Opana (Oxymorphone Hydrochloride) Patient Information: How Should I Take the Drug at RxList

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May 27, 2012

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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 Patient Information including How Should I Take

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using oxymorphone (Opana)?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to oxymorphone, if you have severe liver disease, if you are having an asthma attack, or if you have a bowel obstruction called paralytic ileus. You should also not take oxymorphone if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a narcotic medicine (examples include codeine, methadone, morphine, Oxycontin, Darvocet, Percocet, Vicodin, Lortab, and many others).

Oxymorphone may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Oxymorphone should never be given to another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.

Before using oxymorphone, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, or other breathing disorders;
liver or kidney disease;
underactive thyroid;
curvature of the spine;
a history of head injury or brain tumor;
epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
a pancreas disorder;
Addison's disease or other adrenal gland disorders;
enlarged prostate, urination problems;
mental illness; or
a history of drug or alcohol addiction.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby, and could cause addiction or withdrawal symptoms in a newborn. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Oxymorphone can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Older adults may be more sensitive to the effects of this medicine.

How should I use oxymorphone (Opana)?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Never take oxymorphone in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain.

Take this medicine with a full glass of water.

Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole. It will release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

The Opana ER tablet should be taken on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal. Tell your doctor if you feel sick after taking the medicine on an empty stomach.

Do not stop using oxymorphone suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication.

Store this medication at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and light.

Keep track of how many tablets have been used from each new bottle of this medicine. Oxymorphone is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if any person in the household is using this medicine improperly or without a prescription.

After you have stopped using this medication, flush any unused pills down the toilet.

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