Oxycodone Addiction: Signs, Symptoms, & Treatment

Keep this medicine in a safe place to prevent theft, misuse, or abuse. If someone accidentally swallows this drug, get medical help right away. Nausea, vomiting, constipation, dry mouth, weakness, sweating, lightheadedness, dizziness, or drowsiness may occur. Some of these side effects may decrease after you have been using this medication for a while. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

• Our commitment to quality includes the information we publish on our website.
• This is the most recent data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• It may slightly increase the risk of birth defects if used during the first two months of pregnancy.
• Remember that this medication has been prescribed because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects.
• Teach your family or household members about the signs of an opioid overdose and how to treat it.

Behavioral Signs Of OxyContin Addiction

• You can also monitor and record your pain levels to see how you’re progressing and let your doctor know whether your pain is decreasing.
• This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
• Opioids are most addictive when you take them in a way other than how they were prescribed — for example, crushing a pill so that it can be snorted or injected.
• To find an inpatient facility near you, consider using this treatment locator through SAMHSA.

For the average TV viewer, there’s nothing wrong with thiscommercial. But peel back its unremarkable exterior, and the cracks start toshow. Increasing an OxyContin dosage due to a drug tolerance is a strong sign of misuse. An inability to stop using OxyContin is another sign of excessive use or misuse. Someone talking about using the drug in a non-medical way is another sign of use. Lastly, someone showing symptoms like depression, anxiety, headaches, drowsiness, poor work performance, and constricted pupils drug addiction treatment can indicate use.

What should I avoid while using OxyContin?

If you meet two or three of the criteria, you have a mild oxycodone use disorder. How Addictive Is OxyContin Four to five is considered moderate, and six or more is considered severe. If you think someone may be overdosing on opioids, call 911 immediately. Several class-action suits across Canada have been launched against the Purdue group of companies and affiliates. Claimants argue the pharmaceutical manufacturers did not meet a standard of care and were negligent in doing so.

Treatment of Pain in Addicts

Oxycodone alters your brain and central nervous system’s response to pain. Oxycodone is made in a lab, unlike other opioids that are naturally derived from opium. The more you know about oxycodone and how you react to it, the more likely you can avoid addiction.

• As doctors, pharmacists, and hospitals improve in identifying and stopping OxyContin-seeking tendencies, people are forced into illegal means to sustain their opioid use disorder.
• OxyContin’s addictive properties are gradual as individuals develop a tolerance before an addiction.
• In the event of complications, such as chemical imbalances or vomiting and diarrhea that can cause severe dehydration, withdrawal can turn dangerous.
• Oxycodone may lead to addiction because of the rush of dopamine in your brain and how quickly your body adapts to having it in your system.

Other pain relievers (such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen) may also be prescribed. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about using oxycodone safely with other drugs. Another key difference between the two drugs is their potential for addiction and abuse. OxyContin has a higher abuse potential due to its extended-release tablet formula, which can lead to increased levels of the drug in the body if taken improperly. Oxycodone has a lower risk of abuse, but it still carries a significant risk of addiction if taken in high doses or for extended periods of time.

Withdrawal And Treatment

Opioids are safest when used for three or fewer days to manage serious pain, such as pain that follows surgery or a bone fracture. If you need opioids for severe pain, work with your healthcare professional to take the lowest dose possible, for the shortest time needed, exactly as prescribed. Also, be sure to ask if drugs other than opioids are available or if other types of treatment can be used instead.

Treating Oxycodone Overdose

Oxycodone is made by modifying thebaine, an organic chemical found in opium. Designated as an opioid or semi-synthetic opiate, oxycodone shares a general classification with heroin, hydrocodone, and oxymorphone. Oxycodone is classified as a Schedule II drug under the Controlled Substances Act. This means that, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ although it has a definite medical purpose, there is a high potential for abuse. People who are suffering from an oxycodone use disorder usually require a medically managed detox and a good treatment program to prevent relapse. OxyContin is a long-lasting form of oxycodone, a potent narcotic pain-relieving medicine that should be reserved for mainly cancer-related pain.