Things you need to know about Oxycodone addiction
Name brand drugs like Oxycontin and Percocet contain Oxycodone, an extremely addictive opiate used to relieve physical pain. Oxycodone is made up of the same base compounds as heroin and thus Oxycodone based medications are sometimes referred to as “heroin pills.” The extraordinary prevalence of prescription pain medication containing Oxycodone is at at the root of the opioid epidemic facing America. While the medication is in and of itself dangerous, prescription pill abuse often leads to heroin use due to it’s accessibility and price, making it that much more dangerous. Oxycodone is a schedule 2 narcotic identified as having a high potential for abuse, yet it is one of the most prescribed medications today. Common side effects of Oxycodone include euphoria, dizziness, fatigue, itching, nausea and anxiety among others. In elevated doses, Oxycodone can produce increasingly dangerous effects ranging from shallow breathing to respiratory arrest and even death. Common name brand drugs containing Oxycodone include, but are not limited to:
- Oxycontin (sometimes referred to as “Oxy”)
- Percocet
- Roxicodone (sometimes referred to as “Roxys”)
- Roxicet
- Percodan
Prescription opioids are generally divided into two main categories – immediate-release (IR) products, usually intended for use every 4 to 6 hours; and extended release/long acting (ER/LA) products, intended to be taken once or twice a day, depending on the individual product and patient.
Oxycodone is a semisynthetic opioid synthesized from thebaine, an opioid alkaloid found in the Persian poppy and one of the many opioid alkaloids found in the opium poppy.
Oxycodone abuse symptoms vary depending on situational factors including length of time abused, dosage level, and level of dependency. The most common symptoms of Oxycodone abuse include the following:
Mood symptoms:
- Euphoria
- Mood swings
- Deep depression
Behavioral symptoms:
- Impaired decision making
- Poor judgment
- Memory problems
- Confusion
- Attaining multiple prescriptions for oxycodone
- Visiting multiple doctors for more prescriptions for Oxy
- Disorganized thoughts or behaviors
- Social withdrawal and the loss of relationships due to drug use
- Lying
- Stealing prescriptions from friends or relatives
- Secretly using the drug
- Hiding the drug in several places around the house
- Decreased ability to concentrate
- Inability to maintain attention
Physical symptoms:
- Drowsiness and nodding off
- Sedation
- Restlessness
- Agitation
- Tolerance
Psychological symptoms:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Emotional numbing
- Becoming obsessed with the drug and thinking about it all the time
- Worsening mental health
Oxycodone Withdrawal symptoms
Individuals that are chemically dependent on Oxycodone based medications can experience a variety of unpleasant and unfamiliar withdrawal symptoms once they discontinue abuse of the drug. It is strongly advised, that individuals quitting Oxycodone based medications, seek the help of a detox program under the supervision of a trained medical staff. Oxycodone withdrawal symptoms can be severe and unnerving: addiction specialists can make the process more effective in the long term. Muse personnel provides the most practical methods to better manage the physical, mental and emotional difficulties of Oxycodone withdrawal.
The most frequent withdrawal symptoms of oxycodone include:
- Lightheadedness
- Restlessness
- Muscle and bone pain
- Agitation
- Sedation
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sweating
- Chills
- Diarrhea
- Insomnia
- Seizures
Oxycodone Treatment Programs
Oxycodone addiction is a serious medical condition, recovery and rehabilitation from this prescription drug requires intensive labor. Oxycodone treatment programs should include a supervised Oxycodone detox plan, medications, counseling—as well as therapy sessions from certified Oxycodone rehab centers and facilities. Oxycodone detox is an essential element in the entire treatment process since this prepares the body and cleanses it of the chemical toxins present as a result of Oxycodone abuse. It is important that the Oxycodone detox program is supervised in order for patients to be monitored and the right medications provided to alleviate Oxycodone withdrawal symptoms.
One of the most effective Oxycodone treatment strategies is cognitive behavioral therapy. This therapy tries to influence the patient’s thinking, expectations and behavior while increasing their coping mechanism for various life situations. This therapy is best conducted in a resident Oxycodone rehab center in order to monitor the progress of patients as well as provide supervised and first hand care.
