OxyContin

OxyContin was first made available to patients in 1995. It is made from oxycodone, with chemicals added to slow the release of the pain relief, making the affects of the drug last longer. It is a schedule II pain reliever, meaning that a prescription is necessary for the medication. It is a narcotic, and similar to morphine.

OxyContin is generally prescribed for moderate to severe pain relief. It may also decrease anxiety, cause relaxation, and provide a feeling of euphoria. Side effects include constipation, dizziness, and respiratory depression. There are no definite dosage restrictions for OxyContin, but patients are given the least amount that they need to feel relief. The maximum dosage that a patient can take is set by the side effects. Too much OxyContin can cause respiration to stop.

Because of its ability to cause relaxation and feelings of euphoria, OxyContin can cause addiction. Most patients who are prescribed OxyContin are in excruciating pain, and this pain reliever can provide much needed relief. The level of relief increases when more OxyContin is taken, so some users will take what they need for pain, and then take a little bit more just to feel good. This practice can quickly lead to addiction. Regular use of OxyContin can cause a person to become tolerant of the drug. They will then need to take a greater number of pills to feel the same effects.

The street names for OxyContin include Killers, Oxy, OC, Oxycotton, Hillbilly Heroin, Kicker, and Blue. OxyContin can be crushed up and either inhaled or dissolved in water and injected. Caplets can be chewed, allowing the user to feel the effects more quickly. The medicine is meant to be slowly released as the pills dissolve. Taking all of the medicine at once is dangerous, releasing a much higher amount of medicine into the body all at once. This can cause severe side effects or even death.

Withdrawal from OxyContin can be agonizing. Symptoms can include diarrhea, hot and cold sweats, nausea and vomiting, and uncontrollable coughing. There is severe pain in the muscles and joints, along with fatigue, insomnia, and depression. OxyContin withdrawal has been compared to heroin withdrawal, and can make it almost impossible to quit.

There are a few options for the treatment of an OxyContin addiction. Taking less medication each day is one option, but this is considered the hardest way to do it. Most addicts require treatment from an addiction treatment center where they will go through a supervised rehabilitation program. The worst of the rehab happens in the first week or two, and then counselors and medical staff will work with the patient to keep them from returning to their OxyContin addiction. Therapy will be available, both individually and in group sessions. Many treatment centers also offer family therapy programs, helping the patient’s family learn to support the recovering addict.

With time, an OxyContin addict can return to a normal life. It may take months or even a year or two, but it is possible for an addict to overcome this addiction and get their life back. A support system outside of the rehab facility is one of the most important tools that a recovering addict can have available to them. A recovering addict may still experience cravings for OxyContin on occasion, but with support, it is possible to leave this addiction behind.

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