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Oxycodone Facts

Opioid; Depressant; Substituted morphinan; Mu-opioid receptor agonist

Description

Oxycodone — oxy, percs — is a semi-synthetic opioid of the morphinan class. It activates opioid receptors throughout the brain and spinal cord,[1] suppressing pain signaling and triggering the reward pathways that produce euphoria.[2]

Subjective effects include profound pain suppression, euphoria, heavy sedation, anxiolysis, and a dissolution of emotional discomfort. The experience is a warm, blanketing calm — more euphorigenic than Morphine,[3] defined as much by what disappears as by what arrives.

Oxycodone produces rapid physical dependence, and the gap between a therapeutic and a fatal dose is narrow.[4] Tolerance to euphoria builds faster than tolerance to respiratory suppression — increasing the dose to chase the effect raises the risk of stopped breathing, and nearly all oxycodone deaths involve other depressants.[5]

Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies

Oral(mg)
Threshold< 2.5 mgLight2.5 – 10 mgCommon10 – 30 mgStrong30 – 60 mgHeavy60+ mg

Starts in 15 – 30 minLasts 4 – 6 hoursAfter-effects 2 – 4 hours

Body and dependence

Acute toxicity
Critical
Chronic toxicity
High
Physical dependence
High
Psychological dependence
High
Withdrawal
Severe · medical supervision
Compulsive redosing
High

Tolerance

Builds
Rapid
Fully resets after
10 days
Carries over to
morphine; heroin; hydromorphone; hydrocodone; fentanyl; methadone; codeine; tramadol

Effectslikely at a common dose

Perception
none likely · 2 possible
Body
Pain suppression; Constipation; Pupil constriction; Sedation; Bodily heaviness; Body high; Tactile euphoria; +13 possible, including Respiratory depression, Nausea, Motor control impairment
Thinking
none likely · 8 possible, including Cognitive impairment, Compulsive redosing urge, Decision impairment
Feeling
Euphoria; +4 possible, including Depression
Self
none likely · 5 possible, including Craving, Communication suppression
Time
none likely · 2 possible, including Temporal disorientation

Who shouldn't take it

Absolute
Pre-existing respiratory depression; Acute bronchospasm; Paralytic ileus or gastrointestinal obstruction; Known hypersensitivity to oxycodone
Relative
Concurrent MAOI use; Substance use disorder history; Hepatic impairment; Renal impairment; Concurrent CYP3A4 inhibitor use; Pregnancy; Elderly

Combinations62 recorded

Lethal (6)
Benzodiazepines, Barbiturates; GHB, Baclofen; GHB, GBL; Ketamine; Local anesthetics; Tramadol
Dangerous (39)
Antihistamines; Benzodiazepines; Buprenorphine, Kratom; Cannabis, THC; Gabapentin, Pregabalin; MDMA, Amphetamines; Naltrexone; NRIs; Stimulants; THC; 5-HTP, Tryptophan; Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor antagonist; Amphetamines; Anticholinergics; Antipsychotics; Atypical antipsychotics; Buspirone; Caffeine; Cannabis; CBD; Dopamine agonists; DXM; Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine; Glutamate modulator; and 15 more, see full page
Caution (12)
See full page: psychedex.org/substances/oxycodone
Not graded (5)
Not listed never means safe.

Seek help immediately if

  • Unresponsive / can't be woken, even to a firm sternal rub
  • Slow, shallow, or stopped breathing
  • Pinpoint pupils
  • Blue/grey lips, fingertips, or skin (cyanosis)
  • Limp body; pale, clammy skin
  • Choking or gurgling sounds ("death rattle")
  • Slow, erratic, or absent pulse

What to do

  1. Try to wake them — shout their name, firm sternal rub
  2. Call emergency services immediately
  3. Administer naloxone if available
  4. Give rescue breaths (or CPR if there is no pulse)
  5. Place them in the recovery position
  6. Stay with them; re-dose naloxone every 2–3 minutes if there is no response
Reversal agent
Naloxone (Narcan) — opioid antagonist. May require repeated doses; its effect can wear off before the opioid does.

With prompt naloxone and rescue breathing, reversal is usually rapid. Because naloxone can wear off before the opioid — especially with long-acting opioids (methadone) or high-potency ones (fentanyl) — a period of monitoring is needed even after the person revives.

988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineFireside Project: 62-FIRESIDE

Version r1 · Not medical advice

References

  1. [1]
    ^Olson KM, Duron DI, Womer D, Fell R, Streicher JM (2019) Comprehensive molecular pharmacology screening reveals potential new receptor interactions for clinically relevant opioids — PLoS ONE doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0217371
  2. [2]
    ^Herman TF, Cascella M, Muzio MR, et al. (2026) Mu Receptors (StatPearls/NCBI) — Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior (via StatPearls) PMID:31855381
  3. [3]
    ^Ordóñez Gallego A, González Barón M, Espinosa Arranz E (2007) Oxycodone: a pharmacological and clinical review — Clinical & Translational Oncology PMID:17525040
  4. [4]
    ^Pergolizzi J, Boger RH, Budd K, Dahan A, et al. (2008) Opioids and the management of chronic severe pain in the elderly: consensus statement of an International Expert Panel — Pain Practice doi:10.1111/j.1533-2500.2008.00204.x
  5. [5]
    ^Cone EJ, Fant RV, Rohay JM, et al. (2003) Oxycodone involvement in drug abuse deaths: a DAWN-based classification scheme applied to an oxycodone postmortem database containing over 1000 cases — Journal of Analytical Toxicology PMID:12669998
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