Osmitrol 15 % in water is the brand‑name formulation of an oxycodone hydrochloride solution (the opioid “oxy‑” compound). It is a high‑concentration, sterile, aqueous solution intended for intravenous (IV) or sometimes oral use, depending on the specific product version that is available in your region.
---
1. What the “15 %” Means
- % weight/volume (w/v):
15 % w/v means 15 g of oxycodone HCl per 100 mL of solution.
In other words, each milliliter contains 150 mg of oxycodone.
- This is a high‑strength preparation designed to keep the total volume small (e.g., a 5 mL vial contains about 750 mg of drug).
⚠️ Not for oral ingestion in most countries – the product is usually supplied as a sterile IV solution. If you have an oral‑solution version, it will be clearly labelled for that route of administration.
---
2. Clinical Use
| Indication | Typical clinical setting | Notes |
|------------|--------------------------|-------|
| Severe acute pain (post‑operative, traumatic) | IV infusion or bolus | Rapid onset; requires careful titration. |
| Chronic cancer pain | IV, or sometimes oral (if a dedicated oral formulation) | Long‑term use requires monitoring for tolerance & dependence. |
| Palliative care | IV | Used when other opioids are ineffective or contraindicated. |
The drug is only available by prescription and is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance in the U.S. (and similarly controlled in most other jurisdictions).
---
3. Dosage & Administration (General, not a prescription)
| Route | Typical starting dose | Typical titration | Monitoring |
|-------|----------------------|-------------------|------------|
| IV bolus | 2–5 mg (single dose) | Increase by 2–5 mg every 15–30 min as needed | Respiratory rate, level of consciousness |
| IV infusion | 2–10 mg/hour | Adjust 1–2 mg/hour up or