Oxycodone is a medicine that is used to help treat severe pain. Common side effects include constipation, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, headache, and dizziness. Do not drive or do other. Oxycodone is used to manage pain severe enough to require an opioid pain medicine when other pain medicines do not treat pain well enough, or are not tolerated. Includes oxycodone side effects, dose, reviews, warnings, and more. Why is this medication prescribed? Oxycodone is used to relieve severe pain. Oxycodone is in a class of medications called opiate (narcotic) analgesics. It works by changing the way the brain and nervous system respond to pain. Oxycodone, sold under the brand names Roxicodone and OxyContin (which is the extended-release form) among others, is a semi-synthetic opioid used medically for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. Oxycodone is used to relieve pain severe enough to require opioid treatment and when other pain medicines did not work well enough or cannot be tolerated. It belongs to the group of medicines called opioid analgesics (pain medicines). Oxycodone is an opioid medication that takes on pain. It comes in tablet, capsule, or liquid form. Understand the uses, side effects, and precautions. Detailed Oxycodone dosage information for adults and children. Includes dosages for Pain and Chronic Pain; plus renal, liver and dialysis adjustments.