OxyContin Oxycodone Use and Abuse

Someone who has used oxycodone for a long period of https://ecosoberhouse.com/ time may experience complications with their physical and mental health as a result of their drug use. Painkillers containing oxycodone, such as OxyContin, have severe side effects and dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a chronic, progressive disease that can affect you physically and mentally, and change your behavior. There are characteristic symptoms of an OUD that a medical or psychiatric professional can use to formally diagnose a person. “All other kinds of treatment should be first considered before the physician jumps to what is the easiest solution, a synthetic opiate,” he tells WebMD. Simmonds gave testimony on the value of OxyContin for alleviating cancer pain at a 2002 Congressional hearing.

How To Help Someone Struggling With Substance Use

• Both OxyContin and oxycodone can lead to physical dependence and addiction if taken in high doses or for extended periods of time.
• Addiction is a condition where something that started as pleasurable now feels like something you can’t live without.
• Always check the brand and strength of oxycodone you get from the pharmacy.
• After you undergo a detox, you engage in individual and group therapy to address the root cause of your addiction to oxycodone.

Typically derived from the opium poppy plant or synthesized in a lab to mimic the plant’s effects, opium helps the body find relief from pain, creating relaxation. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, there are 11 criteria for diagnosing an oxycodone addiction. They become fearful when the dosage of a narcotic has to be increased, but it’s normal for the body to build up tolerance over time, says Simmonds, spokeswoman for the American Cancer Society. “What makes OxyContin dangerous is not only that it’s addictive, it can also be lethal,” says Drew Pinsky, MD, best known for his Loveline radio show.

Treatment of Pain in Addicts

• People secretly struggling with an opioid use disorder may go to their doctor and make up a reason to obtain a prescription for a drug like OxyContin.
• Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you should have naloxone available to treat opioid overdose.
• OxyContin is a very difficult addiction to recover from, but there are many people willing and ready to help you get back on track.

Possible influences vary widely, including pregnancy, ADHD, and just about everything in between. Although it is available in pill form, it can be snorted, chewed, crushed, injected and smoked. When individuals take the pill in non-traditional forms, typically in cases of misuse, there is much more potential for abuse. Oxycodone, a major chemical in OxyContin remains one of the most How Addictive Is OxyContin commonly abused drugs to date and has serious side effects. Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist before you start taking extended-release oxycodone and each time you get a refill. However, buying or selling oxycodone without a prescription is illegal.

Doctor Shopping And OxyContin Abuse

• Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, as this medicine may harm your baby.
• If you or a loved one is struggling with OxyContin addiction, contact us today to find out how we can help you start your healing journey.
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In the event of complications, such as chemical imbalances or vomiting and diarrhea that can cause severe dehydration, withdrawal can turn dangerous. In most cases, it is recommended to use a medically-supervised detox option. Pinsky, who is medical director for the department of chemical dependency services at Las Encinas Hospital in Pasadena, Calif., tells WebMD he admits at least two patients a day for overusing painkillers. Alcoholics Anonymous “They’ve been addicts all along. They didn’t suddenly develop an addiction. They come to me with overwhelming pain — back pain, neck pain, headaches. They can’t sleep.”

That was until Purdue Pharma, the manufacturerof prescription opioids, began to cite the letter as evidence for the safety ofOxycontin. This medication may interfere with certain lab tests (such as amylase/lipase levels), possibly causing false test results. Make sure lab personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug.

• Like other opiates, oxycodone has significant withdrawal symptoms when detoxing without medical supervision.
• In most cases, it is recommended to use a medically-supervised detox option.
• Taking broken, crushed, chewed, or dissolved extended-release oxycodone could cause a fatal overdose.
• For those who have insurance, using health insurance to pay for rehab should cover at least some of the cost of addiction treatment.

Causes of OxyContin Addiction

Typical dosages of Oxycodone immediate-release are 5-30 milligrams every 4-6 hours, depending on the severity of pain. It has a risk of dependence and addiction and should be thoroughly monitored by a doctor. Help prevent opioid misuse in your family and community by storing opioid medicines securely while you use them. In the U.S., find the closest Controlled Substance Public Disposal Locations on a website the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) maintains. Or contact your local law enforcement agency or your trash and recycling service for information about local medicine takeback programs. If no takeback program is available in your area, ask your pharmacist for help.