Observations of urinary oxycodone and metabolite distributions in pain patients

J Anal Toxicol. 2014 Apr;38(3):129-34. doi: 10.1093/jat/bku007. Epub 2014 Feb 11.

Abstract

Oxycodone is an opioid analgesic metabolized to oxymorphone and noroxycodone by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6 and 3A4/5, respectively. This was a retrospective study to evaluate sex, age, urinary pH and concurrent medication use on oxycodone, oxymorphone and noroxycodone distributions. Urine specimens obtained from patients on chronic opioid therapy were analyzed by LC-MS-MS. There were 108,923 specimens from a subject's first or single visit, who were at least 18 years of age, and had documented physician-reported oxycodone use. The majority of specimens had detectable oxycodone urine concentrations (n = 106,852) resulting in oxycodone mole fractions (arithmetic mean ± SD) of 0.44 ± 0.27. Ninety-eight percent (n = 106,229) and 49% (n = 53,394) had detectable oxymorphone and noroxycodone, respectively. Oxycodone and oxymorphone mole fractions were lower in women compared with men (P < 0.0001). Mean ± SD age was 49.1 ± 12.9 years. Noroxycodone mole fractions were highest in the 65 years and older age group. Concurrent use of a CYP2D6 inhibitor, but not a CYP3A4/5 inhibitor, altered oxycodone and oxymorphone mole fractions. Dual inhibition of CYP2D6 and CYP3A4/5 did not result in a statistical difference upon comparison with CYP2D6 inhibitor or CYP3A4/5 inhibitor use. Patient factors affect oxycodone and metabolite mole fractions and suggest increased awareness of each contribution when attempting to monitor therapy with urine drug testing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Analgesics, Opioid / administration & dosage
  • Analgesics, Opioid / urine*
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 / metabolism
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 Inhibitors
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A / metabolism
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A Inhibitors
  • Drug Interactions
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Morphinans / administration & dosage
  • Morphinans / urine*
  • Oxycodone / administration & dosage
  • Oxycodone / urine*
  • Oxymorphone / administration & dosage
  • Oxymorphone / urine*
  • Pain / drug therapy*
  • Pain / urine
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sex Factors
  • Specimen Handling
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 Inhibitors
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A Inhibitors
  • Morphinans
  • noroxycodone
  • Oxymorphone
  • Oxycodone
  • CYP3A5 protein, human
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A
  • CYP3A4 protein, human