OxyContin 10's - Stupid Question

[Narkotikon]

Okay, first let me say that OxyContin isn't my thing. I've done them yes, but I'm more experienced with H, morphine pills, pods. Second of all, forgive me for the possibly stupid nature of this question. But....

Could someone please explain the point of a 10mg Oxycontin? If it's designed to release 10mg of oxycodone over the course of 12 hours (and I don't believe they actually last for 12 hours, but that's what they say), then why wouldn't they just prescribe 2 OxyIR's over the course of the 12 hours, or even two 5mg Percocets? I just don't get it. I mean, rather, I don't understand the need. If it's an issue with abusability (10mg of controlled release oxycodone v. 10mg of immediate release oxycodone), then don't the doctors know that you can easily get around that, especially with there just being brand now? I just don't get it. Again, forgive the possible stupidity, but could someone explain? I could see the point if a person was on a 20 and instead of them going to 40, giving a 10 to make that 30, but that seems unlikely. Again, what's the point?

[cg5]

yes, the 10mg are 12 hr extended release... thats like .83 of a milligram every hour.. it really makes no sense.. 2 perc 5's would be better every 6 hrs.. the need is so purdue can make money anywhere possible.. maybe i guesse to controll the dose.. so yeah maybe a 20mg and a 10mg? who knows.. a doctor can perscribe any combination of oxycodone that he wants

[bigNasty]

I've always thought the same thing about oxy 10's but then i think hell why do they make 2.5 mg percs or hydro's when they could prescribe 5's and tell people to take half. But oxy is supposed to be for more serious chronic pain so i guess its even dumber than my above thinking.

I think it might be a placebo thing for people's first script to oxy's, probably a few people that tell their Dr's they don't need an increase and the 10's are working fine. And there is no reason for a Dr. to prescribe a 20 and a 10 anymore since they have the new 30's

[pharmboy]

It always comes down to the money.

[Black_Pony]

I definitely agree, 10 mg extended release is pretty silly now that you mention it! tg5 said thats 0.83 mg per hour, OK so thats like taking 1mg at a time (not even). Under the assumption that 1mg of oxy is therapeutic whatsoever (which is the assumption being made), wouldn't that mean they should make and prescribe 1mg IR oxy?? Thats rediculous! Imagine you are in enough pain to require oxycodone, so you reach for a 1mg oxy IR to relieve yourself!!! :D I dunno, I just think the concept is pretty laughable...

So ya, I fully agree that a 10mg oxycontin is pointless, I suppose thats why I've never ever seen one IRL. Ya know, has anyone ever heard news of anyone ever getting written for these? I haven't ever found any yet in my oxy career, I have rarely seen a few 20 mg's but even those have been few and FAR between. I can fully see why the 10's aren't popular with doctors, thats for sure. Pretty pointless to manufacture them to begin with, if you actually got a script you'd have to wait for the pharmacy to get them on order of course. I wonder if they'd even get delivered super fast like everything else, or if there would be any extra difficulty associated with filling your script?

[Synack]

I've had 'em...and the 20's..and the 40's..

[Narkotikon]

Is it that they release a little bit of oxycodone each hour over the course of 12 hours, or is it that they release some initially, then the rest 6 hours later. I can't imagine how .83mg of oxycodone an hour would even be beneficial. I'm confused.

[roxi*stardust]

It is a low dose but OxyContin doesn't work the way most of you are thinking. They release an intial dose of Oxycodone then a smaller amount of the next 8-12 hours in order to achieve a steady plasma state. We have to remember OC is for CHRONIC pain not acute pain and pain is better controlled by stopping it before it gets bad. Some people may only need a total of 20-30mg a day for their pain, especially if they are not opiate tolerant. The choice of a 10mg OxyContin tablet in a non-opiate tolerant person with chronic pain is a good one. It keeps a steady plasma state or the drug, thereby not letting the pain reach high levels. It takes about 36 hours to achieve this steady plasma state. So to us 20-30mg is shit, but we aren't normal.


Oxycodone release from OxyContin Tablets is pH independent. Oxycodone is well absorbed from OxyContin Tablets with an oral bioavailability of 60% to 87%. The relative oral bioavailability of OxyContin to immediate-release oral dosage forms is 100%. Upon repeated dosing in normal volunteers in pharmacokinetic studies, steady-state levels were achieved within 24-36 hours. Dose proportionality and/or bioavailability has been established for the 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg, 80 mg, and 160 mg tablet strengths for both peak plasma levels (C max) and extent of absorption (AUC).

Oxycodone is extensively metabolized and eliminated primarily in the urine as both conjugated and unconjugated metabolites. The apparent elimination half-life of oxycodone following the administration of OxyContin® was 4.5 hours compared to 3.2 hours for immediate-release oxycodone.

About 60% to 87% of an oral dose of oxycodone reaches the central compartment in comparison to a parenteral dose. This high oral bioavailability is due to low pre-systemic and/or first-pass metabolism. In normal volunteers, the t½ of absorption is 0.4 hours for immediate-release oral oxycodone. In contrast, OxyContin Tablets exhibit a biphasic absorption pattern with two apparent absorption half-lives of 0.6 and 6.9 hours, which describes the initial release of oxycodone from the tablet followed by a prolonged release

Given the short half-life of elimination of oxycodone from OxyContin®, steady-state plasma concentrations of oxycodone are achieved within 24-36 hours of initiation of dosing with OxyContin Tablets. In a study comparing 10 mg of OxyContin every 12 hours to 5 mg of immediate-release oxycodone every 6 hours, the two treatments were found to be equivalent for AUC and Cmax, and similar for Cmin (trough) concentrations. There was less fluctuation in plasma concentrations for the OxyContin Tablets than for the immediate-release formulation.

http://forum.opiophile.org/showthread.php?t=16715

[sofitel]

Some people may only need a total of 20-30mg a day for their pain, especially if they are not opiate tolerant. The choice of a 10mg OxyContin tablet in a non-opiate tolerant person with chronic pain is a good one. So to us 20-30mg is shit, but we aren't normal.



Exactly. I get scripted the 5mg IR oxy's for breakthrough. My girlfriend is 100 pounds and opiate naive. She had a migraine one morning and I gave her ONE 5mg Oxy IR with an Advil and she was lit up for 2-3 hours. So, a 10mg Oxycontin for a non-tolerant, petite woman is enough to do the job for sure (at least for awhile). Then we all know what happens.............all too quickly:(

[cherry]

I have been lurking here for a long time and have learned so much from all of you so a big thanks for that-

I had to post in this thread because those stupid oxy 10's are what I am getting. I have been a cp patient for about 7 years. I have been on everything from fent patches to ms contin. I finally met a dr who thinks I am dependent rather than addicted and thinks I should have my pain treated properly. Well his idea of proper is 2-10's each night and 1-10 in the am. I also get just 4-5mg percs per day for break thru.
This dose in not helping and I run out of my meds within 1-2 weeks and then suffer the rest of the month. Oxy 10's suck!!!

[irish]

The new dosages also let the doc tailor your dose more precisely. Like an 80 and a thirty instead of an 80 and a 40, maybe 110mg is your ideal dose rather than taking more than you need.

[Synack]

mmm... biphasic absorption ..