Oxycontin Addiction: Oxycontin is a prescription painkiller used for moderate to high
pain relief associated with injuries, bursitis, dislocations, fractures, neuralgia,
arthritis, lower back pain and pain associated with cancer. It contains oxycodone,
an opium derivative and is produced in a time released tablet. Oxycontin commonly
referred to as OC, OX, Oxy, Oxycotton and kicker, was introduced in 1996 and has
had a rapid escalation of abuse. The tablets can be chewed, crushed and snorted
like cocaine, crushed and dissolved in water and then injected like heroin. The
most serious side effect is respiratory depression, particularly dangerous for
the elderly. Oxycontin
addiction and demand has resulted in pharmacy robberies and forged
prescriptions. The estimated number of people aged 12 or older with an oxycontin
addiction has increased from 1.9 million in 2002, to 3.1 million in 2004.
The largest increase occurred among young adults aged 18 to 25.Xanax
Addiction
- As one of the class of drugs benzodiazepines Xanax has been shown to be a dangerous drug to withdraw from. The reason that Xanax withdrawal is dangerous is that as a CNS depressant that slows neural activity in the brain when the drug is abruptly stopped brain activity can rebound and accelerate out of control. Prolonged Xanax users should not attempt to withdraw from the drug without medical supervision.Oxycodone Addiction Oxycodone works by stimulating certain opoid receptors that are located throughout the central nervous system, in the brain and along the spinal cord. When the oxycodone binds to the opoid receptors, a variety of physiologic responses can occur ranging from pain relief, to slowed breathing to euphoria. Withdrawal reactions include anxiety, irritability, sweating, trouble sleeping and diarrhea. Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by a strong craving for alcohol, a constant or periodic reliance on use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, the inability to limit drinking, physical illness when drinking is stopped, and the need for increasing amounts of alcohol to feel its effects.
Oxycodone is a strong opioid analgeic (pain killer) drug with a high potential to cause physical and psychological dependence. Oxycodone is a semi-synthetic opioid made from the alkaloid, thebaine. It is very similar to codeine in structure and actions.The agent has been around for more than 70 years in Europe but because of the addiction and abuse potential, the drug never became popular until the late 1980s. Once the addictive problems of heroin and morphine became well known, it was decided not to make pain killers using morphine substitutes.
The preparation of hydrocodone from thebaine was done to avoid the mood altering effects that were common with morphine and heroin. Oxycodone, like morphine, acts on the brain but does not show the full spectrum of mood altering effects seen with morphine or heroin, nor are the effects long lasting. However, the drug does have some euphoric effects, lessens anxiety and gives the user a pleasant experience. This plus the relatively easy availability of the drug has made it liable to abuse. Oxycodone and its derivatives have been illicitly abused in North America for the past 20-30 years.
Oxycodone is a Schedule II narcotic analgesic and is extensively used in clinical practice. In the last decade, Oxycodone has become of great concern to the DEA and numerous adverse health effect bulletins have been released. In 2004, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the marketing of generic forms of controlled release Oxycodone products (e.g. oxycontin).
Recently, the DEA increased regulations over the availability of oxycodone. Persons who try and obtain repeat oxycodone prescriptions and possess it for purpose of trafficking are guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment.
Therapeutic use
In the United States, oxycodone is a Schedule II controlled drug and requires a prescription for use.
Oxycodone is an excellent pain killer that can be taken orally. The drug is frequently used in clinical practice to manage pain after surgery. The drug is very effective for moderate to severe chronic pain (e.g. back pain). The drug is usually recommended for short term use not lasting more than a few weeks at a time. Generic forms like long term oxycontin are frequently administered to patients with terminal cancer.
Doses and Preparations
Oxycodone is a strong pain killer when taken orally and is prescribed in various formulations. It is often combined with aspirin (percodan, endodan, roxiprin), acetaminophen (percocet, roxicet, tylox), or ibuprofen ( combunox). Recently, a longer acting form of oxycodone, known as oxycontin, has been released. Other long release preparations include Endone, OxyIR, OxyNorm, Percolone, OxyFAST, and Roxicodone. All long release preparations are effective for 8-12 hours. Some of these long release preparations are also available in liquid form.
Oxycodone and all its generic formulations are available for oral, intravenous, intramuscular or intranasal use. Oral preparations are used most frequently, have a rapid onset of action and last 4-6 hours. In patients who become tolerant to the drug, higher doses of the drug are required to produce the same amount pain relief. Unfortunately, tolerance to all side effects does not occur and there is always a risk of adverse reactions with high doses.
Side Effects
Like all opioids, side effects are common with oxycodone. Common side effects include include nausea, constipation, lightheadedness, mental clouding and blanking of emotions. In a few patients, allergic reactions may produce a skin rash. Other side effects seen after long term use include a decreased levels of testosterone. This may result in impotence, which is reversible once the drug is stopped. Enlargement of the prostate has also been reported.
Acute overdose of Oxycodone can produce life threatening respiratory depression, skeletal muscle flaccidity, cold and clammy skin, low blood pressure and heart rate, coma, respiratory arrest, and death.
Contraindications
Oxycodone and its derivatives should be used with great caution in individuals with head trauma and meningitis.
The major concern with the use of oxycodone and its derivatives is tolerance and physical dependence which can occur after several weeks to months of use. Oxycodone has almost similar effects to morphine, and thus appeals to the same community who abuse morphine and heroin. Reports of pharmacies being broken in for oxycodone are not uncommon.
Like all opioids, oxycodone use is regulated. Thus, when it is acquired illegally, the drug is expensive on the black market. Prices for black market oxycodone may range anywhere from $25 to 50 for a 50 mg tablet. With the availlability of generic brands, the cost of a pill may range from $5-10.
To prevent abuse of oxycodone and its dervatives, newer formulatons are being developed that will prevent excessive use and limit toxicity. Remoxy is a newer drug which is currently undergoing clinical trials.
The use of Oxycodone under the guidance of physicians is generally safe and rarely causes problems. When taken with due care for short term periods, the drug is a very effective pain killer.
This article was last modified on 2/08/2007.
References
1. Gutstein, HB.; Akil, H. Opioid analgesics. In: Hardman JG, Limbird LE. , editors. In Goodman and Gilman’s The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 10th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2001.
2. Savage SR. Opioid use in the management of chronic pain. Med Clin North Am. 1999; 83:761–786.
3. Stein CS. The control of pain in peripheral tissue by opioids. N Engl J Med. 1995; 332:1685–1690.
4. Internal Analgesics and Antipyretics Table. In: Krogh CME, editor. Self-Medication Product Information. Volume 2, 4th edition. Canadian Pharmaceutical Association, 1993: 205, 207, 208, 211.
5. Oxycodone and Aspirin (Percodan-Demi, DuPont). In: PDR Physicians' desk reference. 49th ed. 1995. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Data Production Company, 1995: 958-9.
6. Beaver WT, Wallenstein SL, Rogers A, Houde RW. Analgesic studies of codeine and Oxycodone in patients with cancer I: comparisons of oral with intramuscular codeine and of oral and intramuscular Oxycodone. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1978; 207:92–100. [PubMed]
7. Kastrup EK. , editor. Drug Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, Mo: Facts and Comparisons Div, JB Lippincott Co; 2005.
This website is dedicated to providing quality chemical
dependency and addiction related resources and rehab
center listings so you can make an informed
decision that can alter the course of your life or that of your
loved one. For immediate assistance call our toll free helpline
at 800-559-9503 or you can go to our form and fill out an inquiry
and we will get back to you.
Treatment and Addiction Articles Feed
