Oxycontin Addiction: Oxycontin Abuse Signs & Symptoms

However, despite its prevalence as a medical painkiller and its useful effects, oxycodone has a high potential for addiction and must be used carefully. Bain goes on to stress the importance of informing doctors of current medications, and recommends patients stagger their medications to help avoid problematic drug interactions. Numerous other recent studies have pointed to other factors regarding the prevalence of Opiate Use Disorders (OUDs). Possible influences vary widely, including pregnancy, ADHD, and just about everything in between. The letterstates that out of the 11,000+ patients who received opioid medications,only two of them ever developed a dependence on the drug, and only one of thesewas a ‘major dependence’. Table 1 shows the characteristics of patients who reported any OxyContin use, those who had not used OxyContin, and those who had used other opioids (i.e., heroin, oxycodone, hydrocodone, or hydromorphone) but not OxyContin.

What Are Side Effects of OxyContin?

However, a dosage reduction in debilitated, non-opioidtolerant patients is recommended see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION. It can start with a legitimate prescription for managing short-term or long-term pain relief. However, continued use of the drug can lead to the development of physical and psychological dependency. The drug’s euphoric effects and the pleasurable sensations it produces can make individuals want to use it more. Over time, tolerance builds up, and higher doses are How Addictive Is OxyContin required to achieve the desired effects. Prescription medication misuse is a leading factor contributing to oxycodone addiction.

Who Is At Risk Of Oxycontin Addiction?

You shouldn’t take immediate-release oxycodone or OxyContin if you have asthma, other breathing problems, kidney disease, or liver disease. Immediate-release oxycodone Sober living house and OxyContin can make these conditions worse. Calls to any general helpline will be answered by treatment providers, each of which is a paid advertiser.

Genetic Factors

Chronic use of oxycodone alters brain chemistry, leading to tolerance (needing more of the drug to achieve the same effect) and physical dependence (experiencing withdrawal symptoms without the drug). These changes make it extremely difficult for individuals to quit without professional help. Oxycodone addiction is a dependency on a prescription painkiller that can develop when the drug is used regularly, leading to a need for higher doses to achieve the same effect. It involves physical dependence and psychological cravings, leading to significant health and social problems. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA, 2020), approximately 21 to 29 percent of patients prescribed opioids for chronic pain misuse them.

Psychological and Emotional Factors

• In contrast, Percocet combines oxycodone with acetaminophen, an over-the-counter pain reliever, and is formulated for immediate release, offering shorter-term pain relief.
• It can be found in short-acting and long-acting versions and comes in tablets, capsules, or liquid form.
• Treatment of oxycontin involves a combination of medical detoxification, behavioral therapies, and medication-assisted treatment such as methadone or buprenorphine.

Preoccupation with achieving adequate pain relief can be appropriate behavior in a patient with inadequate pain control. Published lactation studies report variable concentrations of oxycodone in breast milk with administration of immediate-release oxycodone to nursing mothers in the early postpartum period. The lactation studies did not assess breastfed infants for potential adverse reactions. Lactation studies have not been conducted with extended–release oxycodone, including OXYCONTIN, and no information is available on the effects of the drug on the breastfed infant or the effects of the drug on milk production. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions, including excess sedation and respiratory depression in a breastfed infant, advise patients that breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with OXYCONTIN. When using oxycodone for a prolonged period, the body builds up a tolerance, which requires higher doses to achieve the desired effects.

• According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA, 2020) and the Mayo Clinic (2019), a strong support network significantly improves the chances of successful recovery.
• If you are taking oxycodone on a regular schedule, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it.
• Genetic factors and personal history of substance abuse increase the risk.
• These behaviors are driven by a strong physical and psychological dependence on the drug.
• Because of OxyContin’s hold on individuals who use the drug, getting medical attention for these symptoms would be best, as going cold turkey can worsen symptoms.

OxyContin Withdrawal Symptoms

At Gratitude Lodge, we work with all major insurance plans to cover the costs of treatment. Treatment begins with detox, a process that typically lasts for one week. The more you know about oxycodone and how you react to it, the more likely you can avoid addiction.