Oxycodone
PrintQuick read
Oxycodone treatment might be advised in pregnancy if other painkillers are unlikely to work for you. Your doctor will help you to weigh up the benefits and possible risks of treatment.
What is it?
Oxycodone (Ixyldone®, Oxeltra®, Oxyact®, Oxycontin®, Oxylan®, OxyNorm®, Oxypro®, Longtec®, Lynlor®, Reltebon®, Shortec®) is a painkiller used to treat moderate or severe pain, including pain after an operation.
Benefits
What are the benefits of taking oxycodone in pregnancy?
Oxycodone is a strong painkiller and sometimes works where other painkillers have not.
Risks
Are there any risks of taking oxycodone during pregnancy?
Oxycodone can be addictive, so is usually used for the shortest time possible.
Studies of small numbers of women using oxycodone in early pregnancy do not show that it can cause miscarriage or birth defects in the baby. However, further research is ideally required to confirm this.
One large study found that oxycodone use in pregnancy was not linked to stillbirth or reduced growth of the baby in the womb.
Oxycodone use in pregnancy has been linked to a slightly increased chance of having a preterm baby. We do not know whether this is a direct effect of oxycodone, or whether the health conditions in women taking oxycodone might increase the need for early delivery.
Oxycodone used around the time of delivery can affect your baby after birth. Your baby may have withdrawal symptoms, such as being ‘jittery’, feeding problems, and need some help with breathing. These problems usually settle within the first few days.
Alternatives
Are there any alternatives to taking oxycodone?
Possibly. Other medicines can be used to treat pain in pregnancy. However, if your doctor has suggested oxycodone, this will be based on several factors, including how severe your pain is, which painkillers you have already tried, the likelihood of your pain not being as well-treated with a different painkiller, and possible side effects if your medicine is changed.
If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy and take oxycodone, please contact your GP or pain specialist as soon as possible. Your doctor will review whether you still need to use oxycodone and make sure your dose is correct. It is important to not stop taking oxycodone or change the dose without speaking to a health care professional.
No treatment
What if I prefer not to take medicines during pregnancy?
Severe pain can greatly affect your quality of life. It can cause difficulty sleeping and mental health problems. A doctors may suggest you use oxycodone in pregnancy if they think that the benefits of controlling your pain outweigh the risks to the baby.
Will my baby need extra monitoring?
Women in the UK will be offered a very detailed scan at around 20 weeks of pregnancy as part of routine antenatal care. Taking oxycodone in pregnancy is not expected to cause problems that would require any extra monitoring of your baby prior to birth.
Babies who were exposed to oxycodone in the womb before delivery will be more closely monitored for a while after birth to check for withdrawal symptoms and ensure they are breathing and feeding as normal.
Are there any risks to my baby if the father has taken oxycodone?
We do not expect any increased risk to your baby if the father takes oxycodone.
Who can I talk to if I have questions?
If you have any questions regarding the information in this leaflet, please discuss them with your health care provider. They can access more detailed medical and scientific information from www.uktis.org.