title: Retrospective Evaluation of a Fixed-Dose Combination of Oxycodone and Acetaminophen to Manage Moderate Pain: The Lower the Better.
abstract: Oxycodone is one of the most commonly used opioid analgesics in the clinical management of pain. The present retrospective analysis aimed to determine the dose of oxycodone that could achieve effective control of moderate pain when combined with a fixed dose of acetaminophen, and the time required to reach a clinically relevant reduction in intensity of pain.
  
  
  
  Data of patients treated with a combination of oxycodone (5, 10, and 20 mg) and acetaminophen (325 mg) were evaluated for gender, current disease condition, basal pain intensity, total daily dose, days of controlled pain at the initial low dose, and pain intensity after treatment using a numeric pain rating scale.
  
  
  
  Data from a total of 491 patients were assessed; of these 93.5% of patients experienced persistent non-cancer pain and had an average baseline pain score of 5.68 ± 1.35. For the overall population, the pain score was reduced to 2.49 ± 1.71 with a mean dose of 8.68 ± 4.96 mg oxycodone after 21.60 ± 6.12 days of treatment with the combination. Almost 97% of the patients who reported relief of pain received 1.61 ± 0.67 doses of oxycodone 5 mg combined with 325 mg of acetaminophen.
  
  
  
  A low-dose combination of oxycodone with acetaminophen can be effective in the management of moderate pain and may help in reducing the treatment-associated adverse reactions and drug dependence.
  
  
  
  Sponsorship for article processing charges was provided by Molteni Farmaceutici, Florence, Italy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. silvia.natoli@uniroma2.it.|Department of Emergency, Admission and Critical Area, Polyclinic of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. silvia.natoli@uniroma2.it.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Natoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.|Department of Emergency, Admission and Critical Area, Polyclinic of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marzia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lazzari
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency, Admission and Critical Area, Polyclinic of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carpenedo
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency, Admission and Critical Area, Polyclinic of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Palombo
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.|Department of Emergency, Admission and Critical Area, Polyclinic of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Beatrice
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Silvi
authors.affiliation: Primary Care, ASL RM1, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mammucari
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.|Department of Emergency, Admission and Critical Area, Polyclinic of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dauri
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004338:Drug Combinations; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010098:Oxycodone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000082:Acetaminophen; D010098:Oxycodone
keywords: Acetaminophen; Numeric pain rating scale; Opioid; Oxycodone; Pain; Retrospective