Oxycodone/naloxone
Oxycodone/naloxone, sold under the trade name Targin among others, is a combination pain medication. It is available as modified-release tablets and is taken by mouth.
Combination of | |
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Oxycodone | Opioid analgesic |
Naloxone | Opioid receptor antagonist |
Clinical data | |
Trade names | Targin, Targiniq, Targinact, others |
AHFS/Drugs.com | International Drug Names UK Drug Information |
Pregnancy category |
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Routes of administration | By mouth |
ATC code | |
Legal status | |
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The oxycodone component is an opioid and is responsible for the pain-relieving effects. Naloxone opposes the effects of opioids but is poorly absorbed into the body when given orally, meaning almost all the dose stays within the gastrointestinal tract and reduces the local side effects from the oxycodone. Constipation was significantly relieved in a 2008 study.[1] The drug was released in 2006 in Germany and is available in some other European countries since 2009.[2]
Adverse effects
If the drug is used off-license by crushing the tablet and dissolving it for injection, it may precipitate severe opiate withdrawal symptoms due to the much higher bioavailability of intravenous naloxone compared to oral naloxone. In simpler terms, the normal injection dose of naloxone is far smaller than the oral dose.
See also
References
- Simpson K, et al. (December 2008). "Fixed-ratio combination oxycodone/naloxone compared with oxycodone alone for the relief of opioid-induced constipation in moderate-to-severe noncancer pain". Curr Med Res Opin. 24 (12): 3503–3512. doi:10.1185/03007990802584454. PMID 19032132. Archived from the original on 2013-01-26. Retrieved 2009-04-09.
- Mundipharma (2009-01-26). "Targin (oral oxycodone/naloxone prolonged-release tablet) now launching across Europe to control severe chronic pain with significantly reduced risk of opioid-induced constipation". Retrieved 2009-04-09.
External links
- "Naloxone mixture with oxycodone". Drug Information Portal. U.S. National Library of Medicine.