Oxycodone Street Value, Prices, & Prescription Costs

Manish Mishra, MBBS

Medically Reviewed By: Manish Mishra, MBBS

on December 10, 2022
Fikret Terzic

Written by: Fikret Terzic MD, MS

Oxycodone is a prescription opioid (or opiate) that acts as a painkiller. It’s sold under multiple brand names, including OxyContin, Oxyado, and Percocet.

Like other opioids, oxycodone can make you feel happy and relaxed. That’s why some people buy it on the street and abuse it. The average street price of oxycodone differs from the drug’s average prescription price

Oxycodone Street Price

According to law enforcement agencies, the average black market cost of oxycodone depends on the dosage

The immediate-release formulation of the drug comes in 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, and 30 mg dosages. The extended-release formulation comes in 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg, and 80 mg dosages. 

Both formulations tend to cost about $1 per mg. That means that the average street value of oxycodone is:

  • $5 for a 5 mg tablet
  • $10 for a 10 mg tablet
  • $15 for a 15 mg tablet
  • $20 for a 20 mg tablet
  • $30 for a 30 mg tablet
  • $40 for a 40 mg tablet
  • $60 for a 60 mg tablet
  • $80 for a 80 mg tablet

The exact price depends on the availability of oxycodone in your area. In most cases, the drug costs more in rural areas and less in big cities. That’s because big cities tend to have higher supplies of oxycodone, which typically leads to lower prices.

Oxycodone Prescription Cost 

As with other prescription drugs, the average price of prescription oxycodone depends on the dosage and amount of tablets prescribed. In general, a standard 90-tablet supply of oxycodone costs about:

  • $50 for 5 mg immediate-release tablets
  • $80 for 10 mg immediate-release tablets
  • $100 for 15 mg immediate-release tablets
  • $120 for 20 mg immediate-release tablets
  • $150 for 30 mg immediate-release tablets
  • $400 for 10 mg extended-release tablets 
  • $500 for 15 mg extended-release tablets
  • $750 for 20 mg extended-release tablets
  • $950 for 30 mg extended-release tablets
  • $1,100 for 40 mg extended-release tablets
  • $1,500 for 60 mg or 80 mg extended-release tablets

The exact price will depend on the pharmacy and your insurance. You may also be able to reduce high prices with a discount card.

Dangers Of Oxycodone Abuse

The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies oxycodone as a Schedule II controlled substance. That means it poses a high risk of abuse. People abuse the drug by taking it in a manner not recommended by their prescribing physician. 

For instance, they might take it more frequently than prescribed, mix it with illicit drugs, or take it without a prescription. This behavior can lead to worsened side effects, overdose, and addiction.

Worsened Side Effects

Like other prescription medications, oxycodone can have side effects. The drug’s most common side effects include:

  • headache
  • dry mouth
  • drowsiness
  • flushing
  • stomach pain
  • mood changes

Some people also experience more serious side effects, such as:

  • nausea and vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • trouble breathing or swallowing
  • changes in heart rate
  • chest pain
  • itching, rash, or hives
  • confusion
  • hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that aren’t really there)
  • impaired coordination
  • changes in sexual desire or ability
  • swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, throat, hands, feet, lower legs, or ankles
  • seizures

If you or someone you know experiences these more serious side effects, seek medical advice right away.

Overdose

Oxycodone can cause an overdose, especially when taken at high doses. The most common symptoms of an oxycodone overdose include:

  • smaller pupils
  • trouble breathing
  • slowed breathing and/or heart rate
  • cold, clammy skin
  • extreme drowsiness
  • muscle weakness
  • loss of consciousness

If you think you or someone you know is overdosing on oxycodone, call 911 immediately, and administer naloxone if you have it. Naloxone (brand name Narcan) is a medication that can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose. It’s available at most pharmacies without a prescription. 

When left untreated, an oxycodone overdose can be fatal, especially if the drug has been laced with the synthetic opioid fentanyl. 

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), fentanyl is among the strongest opioids, being up to 100 times stronger than morphine. In recent years, it’s been secretly added to various street drugs and linked to numerous drug overdose deaths. 

Addiction

As an opioid, oxycodone is highly addictive. Oxycodone addiction is a serious disease that makes you feel unable to stop using the drug. Other symptoms may include:

  • loss of motivation
  • loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
  • tolerance (needing increasingly larger or more frequent doses of oxycodone to feel the desired effects)
  • physical dependence (experiencing withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety and nausea, when you don’t use oxycodone)

Like other substance use disorders, oxycodone addiction requires professional treatment. If you or someone you know experiences the above symptoms, seek help at an inpatient or outpatient substance abuse treatment program. 

These programs offer a variety of services to help people recover from illicit or prescription drug abuse, such as medical detox, mental health counseling, and medication-assisted treatment

To learn more about inpatient opioid addiction treatment options, please contact Ohio Recovery Center. Our compassionate healthcare providers offer personalized, evidence-based care to help you or your loved one recover from drug use.

  1. Drug Enforcement Administration — Drug Fact Sheet: Oxycodone https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Oxycodone-2020_0.pdf
  2. National Institute on Drug Abuse — Fentanyl DrugFacts https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/fentanyl
  3. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus — Oxycodone https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682132.html

Written by Ohio Recovery Center Editorial Team

© 2024 Ohio Recovery Center | All Rights Reserved

* This page does not provide medical advice.

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