Oxycontin Use and Abuse

Oxycontin is a powerful opiate medication used in the treatment of moderate to severe pain in patients. It is often prescribed after trauma or surgery and is typically prescribed for chronic ailments. This medication is used for around-the-clock pain management in patients suffering with chronic pain. As an opiate, Oxycontin is habit-forming and should only be taken as directed by a healthcare professional. It is very dangerous to mix this medication with other medicines, alcohol or illicit drugs, as these interactions can lead to death. It is very dangerous to take this medication in a way that was not intended, as overuse can cause overdose and misuse can lead to addiction.

Tolerance occurs when an individual has to take more of a medication just to get the same effects as they felt before. This need to increase the dosage can cause an individual to unintentionally overdose on the medication. If you notice that the medication is not working for your pain, please talk to your doctor right away, so that he can decide what is right for you. Doing so might be the difference between enjoying a healthy life and nursing a terrible addiction.

Oxycontin Withdrawals

Once a patient becomes physically dependent on Oxycontin, they will experience withdrawals if they try to stop taking it. These withdrawals can encompass a wide variety of symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, shakes, chills, sleeplessness, agitation, profuse sweating, muscle and body pain, and depression. Oxycontin withdrawals are typically uncomfortable and painful, but are usually not life threatening. However, complications can arise, so it is recommended that detox is performed where you can be monitored, even if it is at home by a friend.

Oxycontin Withdrawals Treatment

You don’t have to do it alone, because there is treatment available for Oxycontin withdrawals. The most commonly thought of treatment is your basic detox program. This option offers you monitoring, for safety, but little else. No medication is given to ease discomfort and no other type of treatment is required. There is also a treatment called medical detox, where you can receive medication to help ease symptoms while safely detoxing at a facility where you are monitored. This option is even covered by many insurance companies. In recent years there have been additional treatments established that work to pinpoint the opiate receptors and effectively remove the addiction, but these are of course more costly and more difficult to locate in a facility near you.