OxyContin Addiction: What to Know About Oxycodone Addiction

What Is Oxycodone Used For?

Oxycodone is a strong pain management drug used to treat discomfort after medical procedures. The drug typically prescribed is Oxycontin, which contains a large dose of oxycodone that is gradually released into the system over 12 hours.

Oxycodone (by way of the Oxycontin drug) is commonly used to ease the following types of pain:

• Post-Surgical Pain: Used to help manage pain in patients after surgeries like hip replacements, organ surgeries, invasive dental surgeries, & more.
• Chronic Pain Management: Used to help manage chronic pain like arthritis, severe back pain, etc.
• Cancer Pain: Many individuals battling cancer require pain relief for things like tumor-related pain, inflammatory pain, post-surgical pain, bone pain, & more.

While there are a great number of benefits to this drug for pain management in a medically supervised/prescribed setting, oxycodone belongs to the opioid family of drugs, meaning that it has a high potential for addiction.

In many cases, addiction can develop even under the supervision of a prescribing physician, making it incredibly important to reach out for help if you or a loved one are struggling with oxycodone or Oxycontin addiction.

Oxycontin Addiction Symptoms

Taking opioids like oxycodone causes tolerance to form rapidly. This will diminish the effects of OxyContin. If you take more OxyContin or more frequent doses of the opioid in order to counteract tolerance, this will accelerate the development of dependence. Becoming physically dependent on oxycodone will lead to the presentation of intense withdrawal symptoms if you discontinue use.

OxyContin addiction can develop quickly, with the risk rising sharply after one month of use. The risk of OxyContin addiction is further heightened if you use more than one opioid like OxyContin.

The main factors that influence the development of OxyContin addiction and the rate at which it develops include:

• OxyContin dosage: The amount of OxyContin you are prescribed, and the route of administration can heighten the risk of opioid use disorder developing. If you use more OxyContin than prescribed, this will hasten the onset of opioid use disorder.
• Frequency of OxyContin use: Taking frequent doses of OxyContin can also increase the risk of opioid addiction developing.
• History of substance abuse or mental health conditions: Those with a history of substance abuse issues will be at increased risk of developing OxyContin addiction. Individuals with a history of mental health issues are also at heightened risk of becoming addicted to OxyContin.

If you are concerned about oxycodone addiction, consult your prescribing physician.

Clinical Diagnosis

OxyContin addiction is clinically diagnosed as opioid use disorder according to the criteria in DSM-5-TR. DSM-5-TR is the revised text of the fifth edition of APA’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. This benchmark diagnostic tool contains the diagnostic criteria for substance use disorders (drug addictions) including opioid use disorder.

These are the eleven symptoms of opioid use disorder:

1. Are you spending lots of time obtaining and using OxyContin, recovering from its effects?
2. Have you tried and failed to moderate or discontinue use of OxyContin?
3. Have you often taken more OxyContin than planned, or have you used OxyContin for longer than intended?
4. Have you experienced intense cravings for OxyContin?
5. Are you neglecting personal and professional commitments as a result of OxyContin use?
6. Are you continuing to use OxyContin even though it is causing problems in your personal relationships?
7. Has tolerance to OxyContin developed so that you require more of the opioid to achieve the same effects?
8. Are you spending less time doing things you once enjoyed in favor of using OxyContin?
9. Have you used OxyContin in potentially hazardous situations?
10. Have you experienced withdrawal symptoms when the effects of OxyContin subside?
11. Are you still using OxyContin even though it is causing or worsening a mental or physical health condition?

OxyContin addiction (opioid use disorder) is diagnosed according to the number of criteria that present as mild (2 to 3 criteria), moderate (4 to 5 criteria), or severe (6 criteria or more).

Signs Of Addiction

OxyContin addiction signs will vary from person to person. Some markers for opioid abuse may be detectable soon after the initiation of opioid therapy. Other signs may not become apparent for months.
If you notice a cluster of these signs in a loved one, monitor for the development of addiction in the form of opioid use disorder.

These signs may indicate OxyContin abuse:

• Mood Swings
• Weight Loss
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Lowered personal hygiene standards
• Reduction in fitness levels and activity
• Isolating behaviors
• Drowsiness
• Impaired coordination
• Doctor shopping to obtain more OxyContin

Side Effects of Oxycontin

• Sweating
• Appetite loss
• Itching
• Nausea and vomiting
• Constipation
• Headaches
• Dry mouth
• Fatigue

If OxyContin is abused, there is a risk of respiratory depression and seizure. Other side effects of opioid abuse may include:

• Confusion
• Unusual thoughts
• Anxiety
• Abnormal dreams
• Depression
• Insomnia
• Agitation
• Hallucinations
• Depersonalization

Long-Term Side Effects

If you need to take opioids like OxyContin long-term, you are likely to develop physical dependence on opioids. This means that dosage may need to be increased to manage pain over time.

A long-term effect of OxyContin in some people is hyperalgesia – heightened sensitivity to pain. If this occurs, consult your physician so that your dose can be tapered gradually to mitigate these symptoms.

Perhaps the most damaging of the long-term effects of oxycontin is addiction in the form of opioid use disorder.

Short-Term Side EFfects

The short term effects of OxyContin are much less damaging, even though they are aggravating. They may include:

• Itchiness
• Rash
• Sickness
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Stomach discomfort
• Drowsiness
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Vertigo
• Headache
• Confusion

OxyContin Withdrawal

If you have been using oxycodone products like OxyContin long-term, it is probable that you are physically dependent on the substance. When you moderate or discontinue use, uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms will present.

OxyContin withdrawal symptoms are a physical and psychological response from your system as it struggles to cope in the absence of opioids.

Factors such as the scope and severity of OxyContin abuse will influence the onset and duration of OxyContin withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms will typically manifest from six hours to thirty hours after the last use.

Complications from dehydration, vomiting, and diarrhea can be dangerous in a non-clinical environment. There is also a high risk of relapse during home detox. Oxycontin withdrawal treatment at a supervised opioid detox will mitigate the intensity of OxyContin cravings and withdrawal symptoms, while also providing continuous clinical and emotional care.

Withdrawal Symptoms

Oxycontin withdrawal symptoms include:

• Anxiety
• Agitation
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Muscle aches
• Abdominal cramping
• Sweating
• Tearing
• Dilated pupils
• Insomnia
• Runny nose

Detox Program

OxyContin detox is the first vital stage in the recovery process, and it is always advisable to withdraw from oxycodone under medical supervision.

An OxyContin detox program can help in the following ways:

• Addressing physical dependence on OxyContin
• Streamlining OxyContin withdrawal
• Identifying and monitoring underlying medical conditions
• Preventing relapse by reducing the intensity of withdrawal symptoms and by providing a bridge to ongoing therapy
• Offering education about relapse and overdose during early recovery
• Enabling MAT (medication-assisted treatment) for OxyContin addiction in ongoing treatment

OxyContin Abuse Treatment

The most effective Oxycontin drug rehab involves a combination of FDA-approved medications and behavioral interventions.

Detox addresses the issue of physical dependence on OxyContin. Ongoing treatment allows you to tackle the psychological component of opioid use disorder. What happens during OxyContin treatment, then?

What Happens During Treatment?

OxyContin addiction treatment can be a life-saving intervention for many struggling with it, as this dependence can be challenging to unpack. The overarching goals of OxyContin addiction treatment include improving both physical and mental health while encouraging ongoing abstinence from opioids.

Treatment begins with detox, a process that typically lasts for one week. Treatment then continues in an inpatient or outpatient setting.

MAT (medication-assisted treatment) is proven effective for treating opioid use disorders like OxyContin addiction. MAT is likely to be a central component of most people in recovery from OxyContin addiction. Methadone or Suboxone may be effective for alleviating the intensity of withdrawal symptoms during OxyContin detox. Methadone may also be beneficial throughout ongoing treatment for opioid addiction.

Medication-assisted treatment will be combined with behavioral interventions like counseling and CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy). You will learn how to identify what triggers you into using opioids. You will also discover how to implement positive coping mechanisms, guiding you toward the positive behavioral change you can achieve by moving beyond opioids.

Our Partners

We Accept All Major Insurance

Drug and alcohol rehab should be accessible to everyone. At Gratitude Lodge, we work with all major insurance plans to cover the costs of treatment.

Our Oxycontin Rehab

If you need Oxycontin addiction treatment, we can help you at Gratitude Lodge in Southern California. We have pet-friendly rehabs located in San Diego, Long Beach, and Newport Beach.

All Gratitude Lodge treatment centers offer supervised medical detox programs. Take advantage of this to withdraw from OxyContin at our accredited opioid detox center. You can then move directly into ongoing treatment. Choose from the following treatment programs:

• 30-day inpatient program (residential rehab)
• IOP (intensive outpatient program)
• Dual diagnosis treatment program