The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that, of patients who received prescriptions for Oxycontin and drugs like it, 1 in 4 are currently battling an opioid or oxycodone addiction. Of all 2016 deaths from opioid overdoses in the US, more than 40 percent involved a prescription opioid. In fact, the CDC says prescription opioids are part of overdoses that kill more than 46 people every single day, highlighting just how common oxycodone addiction really is

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), prescriptions for opioid pain relievers including oxycodone and oxycontin shot up from 76 million to almost 207 million between 1991 and 2013. NIDA also found that the US is the world’s biggest consumer of hydrocodone, responsible for consuming almost 100 percent of all doses worldwide. America’s ongoing oxycodone addiction cost our nation $504 billion in 2015 alone, based on figures from the White House Council of Economic Advisors.

Oxycodone Addiction and Risks

Oxycodone addiction is a serious problem, but long before dependence and addiction occur, there are serious health risks associated with taking oxycodone and other opioids. While overdose and death are, of course, the biggest health concerns connected to oxycodone use, particularly because even chronic users can easily overdose, even the drug’s regular side effects and health outcomes can be serious.

Even when you follow the doctor’s orders, you might experience quite a few disturbing side effects with oxycodone. Some of the most common mental/emotional side effects that come with taking oxycodone as directed include: a disproportionate sense of calm or relaxation that throws your mood and judgment off. Some of the most common physical side effects inherent to prescribed doses include: unusual drowsiness, fatigue, or sleepiness; constipation; dizziness; dry mouth; headache; itching; lack of physical strength; nausea; sweating; and vomiting.

Less common side effects for prescribed doses are even more problematic. Mentally and emotionally you may experience anxiety; disturbing dreams; and mood disturbance, an even greater disproportionate feeling of well-being that causes you to be unable to make good decisions. Physical side effects may include: acidic stomach, indigestion, or heartburn; belching; a burning feeling in the stomach or chest; hiccups; sleep disturbance; stomach discomfort, pain, tenderness, or upset; and weight loss.

Rarer side effects that still happen to significant numbers of people who take opioids as directed include: absent, irregular, or missed menstrual periods; bad aftertaste; bloating, excess gas; body aches or pain; changes in taste, vision, voice, walking and/or balance; clumsiness or unsteadiness; congestion; tooth decay; difficulty speaking; dry skin, red, swollen skin, or scaly skin; headache, severe; hearing loss, tinnitus, or audio hallucinations; hyperventilation; inability to stay awake;

inflammation or swelling of the mouth or glands in the neck; involuntary motor body movements; loss of body heat, energy, memory, or strength; muscle pain, stiffness, or weakness; neck pain; serious mood disturbances including crying, depersonalization, depression, disconnect from reality, irritability, overreacting, paranoia, rapid mood swings, and restlessness; and sexual dysfunction including decreased interest in sex, inability to get or maintain an erection.

Oxycodone / Oxycontin Withdrawal in Focus

Oxycodone is actually OxyContin’s active ingredient, and it’s also the same molecule used in several other prescription painkillers such as Percocet. Each of these drugs works the same way: they block pain receptors and alter the levels of dopamine in the brain to produce feelings of euphoria. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, a chemical that relays messages to and from the brain and other parts of the central nervous system (CNS). Dopamine tells the brain that everything is great, and it should feel relaxed and happy. As the opioid receptors throughout the central nervous system are activated, blood pressure drops, heart rate slows, respiration eases, and the body’s temperature cools.

Over time, people who use oxycodone or OxyContin develop tolerance, just like users of heroin or any other opioid. That means they need higher and higher doses just to achieve the same effect. Once oxycodone dependence or OxyContin dependence develops, quitting the drugs can cause oxycodone withdrawal or OxyContin withdrawal symptoms. As people begin experiencing the severity of their withdrawal symptoms, their brains urge them to use again—the body’s desperate attempt to cease the pain of withdrawal. This is why so many users fail during their attempts to detox and need to keep using just to feel “okay” or “normal” and stave off withdrawal symptoms.

Once the brain becomes accustomed to oxycodone, whether in OxyContin or some other drug, it gets used to the continuous stimulation of these chemical messengers attaching to their receptors. As a result, your body and brain start to expect the drug and its effects, and crave them. Just quitting without a medically-based plan of action can seriously disrupt the user’s entire body and central nervous system. A multitude of side effects, both psychological and physical, will manifest themselves with oxycodone withdrawal and OxyContin withdrawal.

Physical symptoms of oxycodone withdrawal and OxyContin withdrawal, like withdrawal from other opioid drugs, can feel a lot like having an extremely bad case of the flu: blurred vision, body aches, chills, coughing, diarrhea, dilated pupils, fatigue, fever, frequent yawning, goose bumps, headaches, muscle aches, nausea, rapid heartbeat, reduced appetite, restlessness, a runny nose, shaking, stomach cramps, sweating, teary eyes, tremors, and vomiting are all to be expected.

For those who have more severe physical oxycodone dependence or OxyContin dependence, more serious side effects such as irregular heart rate, high blood pressure, and difficulty breathing may also occur.

Psychological side effects of oxycodone withdrawal and OxyContin withdrawal can be even more daunting than the physical aspects of the process. These symptoms may include: agitation, anxiety, compelling cravings, depression, general malaise, insomnia, irritability, mental “fog”, suicidal thoughts, and extreme difficulty concentrating.

Oxycodone withdrawal and OxyContin withdrawal usually start within 8 to 12 hours of the last dose of the drug, peaking within the first 72 hours. Within roughly 7-10 days the acute physical withdrawal symptoms typically begin subsiding, although the cravings and psychological effects can persist for a significantly longer period of time.

During the first one to two days of oxycodone withdrawal and OxyContin withdrawal, the initial symptoms set in. This is the most common time to relapse. Expect muscle and joint pain, extreme sweating, and nausea. During days three to five, withdrawal symptoms are typically at their worst. In days six through ten, physical symptoms finally begin to subside, yet psychological symptoms remain more powerful than ever. Depression and anxiety are extremely common at this time. From day ten and beyond, the psychological impact of Oxycodone and Oxycontin detox remains intense, and for most users, post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) will manifest itself, and symptoms will continue for many months. Persistent, long-lasting oxycodone and OxyContin withdrawal symptoms include cognitive difficulties, fatigue, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and irritability.