Oxymorphone (Opana): Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing

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Overview: Oxymorphone is an opioid pain medicine that is used to treat severe pain. It works on receptors in the body to help keep you from feeling pain. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, sleepiness, dizziness, or constipation. Talk to your health care provider right away if you develop confusion, shortness of breath, or trouble staying awake, or feel like your pain is getting worse instead of better. Before taking oxymorphone, make sure to tell your health care provider about any health conditions you have or medicines you are taking.

Uses

What is oxymorphone used for?

Oxymorphone is an opioid pain medicine commonly used to treat severe pain.

Oxymorphone may also be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider.

How does oxymorphone work (mechanism of action)?

Oxymorphone works on receptors in the body to help keep you from feeling pain by altering how your body feels and responds to pain.

How is oxymorphone supplied (dosage forms)?

Brands and other names

Opana
Opana ER

Dosage forms and strengths

5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg extended-release oral tablets
5 mg, 10 mg oral tablets

How should I store oxymorphone?

Oxymorphone should be stored at room temperature, between 68 F and 77 F (20 C and 25 C). It can be exposed to temperatures between 59 F and 86 F (15 C and 30 C) for shorter periods of time, such as when transporting it. Store in a cool, dry place.

Side Effects

What are the most common side effects of oxymorphone?

The most common side effects of oxymorphone are listed below. Tell your health care provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.

Nausea or vomiting
Fever
Tiredness or sleepiness
Itching
Headache
Dizziness or confusion
Constipation (see below)
Stomach pain or diarrhea
Increased sweating
Dry mouth
Trouble sleeping
Decreased appetite

There may be other side effects of oxymorphone that are not listed here. Contact your health care provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088 (800-332-1088). In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.

What are the serious side effects of oxymorphone?

While less common, the most serious side effects of oxymorphone are described below, along with what to do if they happen.

Severe Allergic Reactions. Oxymorphone may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Get emergency help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

Breathing problems or wheezing
Racing heart
Fever or general ill feeling
Swollen lymph nodes
Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
Itching, skin rash, or pale red bumps on the skin called hives
Nausea or vomiting
Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
Stomach cramps
Joint pain

Risk of Misuse and Addiction. Misusing oxymorphone can lead to serious side effects such as coma or death. Misuse means taking oxymorphone in a way other than how it was prescribed. Take oxymorphone exactly as prescribed. Tell your health care provider if you feel that oxymorphone is not working. Call your health care provider right away or go to the nearest emergency room if you have any of the following serious symptoms.

Sudden confusion or feeling disoriented
Feeling paranoid
Suicidal thoughts or actions
Seizures

Breathing Problems. Oxymorphone may cause slow or shallow breathing, especially if you have breathing problems from another condition or take other medicines that can slow your breathing. Tell your health care provider if you develop severe sleepiness or trouble breathing, especially when you start oxymorphone or when your dose is increased. Get emergency help if you have any of the following symptoms.

Changes in the color of your skin, including a bluish color to your lips and fingernails
Confusion
Shortness of breath
Feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or fainting
Changes in your heart rate or rhythm, such as a fast, slow, pounding, or skipping heartbeat
Slow or shallow breathing
Excessive sleepiness or trouble staying awake

Increased Pain and Pain Sensitivity. Oxymorphone may cause allodynia, which is when you have pain from something that normally does not cause pain, such as brushing your hair. Oxymorphone may also cause hyperalgesia, which is when you are very sensitive to pain. Contact your health care provider right away if you have pain from things that did not cause pain before, worsening pain, or more pain sensitivity. Do not use more oxymorphone if your pain feels worse, as this may cause serious side effects.

Reduced Adrenal Function. Long-term use of oxymorphone can cause your body’s adrenal glands to stop making enough cortisol (the stress hormone). This is known as adrenal insufficiency. Adrenal insufficiency can get worse if your body is under stress because of fever, surgery, or trauma. Tell your health care provider if you have any of the following symptoms of adrenal insufficiency.

Nausea and vomiting
Weakness, tiredness, or lack of energy
Low blood pressure

Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension). Oxymorphone may cause low blood pressure. If you feel faint or dizzy, lie down. Tell your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of low blood pressure.

Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
Confusion
Feeling weak or tired

Sphincter of Oddi Spasm. The sphincter of Oddi is a muscular valve in your body that controls the flow of bile and digestive juices from the pancreas into the small intestine. When this valve spasms, it may feel like getting a tight muscle cramp, causing pain and blocking the flow of these juices, which can lead to discomfort and digestive problems. This is more likely to happen if you do not have a gallbladder. Get emergency help if you have new or worse stomach pain or pain in the upper right side of your stomach area that travels to your back or shoulder, with or without nausea and vomiting.

Constipation. Some people taking oxymorphone have had severe constipation. Some needed to go to the hospital. Get help right away if you have severe constipation.

Warnings & Precautions

Who should not use oxymorphone?

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not take oxymorphone.

Opana
Opana ER
Oxymorphone
Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed

Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific oxymorphone products they stock.

Lung problems. Oxymorphone should not be used if you have severe asthma, trouble breathing, or other lung problems. Oxymorphone can make these conditions worse.

Gut Blockage. Oxymorphone should not be used if you have a blockage of your gut (bowel obstruction) or a narrowing of the stomach or intestines. Oxymorphone can make these conditions worse.

Slowed Gut Movement. Paralytic ileus is a type of ileus in which your intestines are unable to move food through them. Oxymorphone can make this condition worse.

Liver Problems. Oxymorphone should not be used if your liver is not working as well as it should be. If there is a concern about the health of your liver, your health care provider may do tests to determine if it is working well enough to take this medicine.

What should I know about oxymorphone before using it?

Do not take oxymorphone unless it has been prescribed to you by a health care provider. Take it as prescribed.

Do not share oxymorphone with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. It may harm them.

Keep oxymorphone out of the reach of children. Oxymorphone is a controlled substance because it can be misused or lead to dependence. Store oxymorphone in a safe place to protect it from theft. It is illegal to sell or give away this medicine.

Do not cut, break, chew, crush, dissolve, snort, or inject oxymorphone extended-release tablets. This can increase your risk of overdose and death.

Oxymorphone can affect your alertness or coordination. Do not drive or do other activities that require alertness or coordination until you know how oxymorphone affects you.

People who are 65 or older can be at greater risk for some side effects from oxymorphone. Talk to your health care provider about your risks if you are in this age group.

Long-term use of oxymorphone may affect your ability to become pregnant or get a partner pregnant. Talk with your health care provider if you have any concerns.

If you have been taking oxymorphone on a regular basis, do not stop taking the medicine without talking to your health care provider. Stopping oxymorphone too quickly can cause serious withdrawal effects. Call your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms.

Feeling restless
Watery eyes or runny nose
Yawning
Sweating or chills
Muscle, joint, or back pain
Dilated pupils
Irritability, anxiety, or trouble sleeping
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, or loss of appetite
Increase in blood pressure, breathing rate, or heart rate

Your health care provider may ask you to have naloxone, a medicine used to reverse the effects of oxymorphone, on hand in case of an emergency. Make sure that you and a caregiver know how to use naloxone. If you have any questions, talk to your health care provider or pharmacist.

Dispose of expired, unwanted, or unused oxymorphone right away by taking your medicine to an authorized DEA-registered collector or drug take-back program. If one is not available, you can flush the medicine down the toilet.

What should I tell my health care provider before using oxymorphone?

Tell your health care provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them determine if oxymorphone is right for you.

In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.

Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your health care provider if you have any of the following.

Head injury or brain problems, such as brain tumors or increased pressure around the brain
Seizures
Liver, kidney, or thyroid problems
Pancreas or gallbladder problems
Breathing problems, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Sleep apnea
Heart problems
Problems peeing
Substance use disorder or living with someone who has this problem
Alcohol use disorder
History of opioid overdose
Mental health problems

Other Medicines and Supplements. Oxymorphone may interact with other medicines and supplements. Before taking oxymorphone, tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.

Pregnancy. Oxymorphone may cause harm to a fetus. Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Your health care provider will let you know if you should take oxymorphone while you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. If you take oxymorphone on a regular basis during pregnancy, your baby may have withdrawal symptoms that can be life-threatening. Tell your health care provider if you took oxymorphone during your pregnancy, especially near the end of your pregnancy.

Breastfeeding. Do not take oxymorphone while you are breastfeeding. Oxymorphone can pass into breast milk. Tell your health care provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Tell your health care provider right away if your baby is more sleepy than usual, and get emergency help if your baby is having trouble breathing or is limp.

Interactions

Does oxymorphone interact with foods or drinks?

Take oxymorphone on an empty stomach, at least one hour prior to or two hours after eating.

Do not drink alcohol or use prescription or over-the-counter medicines that contain alcohol. Using alcohol while taking oxymorphone can increase your risk of overdose and death.

Does oxymorphone interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?

Always tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.

In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any of the following before taking oxymorphone.

A benzodiazepine, such as clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium and others), or lorazepam (Ativan and others), which is a medicine used for anxiety, muscle spasms, or seizures
Any other medicine that causes dizziness and sleepiness, such as prescription pain medicines, sleep medicines, muscle relaxants, and medicines for anxiety
Any medicine that affects serotonin in your body, such as medicines for depression, anxiety, or certain mental health conditions, some migraine medicines, and some medicines for nausea and vomiting
A mixed agonist/antagonist or partial agonist opioid analgesic, such as buprenorphine (Butrans, Sublocade), butorphanol, and others, which is a medicine used to treat certain types of pain or opioid use disorder
A monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) within the past two weeks, which is a medicine usually used for depression or Parkinson’s disease
A diuretic, also called a water pill, which is a medicine used to reduce edema (fluid retention) and blood pressure
An anticholinergic medicine, which includes antihistamines and medicines commonly used for overactive bladder, Parkinson’s disease, or stomach problems
Cimetidine (Tagamet HB), which is a medicine used for heartburn

This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with oxymorphone. Always check with your health care provider.

Does interact with other drugs you are taking?

Enter your medication into the WebMD interaction checker