Oxycodone for Cancer Pain in Adult Patients

Clinical Question: Is oxycodone associated with greater efficacy and fewer adverse events compared with alternative analgesics for cancer pain?

Bottom Line: Oxycodone was not associated with superior cancer pain relief or fewer adverse effects compared with other strong opioids, such as morphine or oxymorphone. However, the quality of the evidence was low.

Many patients with cancer experience moderate or severe pain requiring treatment with strong opioids. However, not all opioids are well tolerated by all patients. This JAMA Clinical Evidence Synopsis summarizes a published Cochrane review1 that examined the association of oxycodone (any formulation or route of administration) compared with placebo or an active drug (including alternative forms of oxycodone) for treating cancer pain in adults.