Oxycodone is an opioid, a narcotic pain reliever prescribed by a doctor to relieve moderate to severe pain, such as back pain or pain following surgery. Oxycodone was introduced to the United States in 1939 and is considered a controlled substance. The difference between Oxycodone and OxyContin is that the effects of OxyContin last longer, and for this reason it is usually prescribed for someone suffering from longer bouts of pain, for example someone with cancer. Oxycodone is now considered one of the most highly addictive substances because it has similar effects to heroine and morphine and is typically abused by a similar crowd of people who are, or have been addicted to those types of drugs.
If you have been prescribed this medication by a doctor, it is imperative that you use it exactly as it was directed for you and not share this medication with anyone else. There are several side effects that you may want to be prepared for:
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
- Dizziness
- Loss of appetite
- Constipation
Usually these side effects may decrease after you have been taking Oxycodone for a little while, however if they persist, it is a good idea to contact your doctor.
There are also a few side effects that are a bit more serious, and if you experience any of these, you will want to be sure to contact your doctor immediately. They are:
- Slow, fast or irregular breathing
- Slow, fast or irregular heartbeat
- Vision changes
- Mental or mood changes
- Uncontrolled muscle movement
- Severe abdominal pain
Because this medication is given for pain, it is important that you attempt to keep a diary of the different levels of pain you are experiencing. This information could be very helpful to your doctor when he is prescribing the dosage of Oxycodone to you.
If you find yourself taking more of the drug to achieve the same effects, you may want to talk to someone about it before it gets out of control. Oxycodone is very addictive and you may become dependent upon it without even knowing it. The key is to be honest with yourself and your doctor. If you are reading this article on Treatment4Addiction.com it is because you already have a concern about your use of the medication or a loved one’s use of the medication. You are on the right track. Researching the uses and possible misuses of this drug is valuable information. Don’t stop here. Keep reading, we have several referrals we can give to you, whether it is a doctor, counselor or treatment center. You have nothing to be ashamed of or afraid of. Oxycodone is a powerful pain medication that has a great use in society by relieving severe pain, but if it gets out of control, it can be deadly.