In addition to nausea and constipation, respiratory distress is a known side effect of oxycodone. The fact that breathing is strongly reduced when paroxetine is used at the same time has now been established for the first time in the study by the LUMC and the FDA, published in the medical journal JAMA.
“Respiration decreases, causing the CO2 level in the blood to rise. Ultimately, breathing can stop completely and the person dies,” says Leiden professor of anesthesiology Albert Dahan. According to him, paroxetine is not prescribed that much in the Netherlands, but other similar antidepressants, “We will therefore soon be starting a study into the combination of oxycodone with these agents.” In the United States, oxycodone is widely prescribed in combination with paroxetine.
Consequences heart
In their study, the researchers from LUMC and FDA gave 25 healthy volunteers oxycodone and paroxetine in a controlled environment. The focus was mainly on breathing. But the aforementioned medication combination also has an effect on other processes in the body, according to Dahan. “That is why we also looked at the functioning of the heart, and specifically the blood distribution in the body. Does this change after taking both drugs? And is this harmful?” The answers to these questions are expected soon. Further clinical studies should determine the effects of long-term use of oxycodone and paroxetine together.