Opana (Oxymorphone Hydrochloride) Drug Information: Description, User Reviews, Drug Side Effects, Interactions

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February 8, 2012

Opana

Types of Pain Medications »

For what conditions are pain medications used?

Virtually any disease as well as most injuries and surgical procedures involve some degree of pain. It's not surprising, then, that pain medications, also known as analgesics, are among the most commonly used drugs in the U.S. Pain can range from minor, acute complaints, such as a muscle sprain, to chronic, severe pain, such as that sometimes experienced by cancer patients. Some drugs used for other conditions also are effective at relieving certain types of pain. These drugs include certain drugs used for depression, epilepsy, and anxiety.

What are the differences among the types of pain medications?

Pain medications can be broadly classified into two categories: prescription and nonprescription. In the latter category are several mild anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, naproxen), as well as acetaminophen. These are mainly meant for use with short-term, acute pain -- menstrual cramps,...

Read the Types of Pain Medications article »

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Opana

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OPANA
(oxymorphone hydrochloride) Tablets

DRUG DESCRIPTION

OPANA (oxymorphone hydrochloride) is a semi-synthetic opioid analgesic supplied in 5 mg and 10 mg tablet strengths for oral administration. The tablet strengths describe the amount of oxymorphone hydrochloride per tablet. The tablets contain the following inactive ingredients: lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, and pregelatinized starch. In addition, the 5 mg tablets contain FD&C blue No. 2 aluminum lake. The 10 mg tablets contain D&C red No. 30 aluminum lake.

Chemically, oxymorphone hydrochloride is 4, 5α-epoxy-3, 14-dihydroxy-17-methylmorphinan-6-one hydrochloride, a white or slightly off-white, odorless powder, which is sparingly soluble in alcohol and ether, but freely soluble in water. The molecular weight of oxymorphone hydrochloride is 337.80. The pKa1 and pKa2 of oxymorphone at 37°C are 8.17 and 9.54, respectively. The octanol/aqueous partition coefficient at 37°C and pH 7.4 is 0.98.

The structural formula for oxymorphone hydrochloride is as follows:

OPANA (oxymorphone hydrochloride) Structural Formula Illustration

What are the possible side effects of oxymorphone (Opana, Opana ER)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

shallow breathing, slow heartbeat;
seizure (convulsions);
cold, clammy skin;
confusion;
severe weakness or dizziness; or
feeling light-headed, fainting.

Less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such...

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What are the precautions when taking oxymorphone hydrochloride (Opana)?

Before taking oxymorphone, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other narcotic pain medications (e.g., codeine, morphine); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: severe breathing problems (e.g., respiratory depression, hypercarbia, severe asthma), certain bowel diseases (e.g., paralytic ileus, infectious diarrhea), intoxication with medications that depress the nervous system or your breathing (CNS/respiratory depressants such as alcohol or tranquilizers/sedatives),...

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Last reviewed on RxList: 3/28/2011
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.