Oxycodone is a powerful opioid analgesic (narcotic pain reliever) that is commonly prescribed to manage moderate to severe pain. It is derived from thebaine, an opiate alkaloid found in the poppy plant, and is part of the semisynthetic opioid family. Oxycodone works by binding to mu-opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord, which alters the perception of pain and the emotional response to pain, making it highly effective for both acute and chronic pain management.
