Kadian Oral

Kadian Oral Uses

See also the Warning section.

This medication is used to relieve moderate to severe pain that requires strong, long-lasting narcotic pain medications for more than a few days. It is used when pain cannot be relieved by other pain relievers. This medication should not be used to relieve pain after surgery or pain that lasts for only a short time.

This medication is a long-acting form of a narcotic pain reliever (opiate-type). It works on certain centers in the brain to give you pain relief.

How To Use Kadian Oral

See also the Warning section.

Take this medication by mouth with or without food, usually once or twice daily or as directed by your doctor.

If nausea occurs, consult your doctor or pharmacist about ways to reduce it (e.g., antihistamines, lying down for 1-2 hours with as little head movement as possible).

Swallow the capsules whole. Do not crush, chew, or dissolve the capsules or their contents. Doing so can destroy the long action of the drug and may lead to the release of a very high (possibly fatal) dose of drug all at once.

If you have trouble swallowing the capsule, the capsule may be opened and its contents carefully sprinkled on a spoonful of soft, cool applesauce just before you take it. Swallow the drug/food mixture immediately without chewing, then rinse your mouth and swallow the rinse liquid to make sure that you have swallowed all of the medicine. Do not chew the mixture or prepare a supply for future use.

If giving this medication through a gastrostomy tube, first flush the tube with water to make sure it is wet. Open the capsule, sprinkle the entire contents into a container, and add 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) of water. Use a swirling motion to pour the water/pellet mixture into the gastrostomy tube through a fitted funnel. Use more water to rinse the container, the funnel, and the tube to make sure all the medication passes through the tube.

Do not give this medication through a nasogastric tube.