Oxycodone Addiction: Symptoms, Complications and Treatment

However, this does not necessarily indicate the presence of what medical professionals would call addiction. In all its prescription forms, oxycodone is used to treat moderate to severe pain in patients who have experienced a major injury or surgery. It may be prescribed to people of all ages, though, like other drugs, children, the elderly, and pregnant people may need special doses and monitoring to ensure safe use. This opioid is generally used both for short-term and medium-term treatment, and it may even be prescribed to patients with chronic pain for long-term use. Many erroneously believe abusing prescription narcotics is far safer than using its illegal street version – heroin. This could not be farther than the truth as overdoses from the usage of OxyContin are on the rise.

OxyContin addiction & co-occurring disorders

People with an alcohol or substance use disorder should discuss this with their doctor before using oxycodone. This article looks at the uses, dosage, and drug interactions of oxycodone. It also discusses the https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/why-alcoholism-is-considered-a-chronic-disease/ risks of using oxycodone and oxycodone addiction. Opioid medicine can slow or stop your breathing, and death may occur. Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease characterized by compulsive drug-seeking behavior and use despite harmful consequences. People addicted to OxyContin may continue to use the drug even when they know it is causing problems in their lives.

Learn more about commonly abused opioids.

This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with oxycodone. Tell your health care provider about all medicines that you take or have recently taken. Always tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. People who are 65 or older can be at greater risk of some side effects from oxycodone. Talk to your health care provider about your risks if you are in this age group.

• Medically-supervised detox also helps you avoid relapsing back to opioid use when withdrawal symptoms become too difficult.
• If OxyContin is tampered with and crushed, it loses its extended-release properties.
• That’s where recovery from an addiction begins,” Crépault says.
• Prescription forms of oxycodone are designed to provide around-the-clock relief.

What Is Oxycontin Withdrawal?

In addition to medication, psychological and supportive therapies play a critical role in the healing process by treating the social and psychological aspects that lead to addiction. With the use of these therapies, patients can reconstruct their lives and learn more effective coping techniques. Injecting oxycodone is a dangerous and harmful way to take the drug. When oxycodone is injected, it is absorbed directly into the bloodstream.

Understanding Chemsex Addiction: The Intersection of Substance Use and Sexual Behaviour

• Hyperalgesia is when your body becomes more sensitive to pain and can cause things that normally cause pain to feel more painful than usual.
• Tell your health care provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.
• If you swallow broken, chewed, crushed, or dissolved extended-release tablets, you may receive too much oxycodone at once instead of slowly over 12 hours.
• National data has stated that the volume of opioid pills prescribed in the US since 1999 has quadrupled, and so has the number of opioid overdoses.
• Secondly, prolonged use can result in physical dependence, where the body adapts to the drug’s presence and reacts negatively when it’s withdrawn, causing withdrawal symptoms.

OxyContin is a controlled-release version of oxycodone designed to provide extended pain relief over 12 hours. In contrast, regular oxycodone is an immediate-release medication that delivers effects more quickly but requires more frequent dosing. When taken as prescribed, OxyContin alcoholism releases oxycodone slowly over time, providing consistent pain relief without significant euphoric effects.

Overdose

Drug addiction is defined as an out-of-control feeling that you must use a medicine or drug and continue to use it even though it causes harm over and over again. Opioids are highly addictive, largely because they trigger powerful reward centers in your brain. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. This list is not complete and many other drugs may How Addictive Is OxyContin interact with oxycodone.

Slow-release oxycodone can take 1 to 2 days to work fully, but the pain relief will last longer. Longleaf Hospital is an inpatient treatment center that serves Cenla and the Crossroads region. We provide comprehensive care for individuals who are experiencing depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and other mood disorders.

Also, according to a Los Angeles Times report, in laboratory tests, one-third of female subjects received eight hours or fewer of relief from the drug. A few years ago, long before other tragedies rocked the United States, one of the nation’s main concerns was the opioid epidemic or the opioid crisis. At one time, the main opioid of concern was heroin, but for this crisis, newer and in some ways more dangerous drugs took center stage. Some recreational drugs, such as cannabis, will also increase oxycodone side effects and make you feel sleepy and dizzy. This may be more likely when you first start taking oxycodone but could happen at any time, for example when starting another medicine or if a doctor increases your dose. People should discuss any other medications they are taking with their doctor before starting oxycodone.

With the proper support, including therapy, medication-assisted treatment, and relapse prevention strategies, individuals successfully live without active addiction. Experts agree that addiction is a lifelong journey that is effectively managed with continuous care. Inpatient and outpatient treatment programs for Oxycodone addiction offer distinct benefits, depending on the severity of the addiction and the individual’s needs. Inpatient treatment provides intensive, structured care in a residential facility, offering 24/7 supervision and support.