Oxymorphone 15mg

What is Oxymorphone 15mg in Canada?

Oxymorphone 15mg is a semi-synthetic u opioid agonist that is 1.2 times as potent as morphine in Canada. Despite being initially available as a parenteral injection and in suppository form, immediate-release and long-acting oral formulations have been developed, providing an alternative option for treating moderate to severe pain. Trials in both malignant and nonmalignant pain have confirmed its potential as a Step 3 option. Oxymorphone 15mg is more lipid soluble than morphine and has an oral bioavailability of approximately 10%, which is the lowest among oral Step 3 opioids. In healthy volunteers, the half-life ranges from 7.2 to 9.4 hours, longer than that of morphine and hydromorphone.

Immediate-release oxymorphone tablets in Canada may be given at 6-hour intervals, while the extended-release formula is dosed twice daily, reaching steady-state conditions after 3-4 days. Oxymorphone undergoes hepatic first-pass effects and is excreted by the kidneys, accumulating in renal failure. with a prolonged half-life in such cases. Moreover, in the setting of hepatic insufficiency, it is recommended to increase the dosing interval. A pilot study by Sloan et al. comparing extended-release oxymorphone and controlled-release oxycodone in patients with moderate to severe cancer pain found similar tolerability and safety profiles (e.g., nausea, drowsiness, somnolence) between the two drugs, with no significant differences in daily pain intensity scores.