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MedHelp Member's Question

Oxycontin and liver damage?

by hygieneguru, Dec 16, 2006 12:00AM
Does anyone know if long term use of Oxycontin for chronic pain can cause toxic hepatitis or medication induced hepatitis????? I have been taking it for 5 years for severe back pain.
Member Comments (19)

by sallyo, Dec 16, 2006 12:00AM
Not sure if the oxycontin itself is harmful but I think many pain meds that contain that ingrediant also contain large amounts of acetomyocin (tylenol).In large doses the tylenol part can be bad for the liver. Example are Lortab, vicadin and percocet I think.  Someone will correct that if I am mistaken please

by mauilady, Dec 17, 2006 12:00AM
I looked it up in Wikipedia; Oxycontin is Oxycodone using ibuprofen instead of acetomenophrin (sp?) which is what's in Vicodin, or aspirin, which is used in Percodans.  Hope that makes sense...

by mauilady, Dec 17, 2006 12:00AM
Try another tack:

Oxycodone+ibuprofen=Oxycontin

Oxycodone+acetomenophrin=Vicodin, Percocet

Oxycodone+aspirin= Percodan

by SnoWav, Dec 17, 2006 12:00AM
Pretty sure oxycontin is just time relese Oxycodone with nothing else added. We know that acetomenophrin and ibuprofen are not good for the liver. I have never read that Oxycodone is bad for the liver but it like all opioids is a poision.Cheers

by Kalio1, Dec 17, 2006 12:00AM
ibuprophen is processed by your kidneys not your liver

by sfbaygirl, Dec 17, 2006 12:00AM
My hemo/oncol gave me oxycodone when my white count was down and I had severe bone pain. He told me that it is pretty safe for the liver. Of course, everything in moderation!

by mikesimon, Dec 17, 2006 12:00AM
To: hygieneguru
I'm a liver transplant patient and SVR. I wrecked my motorcycle and was on oxycontin and oxycodone for 4 months and if the transplant team didn't object to it I figure it can't be that hazardous to the liver. Of course, 5 years is quite a long time and I have no idea about proplonged use. Mike

by jmjm530, Dec 17, 2006 12:00AM
To: hygieneguru
No disrespect, but would you mind explaining your name? For some reason Howard Hughes comes to mind :)



-- Jim

by jmjm530, Dec 17, 2006 12:00AM
Sorry about that, I guess I can't spell very well.

by gazebo1, Dec 17, 2006 12:00AM
To: hygieneguru
Oxycontin, as you probably know, is oxycodone, but continuous release, i.e. contin = "continuous".  There is no APAP like hydorocodone combos - Vicodin, Norco, etc.  I have chronic spine problems/pain and my hep doc took me off Norco and on to Oxy to eliminate the APAP toxic potential on the liver.  I then can take a Tylenol pre injection to help prevent some sx.  Oxy has its own sx and potential for dependancy of course.



Hope that clears it up for you - and I certainly can empathize with your back pain suffering.  I am really anxious about tolerating the tx on top of my acute spine pain (in the early weeks and really in much more pain from the Interferon).  But will do my best, I have to.  Regards, G

by gazebo1, Dec 17, 2006 12:00AM
And to kindly correct the earlier post by Mauilady;  Oxycodone, or time released called Ocycontin, alone do not have anything added.



Combos are done with ibuprofen added - "Combunox" or acetaminophen - "Percocet", etc.  Oxycodone time release "continuous" is marketed as the Oxycontin and has nothing added other than the substances for time release and suspension in making the tablets, etc.

by NYgirl, Dec 18, 2006 12:00AM
I don't really understand how you could be on it and not know the difference - one is straight up WAY more addictive and powerful which is why it's called HillBilly Heroin.



It's mad addictive.  It's like a LOT of aLOT of oxycodone in one pill compared to a little of it mixed with tylenol in a different pill.



If you have to take it and are already used to taking it then you don't have much choice except to withdrawl off the med and THAT is hard as I know.



But I'm not sure how you can't know or why you didn't just as a doctor about something this important.

by gazebo1, Dec 18, 2006 12:00AM
To: nygirl
Who are you addressing?  



hygieneguru and I certainly understand the uses and risks entirely.  The question was focused on weather oxycodone (or hydrocodone for that matter) alone is toxic to the liver and cause toxic hepatitis.  My doctors have all said very low risk IF NOT COMBINED WITH APAP or ibuprofen.  I only clarified the "combo" discussion.  



Acute pain