Oxycontin |
IInformation on
Oxycontin
Drug Facts: 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. OxyContin® contains oxycodone, the medication's active ingredient,
in a timed-release tablet. Oxycodone products have been illicitly abused for
the past 30 years. Oxycodone is a Schedule II narcotic analgesic and is widely
used in clinical medicine. It is marketed either alone as controlled release
(OxyContin®) and immediate release formulations (OxyIR®, OxyFast®),
or in combination with other nonnarcotic analgesics such as aspirin
(Percodan®) or acetaminophen (Percocet®). Unlike Percocet, whose
potential for abuse is limited by the presence of acetaminophen, OxyContin
contains only oxycodone and inert filler. The vast majority of
OxyContin-related deaths are attributed to ingesting substantial quantities of
OxyContin or ingesting OxyContin along with another depressant of the central
nervous system such as alcohol or benzodiazepines. While high doses of
oxycodone can be fatal to an opiate-naïve individual in and of itself,
this is (comparatively) rarely the case. It was once felt that "combination"
opioids (those that contain one or more additional, non-narcotic ingredients)
would be less subject to abuse, since, for example, the amount of acetaminophen
present in large overdoses of Percocet would cause stomach upset and liver
damage. However, it has been demonstrated that abusers seeking the euphoric
"high" are not deterred by these potential side effects or toxicities. Abusers
soon discovered that extremely simple methods to separate the ingredients
exist, particularly due to the widely disparate solubility of the alkaloids and
analgesics in water ("cold water extraction").
Brand Names: Endocodone®, OxyFast®, OxyIR®,
Percolone®, OxyContin®, Oxydose®, Roxicodone®, Roxicodone®
Intensol®
Oxycodone may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of
these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
-upset stomach
-constipation
-dry mouth
If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your
doctor immediately
- rapid or slow heartbeat
- trouble breathing
- hives
- skin rash
- hallucinations
- yellowing of the skin or
eyes
-
headache
-
vomiting
-
dizziness
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at
1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local
emergency services at 911.
Street Names and Mode of Use: Kicker, OC, Oxy, OX, Blue,
Oxycotton, Hillybilly Heroin. Swallowed, snorted, injected. Abusers crush the
tablets to defeat the time-release mechanism, then either ingest the resulting
powder orally, intranasally, via intravenous/intramuscular/subcutis injection,
or rectally to achieve rapid absorption into the
bloodstream.
History and Effects: The introduction in 1995 of
OxyContin® led to a marked escalation of its abuse as reported by drug
abuse treatment centers, law enforcement personnel, and health care
professionals. Although the diversion and abuse of OxyContin® appeared
initially in the eastern US, it has now spread to the western US including
Alaska and Hawaii. Oxycodone-related adverse health effects increased markedly
in recent years. In 2004, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for
marketing generic forms of controlled release oxycodone products.
Short Term Pharmacological effects include analgesia,
sedation, euphoria, feelings of relaxation, respiratory depression,
constipation, papillary constriction, and cough suppression. A 10 mg dose of
orally-administered oxycodone is equivalent to a 10 mg dose of subcutaneously
administered morphine as an analgesic in a normal population. Oxycodone's
behavioral effects can last up to 5 hours. The drug is most often administered
orally. The controlled-release product, OxyContin®, has a longer duration
of action (8-12 hours).
The most serious risk associated with opioids, including
OxyContin®, is respiratory depression. Common opioid side effects are
constipation, nausea, sedation, dizziness, vomiting, headache, dry mouth,
sweating, and weakness. Taking a large single dose of an opioid could cause
severe respiratory depression that can lead to
death.
Long Term As with most opiates, oxycodone abuse may lead
to dependence and tolerance. Acute overdose of oxycodone can produce severe
respiratory depression, skeletal muscle flaccidity, cold and clammy skin,
reduction in blood pressure and heart rate, coma, respiratory arrest, and
death.
Chronic
use of opioids can result in tolerance for the drugs, which means that users
must take higher doses to achieve the same initial effects. Long-term use also
can lead to physical dependence and addiction -- the body adapts to the
presence of the drug, and withdrawal symptoms occur if use is reduced or
stopped. Properly managed medical use of pain relievers is safe and rarely
causes clinical addiction, defined as compulsive, often uncontrollable use of
drugs. Taken exactly as prescribed, opioids can be used to manage pain
effectively
Use throughout Communities: Oxycodone has similar effects
to morphine and heroin, and appeals to the same abuse community. Armed
robberies of pharmacies where the robber demanded only OxyContin, not cash,
have occurred. In some areas, particularly the eastern U.S., OxyContin has been
the drug of greatest concern to enforcement authorities. Oxycodone abuse has
been notably problematic in Appalachia; because of this, the drug has earned
the nickname hillbilly heroin. Because oxycodone is highly regulated, when
acquired illegally it is quite expensive. Street prices in Washington, DC, for
example, have been reported to be anywhere from fifty cents to one dollar per
milligram, making it anywhere from 30 to 60 times more costly than gold, gram
for gram. Like other opioids, oxycodone can be fatal at high doses or when
combined with depressants such as alcohol. Several documented fatalities from
OxyContin abuse have been made public.
Rehabilitation: Successful rehabilitation includes a
calm, stress free environment, plenty of liquids, and replenishing of vitamins
that have been burned out of the body. Use of a mild sedative to help sleep is
often helpful, as the lack of sleep is what can cause the hallucinations. After
feeling physically better, proper rehabilitation therapy can commence that
deals with relapse prevention, dealing with the reasons the addict turned to
drugs in the first place, and any personal failings that need strengthening. It
is highly recommended that a daily routine of proper exercise, nutrition, and
rest be followed as effective relapse and craving prevention. Ideally a
cleansing program would be also administered to help rid the body of the
residual toxins that can impair health in the future and cause
cravings.
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