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| Combination of | |
|---|---|
| Oxycodone | Opioid analgesic |
| Naloxone | Opioid receptor antagonist |
| Clinical data | |
| Trade names | Targin, Targiniq, Targinact, others |
| AHFS/Drugs.com | International Drug Names UK Drug Information |
| License data | |
| Pregnancy category |
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| Routes of administration | By mouth |
| ATC code | |
| Legal status | |
| Legal status |
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| Identifiers | |
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Oxycodone/naloxone, sold under the brand name Targin among others, is a combination pain medication available as modified-release tablets administered by mouth. [5]
The oxycodone component is an opioid and is responsible for the pain-relieving effects. Naloxone, an opioid antagonist, opposes the effects of opioids but is poorly absorbed into the blood stream when administered orally; therefore, most of the dose remains in the gastrointestinal tract. This local presence reduces opioid-induced constipation by preventing oxycodone from binding to gut opioid receptors, without diminishing overall analgesic efficacy compared to oxycodone alone. A 2008 study demonstrated a significant reduction in constipation. [6] Oxycodone/naloxone was released in 2014 in the United States, [5] in 2006 in Germany, and has been available in some other European countries since 2009. In the United Kingdom, the 10 mg oxycodone / 5 mg naloxone and 20 mg / 10 mg strengths were approved in December 2008, and the 40 mg / 20 mg and 5 mg / 10 mg strengths received approval in July 2019. [7]
Preliminary evidence suggests that oxycodone/naloxone may be an effective treatment for severe, refractory restless legs syndrome if first-line therapies have not been effective. [8] [9] [10]
