Maximizing value in opioid utilization: Is oxycodone immediate release a good option for pain management?

The modern approach to the management of pain involves optimizing all aspects of the process. This includes utilization of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic modalities, consideration of patient characteristics, proper matching of the physiology of the pain with the analgesic's mechanism of action (pharmacodynamics, PD), and the onset and duration of action (pharmacokinetics, PK). No single agent or formulation satisfies all of the requirements for all patients. Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are effective options for inflammatory pain and, as is acetaminophen, for mild pain. Specialized agents are helpful for particular pains, such as for migraine headache. Opioids remain the standard option for severe pain. Although they are generally a safe and effective option, opioids can produce dose-limiting adverse effects and have abuse potential. The goal of pain therapy is thus to achieve the maximum pain relief with the least amount of opioid exposure. Against this background of measured approach to the use of analgesics, an immediate release (IR) oral formulation of the established opioid oxycodone has been developed to provide rapid onset of action and rate of titration, both of which could maximize temporal matching of dose with pain level and reduce total exposure to drug. This article considers the option of an immediate release (IR) oral formulation for the management of pain.