OxyContin redesigned to reduce risk of abuse
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A new formulation of OxyContin specially designed to help discourage misuse and abuse of the drug was approved last week by the FDA.
OxyContin is made to slowly release oxycodone to treat severe pain for an extended period of time. Because of the drug's controlled-release properties, each tablet contains a large quantity of oxycodone, and under the previous formulation, abusers of the drug have been able to release high levels of oxycodone all at once.
The reformulated OxyContin is intended to prevent the opioid medication from being cut, broken, chewed, crushed or dissolved to release more medication. The new formulation may provide an incremental advantage over the current version and is likely to result in less abuse by snorting or injection, FDA officials said.
The drug still can be abused by simply ingesting larger doses than are recommended, and the manufacturer will be required to conduct a post-market study on the extent to which the new formulation reduces abuse and misuse, according to an FDA press release.