Regardless of the reasons behind your Oxy abuse, if you have developed an addiction, this is a serious problem. Even if you’re not addicted, abusing this drug is very dangerous. You need to know the truth, and what to do if you need to get off this medication and recover.
Oxycodone is a medication that is frequently used to treat moderate to severe pain. It is an opioid drug with a high potential for addiction. Some in the medical field refer to this drug as a narcotic.
There are different types of Oxycodone. Some are meant to be taken on a regular schedule. There is also an extended release form of the medication. This allows for treatment of pain around-the-clock. People who use the extended release form usually take it once a day, and not as needed.
According to the FDA, Oxycontin is a medication that contains the active ingredient Oxycodone. This is also the generic form of this medication. This ingredient is a derivative of opium, which comes from the opium poppy plant.
If you were to take a closer look at the chemical composition of this drug, you’d see it’s related to heroin. The two are very similar, and some have even gone so far as to say that they’re essentially the same. This is one of the reasons why there is so much concern surrounding this medication. While it does help with moderate to severe pain, it’s also very addictive.
This medication must be used strictly according to doctors’ instructions. Most would agree that it should never be taken for a long period of time. However, there are some physicians who will prescribe it for chronic pain.
The appropriate use of this drug is to simply swallow the pills with water. Schedules must be adhered to in order to avoid abusing Oxycodone. Individuals should never take more than is prescribed for them. They should also never use a medication that has been prescribed for someone else.
Oxycodone has several brand names. These include:
While there may be slight differences, these medications are all essentially the same. Again, anyone using this drug should do so with caution due to its highly addictive nature.
While Oxycontin is a brand name of Oxycodone, they are different types of the same medication. Oxycodone is the immediate release form of the medication. Oxycontin is the extended release form. Both of these medications work to bind opioid receptors in the brain. This helps to relieve pain because it blocks those signals.
These medications may be given under different circumstances. Someone receiving Oxycodone most likely needs pain relief following an injury or surgery. Someone receiving Oxycontin may be suffering from a chronic disease that causes pain. This version of the drug only needs to be taken twice a day. The immediate relief version offers pain relief that lasts for up to six hours.
When it comes to Oxycodone vs. Oxycontin, both medications can be abused. Typically, Oxycodone is more frequently abused because the tablets can be crushed.
On the street, this medication may go by a number of different names. Some of the more common street names include:
According to Research Gate, this medication is widely available on the streets. Users can usually expect to pay about 1$ per milligram most places in the United States. In some cases, the immediate release version may cost a bit more.
There are several medications that are very closely related to Xtampza ER. These drugs are just as addictive, and may be sought out when Extampza ER isn’t available. They also are considered to be opioid drugs, and so the high when using them is about the same.
Fentanyl has been said to be as much as 100 times more potent than morphine. It was introduced in the mid-90s through the Duragesic patch. It provides quick pain relief for those with moderate to severe pain. In recent years, this drug has evolved. Today, there are Fentanyl lollipops, a sublingual spray and dissolving tablets available as well.
Like other opioids, Fentanyl is considered safe when it is used correctly. It’s usually not the first option for those suffering with severe pain. This is because it’s highly potent and the potential for addiction is extremely high too.
Tramadol is a much less potent opioid drug. It’s often a go-to medication for those who haven’t taken opioids in the past. It provides pain relief usually within about an hour’s time. Sometimes Tramadol is combined with acetaminophen to increase its pain relieving effectiveness.
Tramadol has been used to treat both acute and chronic pain. When people take it for too long, it can become addictive. This medication is frequently abused because it produces a euphoric high.
Hydromorphone is another opioid drug that may be substituted for Oxy. However, this medication is typically only used in hospital settings. Some people believe that the tablet form of the drug isn’t very effective for pain, or for getting high. In contrast, the IV version of the drug is quite good at relieving pain.
Hydromorphone is available on the streets. The tablets can also be dissolved in water and injected for a high that’s similar to the IV form of the drug.
Codeine is another popular medication that’s considered an opiate. However, this one has a few additional uses besides pain. It’s also given to help with diarrhea in those who suffer with it chronically. Codeine is a useful addition to cough medicine because it helps with pain, and it can eliminate coughing.
Because codeine is an opiate medication, it can be addictive when it is misused. This is what draws people to it. Taking it excessively can create a euphoric high. Codeine is often altered or taken with other drugs or alcohol to enhance its effects.
This medication is a mixture of Oxycodone HCl and aspirin. It is used to treat moderate to severe pain. This drug was once quite popular until Percocet was placed on the market. Percocet replaces the aspirin in Percodan with acetaminophen. This is quite beneficial because Percodan has been associated with excessive bleeding post-surgery.
Even so, this medication is still used, and it can be found on the street. When necessary, it’s often used when straight Oxy is not available.
Read great recovery stories, learn about the latest treatments, and find out how addiction affects yourself and your loved ones in our blog.
Read Our BlogWhen Oxaydo is used only short-term, and it’s used appropriately, there aren’t any serious risks. This medication can be used safely to control pain as long as it’s taken in the right doses. However, when it’s not taken appropriately, it becomes very dangerous.
While it may take some time for most of these to develop, they need to be taken into consideration. Anyone who uses this drug for too long is at risk of experiencing these complications. Of course, the medication can be fatal if it’s used with benzos or alcohol even one time.
Roxicodone is a prescribed medication, and most people intend to take it as they should. Abusing Roxicodone frequently happens accidentally. People often don’t realize how addictive it is. Once they take it for a while, it can stop being as effective as it once was. As a way to compensate for that, they’ll take more of the drug than they should.
Of course, there are also individuals who will abuse Roxicodone for fun. They’ll get it either through a prescription or by buying it on the street. At first, they may simply take higher doses of the medication. However, after some time goes by, they might start experimenting with other ways to take it. They may crush the pills or grind them up and then snort them. Sometimes they’ll dissolve the pills in water or another liquid and then inject them into a vein.
Increasing your dosage of Roxicodone for pain relief purposes seems harmless. Likewise, abusing this drug recreationally seems as though it won’t do any lasting damage. Aside from the physical and mental risks associated with abusing Roxicodone, both situations can lead to addiction.
Taking Oxycontin in large doses, or abusing it in some other way will lead to a euphoric high. This is what keeps people using it; especially when they’re doing so recreationally. It makes them feel calm and relaxed. It can cause them to forget all about their problems; at least for a little while.
There are actually a lot of Oxycodone addiction forums that discuss this high in great detail. Users on websites like Erowid and Bluelight go into great detail discussing the best way to use it. It’s definitely a desirable feeling that creates a lot of pleasure. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be the drug of choice for so many people.
Yes, you can get addicted to Oxy, and many people do. More often that not, they don’t intend to form addictions to this drug. They’re simply people who were looking to relieve their pain. After some time has gone by, they’re just not able to stop taking it.
For these individuals, if they don’t have their medication, they don’t feel like themselves. They may begin to experience withdrawals without it, and withdrawing from Oxy is very difficult. Taking this drug is the only way that they can get relief from their symptoms.
According to WebMD, Oxycontin is considered to be one of the most addictive opioid drugs on the market. It can even lead to addiction in those who take it as prescribed for short periods of time. Of course, this probably isn’t the case for most people who use it appropriately.
Sometimes people feel that they can handle using a drug without forming a dependence on it. That might be the way that you have always felt as well. Please be warned. This is not a drug that you should ever take lightly. It is highly addictive, and abusing it can easily lead to an addiction.
If you have been misusing Oxycodone, you could quickly develop an opioid addiction. This is different from abuse because you begin to feel like you can’t go without the drug at all. For people who abuse this medication, they’re able to take it briefly and then stop. They don’t feel the need to use it all the time.
This is not the case for those with opioid addictions. These types of addicts become obsessed with their medication. They may need to take it daily on a regular schedule. They may panic if they think that they’re going to run out of it. It becomes one of the most important parts of their lives.Â
There are so many Oxycodone addiction stories online that you can research if you choose to. You’ll see what a devastating impact this medication has had for so many people. A lot of them never thought they would ever become addicted to a prescription drug. Once they did, they were forced to deal with the consequences of it.
If you suspect that you are addicted to Oxy, you need to find out for sure. It’s tempting to continue to live in denial because deep down, you’re sure this could never happen to you. Please be assured that it can, and it often does.
It might be helpful for you to take a look at some of the more common signs of Oxy addiction. This might help you understand your relationship with this medication more clearly.
You could be addicted to Oxy if you:
There are also some behavioral signs of Oxy addiction you can look for as well. These include:
Sometimes people will even resort to stealing the drug from pharmacies because they’re so desperate. Any of these signs are indicators that your use of this drug has become a problem. You could have an addiction. While that’s a hard reality to face, it’s important for you to consider the possibility.
One way that you might want to consider determining if you’re an addict is by taking a quiz. This prescription drug addiction quiz might be very beneficial to you. All you need to do is answer the questions and fill out your email address. The page will immediately show you your results.
Please know that this quiz is no substitution for getting an actual diagnosis about your condition. However, it can point you in the right direction. You’ll get a recommendation right after you finish it. Please follow the instructions. If you’re addicted to Oxycontin, you should take action right away to get help. It’s really the only way that you can successfully recover.
Prescription Drug Addiction QuizIt’s typically to feel like you’re all alone in your addiction. So many people feel that way. They truly believe that no one else in the world is suffering the way that they are. Please know that this is not true at all. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the statistics tell a very different story.
The number of prescriptions for opioid pain relievers has skyrocketed in the last 25 years. Prescriptions have increased from 76 million in 1991 to close to 207 million in 2013.
People in the United States consume 81% of the world’s Oxycodone. In 2008, there were more than 305,000 emergency room visits related to opiate misuse.
In 1997, only 1% of all treatment admissions were because of prescribed opiates. By 2007, they made up 5% of all treatment admissions.
Clearly, this is a problem that isn’t going away by itself. The same is true for your addiction. It won’t work to pretend that you’re not addicted. It also won’t work to hope that someday you won’t feel like using any more. Once you have an addiction, the only way to stop it is to get professional help.
For families, finding out that a loved one is abusing Oxaydo is devastating. They almost feel paralyzed, and as though there’s really nothing that they can do. Perhaps you suspect that someone you love is using this medication. However, you’re not really sure how to tell.
You may also find extra pill bottles around your home. They might be full, or they could be empty. It’s typical for pain reliever addicts to hide their empty pill bottles. This helps to ensure that no one will find out about their addictions.
It’s important to know what to do if you suspect an Oxy addiction. Remember, doing nothing at all isn’t going to help the problem. There are a few different steps you can take.
The first step is to have a conversation with your family member. You need to go about this carefully, but you also need to be firm. Start by stating how much you love them, and how concerned you are about their use of this drug. Tell them that you’ve noticed some big changes in their behavior and how they’ve been feeling lately. You should also mention that you believe this to be connected to their Oxy use.
Your conversation may be met with some animosity. Your loved one could get angry or start making excuses. Be sure to ask them to get help for their Oxy addiction, and offer to assist them in making arrangements. More often than not, they will refuse.
If they refuse, the next step is to schedule an intervention. This is a meeting that is usually very effective at encouraging people to go to treatment.
By this time, you may have come to terms with the idea that you have an addiction. Whether you were abusing Xtampza purposefully or not, you need to get help to beat it.
You basically have two different options available to you if recovery is your goal. One is more desirable than the other. You can choose to quit on your own, or you can opt for professional Oxycodone rehab. Let’s take a closer look at these options in more detail.
Quitting Oxycontin cold turkey is a bad idea for a few different reasons. The biggest reason is because you’re not likely to do so successfully. More often that not, these types of quit attempts fail due to withdrawing from the drug. It’s very likely that the symptoms will be too much for you to deal with on your own.
This is problematic for two reasons. First of all, you could be inadvertently teaching yourself that you need Oxycontin in order to be OK. Your addicted mind already thinks that about this drug. If you relapse, you’re only reinforcing this false idea. Secondly, relapsing on Oxycontin puts you at serious risk for an overdose, which can be fatal.
Because Oxycodone is an opioid drug, you should expect to go through the typical opioid withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms usually start off being mild, and then they increase in their severity.
Some of the more common opioid withdrawal symptoms are:
If you’ve ever missed a dose of your medication before, you may think that you know what to expect. However, these symptoms will become much worse before they begin to improve.
When it comes to opioid medications, the risk of overdosing on them is high with cold turkey quitting. This is because once you stop taking them, your tolerance levels change significantly. This means that it would take a much smaller dose in order to get you high.
The problem is that most people don’t realize that this is happening. When they relapse, they go back to using the same amount they were previously. That old dosage is too much for their bodies to handle, and an overdose is the result.
In the event of an Oxycodone overdose, you might experience:
If you suspect that someone you love has overdosed on Oxycontin, acting quickly is vital. Overdoses can be fatal, so call 911 right away. They can administer medications like Naloxone, which may save your loved one’s life.
The severity of withdrawing from opiates is one reason why detoxing is so important. This is done in a professional setting, and it helps people stop taking their medications safely.
There are so many toxins that accumulate in the body with the use of opioid drugs. These toxins take some time to be processed out. Opioid detox helps that process along. It can make it happen faster, and it can keep you feeling more comfortable as it happens.
There are a few different ways in which opiate detox is usually done. The first step is usually to taper the medication down slowly. This helps to prevent any severe withdrawal symptoms. It can also save the individual from any medical complications that could arise.
Tapering should only be done by qualified medical professionals. This ensures that it’s being done properly, and at the right rate for each individual person.
Either during tapering or afterwards, you will go through another method of detox. You could be given medical detox, which involves taking medications to help with your withdrawal symptoms. You could also be given a more holistic regimen of detoxification. This would involve making dietary changes and making sure you’re getting enough exercise. Other lifestyle changes may be implemented as well.
The right detox method will be discussed with you prior to starting your treatment. The most important thing you can do is to go through this process. It will help you tremendously in the long run.
Once you have gone through detox, a good rehab program is the next step. Your physical addiction to this medication may be strong. However, you shouldn’t underestimate your psychological addiction. Roxicodone is a powerful medication, and mentally, you believe that you need it. It’s important to find a treatment center that will address this part of your addiction.
You’ll find that many forms of therapy will be implemented during this process. You’ll work with a counselor during individual therapy sessions. You’ll also have group therapy, family therapy, and other forms of treatment as well.
Like most people, you may be very skeptical about how effective rehab will be. This is typical, and you’re right to be concerned. After all, you will be devoting a lot of your time to your recovery. You want to be sure that it’s going to work.
Between 40% and 60% of individuals who get the proper care recover long-term. For those who relapse afterwards, it’s possible that they didn’t receive high quality care.
In order to ensure your recovery works for you, you need to choose the right rehab center. This means finding one that will provide you with a treatment plan that is created just for you. Your needs should be addressed during your stay. If they are, your chances of recovering successfully go up.
The best way to not get addicted to Oxycodone is to never start taking it in the first place. However, it might be too late for you. If you are currently taking this medication, but you don’t have an addiction, it’s not too late to stop.
You could start by having a conversation with your doctor. Talk with him or her about other options for pain relief. Also, it might benefit you to talk with a counselor about your Oxycodone abuse.
There really is no specific length of time that it might take to form an addiction to opiates. Everyone is different. Some people may become addicted within a few weeks with regular doses. Others might need to heavily abuse the drug for several months.
It is possible to form an addiction to Oxycontin when you’re taking very small doses of it. Again, everyone is different. If you don’t tolerate opioids very well, you could form an addiction to Oxycontin 10mg. For someone else, they might need to take a lot more.
Whether you’ve been taking this drug short-term or long-term, you’ll experience its side effects. With short-term use, you can expect:
As you may have guessed, with long-term use of Oxycodone, the side effects become much worse. Some of the long-term effects include:
These side effects are all the more reason for you to get help if you’re addicted to this drug. The right kind of assistance can help you avoid the dangers of Oxycodone.
You may be ready to take the necessary steps to recover right now. If that’s the case, here at Northpoint Recovery, we want you to know that we can help you.
We offer both Oxycodone detox and rehab programs. Our services are very detailed and tailored to what you need. Above all, we want you to be successful in your recovery from this addiction. With our support, we’re confident that you can overcome it.
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