Oxycodone/Ibuprofen combination tablet: a review of its use in the management of acute pain

Oxycodone/ibuprofen 5 mg/400 mg (Combunox) is an oral fixed-dose combination tablet with analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties. It is approved in the US for the short-term (up to 7 days) management of acute, moderate-to-severe pain and is the first and only fixed-dose combination containing ibuprofen and oxycodone. A single dose of oxycodone/ibuprofen 5 mg/400 mg provided better analgesia than low-dose oxycodone or ibuprofen administered alone in most trials and appears to be more effective than a single dose of some other fixed-dose combination analgesics. It is generally well tolerated after single or multiple doses and short-term use is not expected to produce any of the serious adverse effects typically associated with the long-term use of opioids or NSAIDs. Thus, oxycodone/ibuprofen 5 mg/400mg is an effective, convenient treatment option for the short-term management of acute, moderate-to-severe pain.