oxycodone
3 interactions related to oxycodone
oxycodone + st. john's wort
St. John's Wort strongly induces CYP3A4, the main enzyme that clears oxycodone. In a controlled trial, taking St. John's Wort for about two weeks markedly lowered oxycodone blood levels and weakened its pain-relieving effect, so combining the two can leave pain poorly controlled.
grapefruit + oxycodone
Oxycodone is broken down mainly by the intestinal enzyme CYP3A4. Grapefruit juice blocks that enzyme, so more active oxycodone reaches the bloodstream and stays there longer, and metabolism shifts toward the more potent metabolite oxymorphone. A controlled study in healthy volunteers confirmed grapefruit juice meaningfully raises oxycodone exposure, increasing the risk of excessive sedation and slowed breathing.
alcohol + oxycodone
Alcohol and oxycodone are both central nervous system depressants. Taken together they add up, slowing breathing and deepening sedation to a degree that can be life-threatening even when each amount would be tolerated alone. The FDA carries its strongest (boxed) warning on this combination, and national mortality data show alcohol is involved in a meaningful share of opioid overdose deaths.