener like docusate sodium (Colace, DocQlace) are often combined for opioid-induced constipation. But not all OTC laxatives are safe in opioid-induced constipation, so check with your prescriber or pharmacist first.

Make sure to let your care team know if you’re having bothersome constipation or if it’s not going away. Long-term constipation can damage your intestines and digestive tract, leading to problems like hemorrhoids or anal fissures (tears). Constipation that doesn’t improve can also be a sign that something else is going on.

3. Drowsiness

Drowsiness, or feeling sleepy, is another common oxycodone side effect. It can increase your risk of falls, injuries, and car crashes. It’s important to avoid doing activities that require you to be alert (like driving) when you first start oxycodone or any time your dose increases. Once you see how oxycodone affects you, discuss with your prescriber if it’s safe to resume these activities.

To prevent falls and injuries while taking oxycodone, you can:

• Remove tripping hazards from your floors.

• Use bright lighting.

• Place non-slip mats in your bathroom. 

If drowsiness is bothersome or affecting your daily life, talk to your healthcare team about what to do next. You may need a lower dose of oxycodone or another pain medication altogether.

Good to know: It’s a good idea to avoid other medications that cause drowsiness while taking oxycodone, especially benzodiazepines. You should avoid alcohol, too. These combinations can increase your risk of drowsiness. But more seriously, they increase your risk of overdose. We’ll talk more about overdose risk later.

4. Dizziness

Feeling dizzy is another possible oxycodone side effect. Similar to drowsiness, dizziness can make it difficult to complete activities that require alertness. This is another reason you should avoid driving or other activities that need focus until you know how oxycodone affects you.

If you feel dizzy after taking oxycodone, sit or lie down until it passes. Sometimes drinking water or eating a snack can help, too. And when moving to a standing position, make sure you have something solid to hold onto to keep your balance.

If your dizziness won’t go away, talk to your healthcare team. Sometimes, dizziness is a sign that something else is going on, like adrenal insufficiency or low blood pressure (hypotension). These can be dangerous if they’re not managed. Your healthcare team can help determine what’s going on by running blood tests and checking your blood pressure.

5. Misuse

All opioids are controlled substances. This means they have a risk of dependence and misuse. There are also restrictions on how they’re prescribed and refilled.

Using oxycodone at the lowest effective dose and for the shortest amount of time possible lowers your risk of dependence and misuse. This is because higher doses of opioids and a longer duration of use are more likely to lead to opioid use disorder (OUD). The risk of OUD is also higher if you’ve had a substance use disorder in the past or if you have a mental health condition like depression.

It’s important to follow your prescriber’s instructions for how to take oxycodone. Don’t take oxycodone more often or in larger quantities than what was prescribed. If you’re taking more oxycodone than recommended, or you’re experiencing cravings for oxycodone, talk to your prescriber immediately. These are signs of OUD. 

If you or someone you know struggles with substance use, help is available. Call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 to learn about resources in your area.

Good to know: Over time, oxycodone can cause tolerance. This is when you need more oxycodone to get the same pain-relieving effect you once had. This may be a sign of OUD, but not always. Don’t increase your oxycodone dose without talking to your prescriber.

6. Overdose

An opioid overdose is when opioid use causes difficulty breathing and unconsciousness. It’s a life-threatening medical emergency. Several factors can increase your risk of an overdose, including:

• Taking more oxycodone than what was prescribed or using it in a way that’s different than how it was prescribed

• Taking oxycodone for a long time

• Combining oxycodone with other medications or substances that can slow your breathing, like sleep medications, benzodiazepines, or alcohol

• Having a history of substance use

The most obvious signs of an oxycodone overdose are slowed breathing and loss of consciousness. Other symptoms can include tiny pupils, a pale face, and bluish skin.

Taking oxycodone only as prescribed can help prevent overdose. Share your current medication list with your healthcare team. They can check if you’re taking other medications that can increase your risk of overdose.

Opioid overdose effects can be reversed using a life-saving medication called naloxone (Narcan, Zimhi). It’s a good idea to have naloxone available at all times if you or someone in your household takes oxycodone. You can get naloxone with a prescription from a healthcare professional, but it’s also available OTC.

7. Withdrawal

Oxycodone and other opioids shouldn’t be stopped abruptly if you’ve been taking them for a long time. Doing so can cause opioid withdrawal symptoms. These include muscle aches, diarrhea, and sweating. You might also feel irritable, restless, or depressed.

As uncomfortable as withdrawal symptoms may be, they usually aren’t life-threatening. And they may be avoidable. If you want to stop taking oxycodone, check with your healthcare team first. They can help you slowly lower your dose over time to minimize withdrawal symptoms.

When should you contact your healthcare team about oxycodone side effects?

If you’re experiencing oxycodone side effects, talk to your healthcare team. They can help determine whether your side effects are from oxycodone or whether something else is going on. This is especially important if you’re having side effects that aren’t going away or are bothersome.

If you find yourself taking more oxycodone than what’s prescribed, talk to your prescriber immediately. This is a sign of opioid misuse. And if you or a loved one is having slow breathing or loss of consciousness, these are signs of an overdose. Get medical help right away by calling 911 or going to the nearest ER. In the meantime, administer naloxone to the person experiencing the overdose.

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Written by:

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP, is a board-certified ambulatory care clinical pharmacist. In his early career, he provided direct patient care in a variety of settings, including hospital and community pharmacies, and in a primary care clinic as a clinical pharmacist.

Edited by:

Amy B. Gragnolati, PharmD, BCPS

Amy Gragnolati, PharmD, BCPS, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. Amy currently holds her pharmacist license in Georgia and California.

Reviewed by:

Daphne Berryhill, RPh

Daphne Berryhill, RPh, has two decades of experience as a clinical pharmacist. She spent most of her career in the Chicago area practicing in-home infusion.

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