Oxycodone Dosage Adjustment Calculation

A 45-year-old female patient with a history of chronic migraines is being treated in the outpatient clinic. The healthcare provider has prescribed a combination therapy regimen consisting of a long-acting opioid for pain relief and an adjunct medication to aid in managing headache frequency. The ordered medications are:

1. Long-acting opioid: Oxycodone extended-release (OxyContin) 20 mg orally every 12 hours

2. Adjunct medication: Gabapentin 300 mg orally at bedtime

The patient is advised to take the oxycodone as prescribed and to begin the gabapentin regimen two days later. After the first week of treatment, it is noted that the patient reports average pain levels are reducing, but the patient expresses concerns about potential side effects. The nurse explains that some potential side effects of oxycodone might include constipation, nausea, and drowsiness.

After evaluating the regimen, the healthcare provider feels the need to adjust the oxycodone dosage. The provider decides to increase the dose by 50% while maintaining the same frequency. The nurse should inform the patient that the new dosage of oxycodone is ____ mg every 12 hours.