Oxycontin is a prescription narcotic analgesic that is administered for the purpose of treating moderate to severe pain. Oxycontin is categorized under schedule II controlled substances by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Schedule II controlled substances are drugs with strong potential for abuse. That being said, it is very important for doctors to calculate and plan the right Oxycontin dosage in patients who are on such medication. Before computing for Oxycontin dosage, the following must be evaluated first: history of analgesic use, characteristics of pain, response to Oxycontin treatment, and concurrent medications.
• History of analgesic use – Those people who have been previously treated with Oxycontin or other relative narcotics may need more Oxycontin dosage. Doctors might give a higher Oxycontin dosage to patients with history of taking the drug because these individuals are more likely to have developed a bit of tolerance to such medication.
• Characteristics of pain – Before initiating pain relief with Oxycontin, one must first assess the characteristics of a patient’s pain. The computation for Oxycontin dosage will largely depend on factors such as pain history, intensity, and duration, as well as aggravating conditions. Please note that pain is a subjective experience, and is therefore unique to the individual who goes through it. What may be extremely painful for one person may not be perceived as severe pain by someone else. Because of this, Oxycontin dosage differs from one person to another and individualized pain treatment is followed.
• Response to Oxycontin treatment – Pain management with Oxycontin usually starts at very low doses. Oxycontin dosage must be evaluated and titrated on a regular basis, depending on the patient’s response to treatment. Gradually increasing the dose may be necessary if the initial dose does not relieve the pain.
• Concurrent medications – Oxycontin dosage may need to be adjusted in patients who are receiving concurrent treatments with other CNS medications such as sedatives and muscle relaxants. Remember, Oxycontin can depress the central nervous system (CNS) and therefore must be carefully evaluated when taken concurrently with other CNS depressants.
Because of its high potential for abuse, Oxycontin dosage must be seriously reviewed and evaluated on a daily basis.
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