Oxycodone withdrawal timing depends heavily on which formulation was used — immediate-release (like Percocet) versus extended-release (like OxyContin).
Rough timeline
- Immediate-release formulations: withdrawal often begins within 8–12 hours of the last dose
- Extended-release formulations: withdrawal onset can be delayed to 12–24 hours, because the medication continues releasing into the body longer
- Peak symptoms: typically 1–3 days after onset for either formulation
- Acute symptoms easing: usually by 5–7 days
- Prolonged symptoms: mood, sleep, and cravings can continue for weeks as part of PAWS [link]
A note relevant to many people reading this
A large share of people who develop opioid use disorder start with a legitimate prescription for pain. If that’s your situation, none of this changes the medical reality of withdrawal, but it’s worth saying directly: needing treatment now doesn’t require having done anything “wrong” at the start.
What changes the picture
- Whether use started as prescribed pain treatment and changed over time, or began outside a prescription
- Combination with other substances
- Total dose and duration of use
Moving to treatment
Buprenorphine, methadone, and (after a longer opioid-free window) naltrexone are all options here. [MAT comparison tool] If pain management is still an ongoing need alongside opioid use disorder treatment, that’s a specific conversation worth having directly with a prescriber. [managing pain alongside treatment]
Medically reviewed by [pending]. Sources: SAMHSA TIP 63, FDA prescribing information for oxycodone formulations.