Oxycodone

For an informed discussion with your doctor or pharmacist. This information collection is not a clinically validated interaction checker. Missing data do not establish safety. Do not change or stop prescribed medicines on the basis of this information. The findings apply to the specific conditions studied; laboratory and animal studies cannot be directly extrapolated to humans.

Active substance: Oxycodone

Examples of brand names: Oxygesic [DE]

ATC code: N02AA05

Main use (for orientation): Severe pain

Documented research summary

Clinical results depend on preparation/endpoint: smoked cannabis plus low-dose oxycodone increased cold-water analgesia in n=18; oral dronabinol in n=10 did not enhance analgesia but increased subjective abuse-related/impairment effects. Inhaled THC did not enhance measured oxycodone respiratory depression in 18 healthy people, with some additional sedation. A small study of vaporised cannabis and prolonged-release opioids, n=21, found no significant oxycodone AUC change. A 2024 fibromyalgia self-titration study (81 treated) used 35% fewer oxycodone tablets in the combination group but offered no advantage in adverse-effect burden; many cannabis discontinuations. CBD 400 mg in CANBACK, n=100, showed no difference in oxycodone requirements. The 2026 CBD–oxycodone AUC change is a mouse finding, not human pharmacokinetics.

Uncertainties and limitations

No general assurance of safety from healthy volunteers; acute/chronic exposure, THC/CBD and routes are not interchangeable. Lower urine levels do not establish lower plasma concentrations. No blanket analgesic synergy.

Separately recorded findings

3 separately recorded findings. Each statement applies to its documented study context.

THC (inhaled cannabis with little CBD) – clinically investigated

Finding ID: B0089

Type of result: Context-specific finding; read the limitations

Observation: No additional respiratory depression at the endpoint assessed; second inhalation slightly increased sedation.

Mechanism: Pharmacodynamics: breathing and sedation

Study type: Randomised controlled crossover study

Context studied: 18 healthy people, oxycodone 20 mg; 100 mg plant material containing 21.8% THC/0.1% CBD per inhalation.

Clinical interpretation: Individual medical / pharmaceutical assessment; do not use as dosage instructions

Limitations and uncertainties: Narrow experimental setting. No assurance of safety for overdose, ill patients or additional sedatives.

Original sources for this finding: Inhaled Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol does not enhance oxycodone-induced respiratory depression: randomised controlled trial in healthy volunteers [EX02]

Smoked THC-containing cannabis versus oral dronabinol – clinically investigated

Finding ID: B0156

Type of result: Mixed/context-dependent finding

Observation: Smoked cannabis containing 5.6% THC plus oxycodone 2.5 mg increased cold-water pain threshold/tolerance in n=18, with slightly increased oxycodone abuse relevance. Oral dronabinol 2.5/5 mg in n=10 did not enhance analgesia from oxycodone 5/10 mg (partly attenuated it) but increased subjective intoxication/abuse effects.

Mechanism: Formulation/endpoint-dependent pharmacodynamics

Study type: Double-blind randomised within-subject studies

Context studied: Healthy people/users, acute experimental pain models, 2018/2019.

Clinical interpretation: No general opioid-sparing synergy

Limitations and uncertainties: Different people/formulations/doses and tests; not a direct head-to-head comparison or pharmacokinetic evidence.

Original sources for this finding: Impact of co-administration of oxycodone and smoked cannabis on analgesia and abuse liability. [CA_P_29463913]; Cannabinoid modulation of opioid analgesia and subjective drug effects in healthy humans. [CA_P_31201479]

Inhaled cannabis (6.3% THC/8% CBD) – clinically investigated

Finding ID: B0157

Type of result: Mixed/context-dependent finding

Observation: Combination group used 35% fewer oxycodone tablets (p=0.02), without an advantage in the composite adverse-effect score (p=0.70). 18/58 cannabis-treated people discontinued due to adverse effects.

Mechanism: Open-label self-titration/adjunctive therapy

Study type: Three-arm study over 6 weeks

Context studied: Fibromyalgia; 81 treated: 23 oxycodone, 29 cannabis, 29 combination; oxycodone 5 mg tablets, cannabis 150 mg/inhalation.

Clinical interpretation: Limited opioid sparing with tolerability problems

Limitations and uncertainties: Not blinded, many discontinuations; fewer tablets do not equal overall benefit or a safe combination.

Original sources for this finding: Cannabis combined with oxycodone for pain relief in fibromyalgia pain: a randomized clinical self-titration trial with focus on adverse events. [CA_P_39654798]

References and access status

[CA_L_D0140] OXYCONTIN (OXYCODONE HYDROCHLORIDE) TABLET, FILM COATED, EXTENDED RELEASE [KNOA PHARMA LLC]

Original source / bibliographic reference

Authors: Knoa Pharma LLC

Year: 2026

Source type: Current published human-use SPL / product information

Source access – 23 October 2026: Source destination was accessible when checked.

Bibliographic attribution or source identity cross-checked.

[EX02] Inhaled Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol does not enhance oxycodone-induced respiratory depression: randomised controlled trial in healthy volunteers

Original source / bibliographic reference

Authors: van Dam CJ et al.

Year: 2023

Source type: Randomised controlled crossover study

DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2022.12.018

PMID: 36725378

Source access – 23 October 2026: Direct retrieval could not be fully verified; availability remains unresolved.

Bibliographic attribution or source identity cross-checked.

DOI – publisher access (access restrictions may apply)

[CA_P_41904896] Behavioural, pharmacokinetic, and genetic evidence of a cannabidiol-oxycodone drug-drug interaction in mice.

Original source / bibliographic reference

Authors: Scicluna RL, Kang JWM, Everett NA, Badolato CJ, Etchart MG, Kevin RC, Wilson BB, Boorman DC, Gordon RS, Anderson LL, Arnold JC, Keay KA, Bowen MT.

Year: 2026

Source type: Journal Article

DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2026.119277

PMID: 41904896

Source access – 23 October 2026: Direct retrieval could not be fully verified; availability remains unresolved.

Bibliographic attribution or source identity cross-checked.

DOI – publisher access (access restrictions may apply)

[CA_P_39654798] Cannabis combined with oxycodone for pain relief in fibromyalgia pain: a randomized clinical self-titration trial with focus on adverse events.

Original source / bibliographic reference

Authors: van Dam CJ, Kramers C, Schellekens A, Bouvy M, van Dorp E, Kowal MA, Olofsen E, Dahan A, Niesters M, van Velzen M.

Year: 2024

Source type: research-article; Journal Article

DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2024.1497111

PMID: 39654798

Source access – 23 October 2026: Direct retrieval could not be fully verified; availability remains unresolved.

Bibliographic attribution or source identity cross-checked.

DOI – publisher access (access restrictions may apply)

PubMed Central – full-text access according to the literature database – Archive attribution confirmed by Europe PMC metadata. Direct retrieval was not fully verified here; access may require a browser check.

Europe PMC – full-text access according to the literature database – Listed as freely available HTML full text in the official Europe PMC metadata. Direct retrieval was not fully verified here.

[CA_P_31201479] Cannabinoid modulation of opioid analgesia and subjective drug effects in healthy humans.

Original source / bibliographic reference

Authors: Babalonis S, Lofwall MR, Sloan PA, Nuzzo PA, Fanucchi LC, Walsh SL.

Year: 2019

Source type: research-article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Journal Article

DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05293-1

PMID: 31201479

Source access – 23 October 2026: Direct retrieval could not be fully verified; availability remains unresolved.

Bibliographic attribution or source identity cross-checked.

DOI – publisher access (access restrictions may apply)

PubMed Central – full-text access according to the literature database – Archive attribution confirmed by Europe PMC metadata. Direct retrieval was not fully verified here; access may require a browser check.

Europe PMC – full-text access according to the literature database – Listed as freely available HTML full text in the official Europe PMC metadata. Direct retrieval was not fully verified here.

[CA_P_29463913] Impact of co-administration of oxycodone and smoked cannabis on analgesia and abuse liability.

Original source / bibliographic reference

Authors: Cooper ZD, Bedi G, Ramesh D, Balter R, Comer SD, Haney M.

Year: 2018

Source type: research-article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

DOI: 10.1038/s41386-018-0011-2

PMID: 29463913

Source access – 23 October 2026: Direct retrieval could not be fully verified; availability remains unresolved.

Bibliographic attribution or source identity cross-checked.

DOI – publisher access (access restrictions may apply)

PubMed Central – full-text access according to the literature database – Archive attribution confirmed by Europe PMC metadata. Direct retrieval was not fully verified here; access may require a browser check.

Europe PMC – full-text access according to the literature database – Listed as freely available HTML full text in the official Europe PMC metadata. Direct retrieval was not fully verified here.

[CA_P_22048225] Cannabinoid-opioid interaction in chronic pain.

Original source / bibliographic reference

Authors: Abrams DI, Couey P, Shade SB, Kelly ME, Benowitz NL.

Year: 2011

Source type: Controlled Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

DOI: 10.1038/clpt.2011.188

PMID: 22048225

Source access – 23 October 2026: Direct retrieval could not be fully verified; availability remains unresolved.

Bibliographic attribution or source identity cross-checked.

DOI – publisher access (access restrictions may apply)

[CA_P_33846971] The CANBACK trial: a randomised, controlled clinical trial of oral cannabidiol for people presenting to the emergency department with acute low back pain.

Original source / bibliographic reference

Authors: Bebee B, Taylor DM, Bourke E, Pollack K, Foster L, Ching M, Wong A.

Year: 2021

Source type: Comparative Study; Randomized Controlled Trial; Journal Article

DOI: 10.5694/mja2.51014

PMID: 33846971

Source access – 23 October 2026: Direct retrieval could not be fully verified; availability remains unresolved.

Bibliographic attribution or source identity cross-checked.

DOI – publisher access (access restrictions may apply)

[CA_P_31496363] Reduced urinary opioid levels from pain management patients associated with marijuana use.

Original source / bibliographic reference

Authors: Goggin MM, Shahriar BJ, Stead A, Janis GC.

Year: 2019

Source type: Journal Article

DOI: 10.2217/pmt-2019-0017

PMID: 31496363

Source access – 23 October 2026: Automated direct retrieval was restricted; this does not establish that the link is broken.

Bibliographic attribution or source identity cross-checked.

DOI – publisher access (access restrictions may apply)

Research as of 23 October 2026. Not all original full texts could be reviewed in full. Source accessibility and the strength of scientific evidence must be assessed separately. An accessible link does not establish medical approval; a bibliographic record with an abstract does not replace the original full text.

Drug search and explanation of the evidence · Guide: cannabinoids and medicines · Author and responsibility