Oral intact extended-release oxymorphone is associated with less cognitive and psychomotor impairment than equianalgesic doses of oral intact controlled-release oxycodone in healthy nondependent recreational opioid users

Abstract

Cognitive sequelae of opioid treatments for chronic pain are an important clinical concern. To assess cognitive effects of oxymorphone extended release (ER; 15 and 30 mg) and oxycodone controlled release (CR; 30 and 60 mg) in healthy nondependent recreational opioid users, an exploratory, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 5-way crossover study was conducted. Subjects received single oral intact doses of opioids and placebo with a ≥7-day washout period between treatments. Sedation and cognitive effects were assessed using the Addiction Research Center Inventory Pentobarbital-Chlorpromazine-Alcohol Group (PCAG) scale, Alertness/Drowsiness Visual Analog Scale (A/D-VAS), and Divided Attention (DA) test.