Why is Oxycodone Addictive?

Oxycodone is a potent, opiate-based medication used in the treatment of moderate to severe pain in patients. Due to the strength of this medication along with its highly addictive nature, oxycodone should only be used under close doctor supervision. As with most opiate medications, this drug is habit-forming because of its tolerance building attributes. A tolerance is when a patient needs more of a medication in order to feel the same effects as before. This tolerance that patients build towards oxycodone can cause them to misuse or overuse the medication, just to feel the same relief as they felt before.

Oxycodone Withdrawals

Another down side to oxycodone abuse is that many patients become physically dependent on the medication, meaning that their bodies feel as if they need it to function normally. When a patient becomes dependent on a substance and tries to stop taking it, they go through something called withdrawals. Withdrawals can range in severity from mild to severe, and can encompass a wide variety of symptoms. In fact, no two people experience withdrawals the same way. There is even evidence to prove that one person can have varying experiences when it comes to withdrawals and the symptoms they feel.

Some of the most common signs and symptoms of oxycodone withdrawals can include excessive sweating, insomnia, increased heart rate, irritation, depression, paranoia, diarrhea, vomiting, shakes and tremors, chills and hot flashes, body and muscle aches, intense pain throughout the body, abdominal cramps, slowed or stopped breathing, loss of appetite, and sometimes unconsciousness. Most people will only experience some of these symptoms, but not all, and others may not experience any of these at all. It all depends on the person, their level of dependency, and their body’s reaction to being without its crutch.

Oxycodone Withdrawal Treatment

It can be very dangerous, even life threatening, for a patient to try to quit using oxycodone on their own. It is highly recommended that you seek help to quit, and that you do not try to do it home alone, as you may experience difficulty breathing. However, there are oxycodone withdrawal treatment programs that can help. Oxycodone detox programs will monitor the patient in a medical setting, while they detoxify from the substance. This method is safe, but it does not minimize discomfort in any fashion. Another oxycodone withdrawal treatment that has grown in popularity in recent years is medical detox. Under medical detox, patients are cared for and monitored during the detoxification process, as well as made more comfortable by use of other medications to reduce the effect of the withdrawal symptoms. Many health insurance programs will even cover this type of treatment.