Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice.
The safety of oxymorphone hydrochloride extended-release tablets was evaluated in a total of 2011 patients in open-label and controlled clinical trials. The clinical trials enrolled of patients with moderate to severe chronic non-malignant pain, cancer pain, and post surgical pain. The most common serious adverse events reported with administration of oxymorphone hydrochloride extended-release tablets were chest pain, pneumonia and vomiting.
Tables 1 and 2 list the most frequently occurring adverse reactions (in at least 5% of patients) from the placebo-controlled trials in patients with low back pain.
Table 1: Treatment-Emergent Adverse Reactions Reported in ≥ 5% of Patients During the Open-Label Titration Period and Double-Blind Treatment Period by Preferred Term — Number (%) of Treated Patients (12-Week Study In Opioid-Naïve Patients with Low Back Pain)
| Open-Label Titration Period | Double-Blind Treatment Period |
| Oxymorphone Hydrochloride Extended-Release Tablets | Oxymorphone Hydrochloride Extended-Release Tablets | Placebo |
Preferred Term | (N = 325) | (N = 105) | (N = 100) |
Constipation | 26% | 7% | 1% |
Somnolence | 19% | 2% | 0% |
Nausea | 18% | 11% | 9% |
Dizziness | 11% | 5% | 3% |
Headache | 11% | 4% | 2% |
Pruritus | 7% | 3% | 1% |
Table 2: Treatment-Emergent Adverse Reactions Reported in ≥ 5% of Patients During the Open-Label Titration Period and Double-Blind Treatment Period by Preferred Term – Number (%) of Treated Patients (12-Week Study In Opioid-Experienced Patients with Low Back Pain)
| Open-Label Titration Period | Double-Blind Treatment Period |
| Oxymorphone Hydrochloride Extended-Release Tablets | Oxymorphone Hydrochloride Extended-Release Tablets | Placebo |
Preferred Term | (N = 250) | (N = 70) | (N = 72) |
Nausea | 20% | 3% | 1% |
Constipation | 12% | 6% | 1% |
Headache | 12% | 3% | 0% |
Somnolence | 11% | 3% | 0% |
Vomiting | 9% | 0% | 1% |
Pruritus | 8% | 0% | 0% |
Dizziness | 6% | 0% | 0% |
The following table lists adverse reactions that were reported in at least 2% of patients in placebo-controlled trials (N=5).
Table 3: Adverse Reactions Reported in Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trials with Incidence ≥ 2% in Patients Receiving Oxymorphone Hydrochloride Extended-Release Tablets
MedDRA Preferred Term | Oxymorphone Hydrochloride Extended-Release Tablets (N=1259) | Placebo (N=461) |
Nausea | 33% | 13% |
Constipation | 28% | 13% |
Dizziness (Excl Vertigo) | 18% | 8% |
Somnolence | 17% | 2% |
Vomiting | 16% | 4% |
Pruritus | 15% | 8% |
Headache | 12% | 6% |
Sweating increased | 9% | 9% |
Dry mouth | 6% | < 1% |
Sedation | 6% | 8% |
Diarrhea | 4% | 6% |
Insomnia | 4% | 2% |
Fatigue | 4% | 1% |
Appetite decreased | 3% | < 1% |
Abdominal pain | 3% | 2% |
The common (≥ 1% to < 10%) adverse drug reactions reported at least once by patients treated with oxymorphone hydrochloride extended-release tablets in the clinical trials organized by MedDRA's (Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities) System Organ Class and not represented in Table 1 were:
Eye disorders: vision blurred
Gastrointestinal disorders: diarrhea, abdominal pain, dyspepsia
General disorders and administration site conditions: dry mouth, appetite decreased, fatigue, lethargy, weakness, pyrexia, dehydration, weight decreased, edema
Nervous system disorders: insomnia
Psychiatric disorders: anxiety, confusion, disorientation, restlessness, nervousness, depression
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders: dyspnea
Vascular disorders: flushing and hypertension
Other less common adverse reactions known with opioid treatment that were seen < 1% in the oxymorphone hydrochloride extended-release tablet trials include the following: Bradycardia, palpitation, syncope, tachycardia, postural hypotension, miosis, abdominal distention, ileus, hot flashes, allergic reactions, hypersensitivity, urticaria, oxygen saturation decreased, central nervous system depression, depressed level of consciousness, agitation, dysphoria, euphoric mood, hallucination, mental status changes, difficult micturition, urinary retention, hypoxia, respiratory depression, respiratory distress, clamminess, dermatitis, hypotension.