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. Serious, life-threatening, or fatal respiratory depression may occur with use of OXYCONTIN, especially during initiation or following a dosage increase. To reduce the risk of respiratory depression, proper dosing and titration of OXYCONTIN are essential. OxyContin and oxycodone are opioid painkillers that differ in how they release medication into the body. OxyContin provides long-lasting relief, while oxycodone offers immediate pain relief. OxyContin is the extended-release form of oxycodone. We’ll help you compare how these drugs treat pain, what their side effects are, and more. 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. OxyContin is a long-acting formulation of oxycodone for severe, persistent pain when other treatments fail or are not tolerated. Includes OxyContin side effects, dose, uses, and more. Oxycontin is a long-acting opioid for the around-the-clock, long-term management of severe pain. It is used when alternative treatments have been inadequate. OxyContin is the brand name for extended-release oxycodone, designed to release oxycodone slowly over 12 hours, requiring only twice-daily dosing. OxyContin works in two phases. The outer layer releases oxycodone rapidly, providing pain relief within approximately 20 minutes. OxyContin is still prescribed today, but a lot has changed since Purdue Pharma’s legal troubles. Here’s what the drug looks like now and who can get it. Oxycontin (oxycodone hydrochloride) is used to treat moderate to severe pain. Learn side effects, dosage, drug interactions, warnings, patient labeling, reviews, and more.