What is OxyContin?

OxyContin is the brand name for an opioid analgesic containing the active ingredient Oxycodone (also found in Percoset and Percodan).  OxyContin is a legal narcotic (or a controlled substance) that is available, by prescription, to treat severe pain.  OxyContin is one of several OPIUM derivatives available by prescription. It is a high potency pain killer that comes in time release tablets that last for 12 hours. OxyContin is a controlled-release medication that, when used correctly, provides extended relief of pain associated with cancer, back pain, or arthritis. However, often when the drug is abused, the tablets are crushed and snorted, chewed, or mixed with water and injected- eliminating the time-release factor and allowing for a quick and intense rush to the brain. This practice can lead to overdosing on OxyContin's active ingredient, oxycodone, by releasing too much of the medication into the bloodstream too quickly.  OxyContin is highly addictive - so higher doses of the drug must be taken when a tolerance develops. Illicit users of the drug have risen drastically and steadily over the last few years. 

What are the street names?

OxyContin is also known as Oxy, OxyCotton, Oxy 80 (for the 80mg dose), or OC, Oxies, Killers, Oceans, O's, OxyCoffins, Hillbilly Heroin

What does OxyContin look like?

OxyContin most commonly exists in tablet form.  These round pills come in 10mg, 20mg, 40mg, and 80mg dosages.  OxyContin also comes in capsule of liquid form.

How is it taken?

When used correctly, prescribed patients take the pill orally every 12 hours as needed (most pain relievers last only 3-6 hours).  Those who abuse OxyContin remove the time-release coating on the pills.  Often the pills are crushed and the powder is snorted, chewed, or cooked to inject. 

Why is it a problem?

People have figured out that if you chew/crush or snort the tablet that you bypass the time release feature and it will give you a high much like high grade heroin but with worse consequences. Most people are actually not aware of the heroin link and do not realize how dangerous this drug is; 5mg of Oxy has has as much active ingredient (oxycodone) as one percocet.  Chewing/snorting a 40mg OXY is like taking 8 percocets at once or a 80mg Oxy is like taking 16 percocets all at once but worse because percocets dissolve over 4 hours, but crushing an Oxy immediately puts all of the narcotic in your system. Again people just don't realize what they are putting into their system from one little pill.

Can a person legally prescribed OxyContin become addicted?

Any narcotic/opiate used legally has the potential to lead to addiction. The CT Attorney General has stated the addiction rate is around 13%, for more information on Message Board -- BrainTalk Communities - Neurology Support Groups Search Page.

How do you kick an OxyContin addiction?

Just like heroin it is almost impossible to do alone as the withdrawal symptoms are worse than heroin and last longer. Professional help from a heroin detox center is the best and safest way to do this, see Detox Specialist.

How much will cause an overdose?

Everyone's body is different but as little as half a pill when combined with alcohol or other depressants can lower your respiratory system enough to kill you. Taken in high doses  OxyContin alone can kill you.

Short-term effects?

The most serious risk associated with OxyContin, is respiratory depression.  Because of this, OxyContin should not be combined with other substances that slow down breathing, such as alcohol, antihistamines (like some cold or allergy medication), barbiturates, or benzodiazepines.  Other common side effects include constipation, nausea, sedation, dizziness, vomiting, headache, dry mouth, sweating, and weakness. Toxic overdose and/or death can occur by taking the tablet broken, chewed, or crushed.  People who abuse the drug (by removing the time-release coating) will experience effects for up to 5 hours.   The high that is felt is opiate-like - a sedate, euphoric feeling. 

Long-term Effects?

Using OxyContin chronically can result in increased tolerance to the drug in which higher doses of the medication must be taken to receive the initial effect.  Over time, OxyContin will be come physically addictive, causing a person to experience withdrawal symptoms when the drug is not present.  Symptoms of withdrawal include restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps, and involuntary leg movements. 

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