Oxycodone is a semi-synthetic opioid with an analgesic effect in the postoperative pain management comparable to morphine. Oxycodone is N-demethylated by CYP2D6 to its active metabolite oxymorphone, a potent μ-receptor agonist. A genetic polymorphism divides a Caucasian population into two groups: 8% with an enzyme lacking activity, poor metabolizers (PM) and the rest with normal CYP2D6 activity, extensive metabolizers (EM).