Oxycodone is a pain medication that belongs to the opioid class, along with morphine, codeine, and methadone.
It can be discovered in a wide range of products, including the following:
in combination with other drugs, such as the painkillers Percocet, Oxycocet, and Endocet
independent of other factors in immediate-release (IR) medications such as Oxy-IR
OxyContin, OxyNEO, Apo-Oxycodone CR, and PMS-Oxycodone CR are examples of controlled-release (CR) medications. OxyContin, however, is no longer on the market.
OxyContin, more popularly referred to as "oxy," was first introduced in 1995 with the intention of providing long-term pain relief. This would enable patients with severe pain to take their medication less frequently. The drug OxyContin was widely prescribed, and its use was associated with abuse and addiction concerns.
When the pill was crushed, the medicine was able to be absorbed into the body more rapidly, which increased the intensity of its effects. OxyContin was withdrawn off sale in the United States in 2012, and its position on pharmacy shelves was supplanted by OxyNEO, a medication with similar effects that was more difficult to crush. However, following the expiration of OxyContin's patent, drugs that were chemically identical to the original were made available for purchase.
Difference in Percocet and Oxycodone CR
What's the difference between products that contain oxycodone-CR and those that contain Percocet?
Pain relief is provided by both Percocet and oxycodone-CR products; however, the benefits of
wear off after approximately five hours, whilst the effects of oxycodone-CR, when taken as directed, continue for around twelve hours. When a person swallows a Percocet pill, all five milligrams of oxycodone that are contained in the pill are released into the body.
Acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, is also included in Percocet; when used in excessive amounts, acetaminophen is capable of causing toxicity in the liver. Products labeled as "Oxycodone-CR" contain nothing but oxycodone. When taken exactly as directed, the effects of the medicine can be felt over the course of several hours. One tablet of oxycodone-CR can contain as much as 80 milligrams of oxycodone in Canada, which is equivalent to the quantity found in sixteen pills of Percocet.
What effects would using items containing oxycodone-CR have?
Those who endure excruciating pain may derive some benefit from using these medications in accordance with the instructions provided; but, doing so exposes users to a significant danger of experiencing unwanted side effects. If you have a low tolerance for opioids or none at all, eating oxycodone, especially more tablets than you are used to taking, could cause you to overdose on the medication. This is especially true if you are accustomed to taking a smaller amount.
The danger is increased when individuals who are seeking a "rush" tamper with the controlled release by crushing or chewing the tablet, or by smashing and pill is dissolved for injection, causing all of the oxycodone medicine substances to be delivered at once. This increases the likelihood that the individual will have adverse effects.
When used in this manner, oxycodone enables the user to:
Overdose symptoms include trouble breathing or breathing that is unusually slow, as well as excessive drowsiness. When taken in combination with other opioids, alcohol, or sedative medicines, the likelihood of experiencing an overdose from oxycodone is significantly increased. Oxycodone poisoning can cause irreversible brain damage or even result in death. If you use opioid medicines, it is recommended that you keep a naloxone kit on hand so that it can be given to you in an emergency by a member of your family or a friend. Naloxone has the ability to temporarily lessen the consequences of an overdose, so allowing for more time for medical assistance to arrive. Inquire with your physician, pharmacist, or local public health unit about the availability of naloxone kits in your area. Dial 911 immediately if you suspect that someone has taken too much oxycodone.
If you take oxycodone on a daily basis in order to get high, you will find that the drug provides you with less and less pleasure as time goes on. If you suddenly stop taking it, you will experience symptoms of withdrawal and may even become sick. Your entire life will eventually revolve around obtaining the medicine in order to maintain your health. The amount of time it takes to get to this point can vary greatly from one individual to the next, but it can also happen quite quickly.
In addition to withdrawal symptoms, using oxycodone may cause other unpleasant side effects, including constipation, sexual dysfunction, swelling, nausea, vomiting, excessive perspiration, itching, and drowsiness. These symptoms can also occur in conjunction with sleepiness.
If you inject oxycodone, you run the same risk of infection as if you injected heroin. People who share needles run the danger of contracting HIV, hepatitis, and other life-threatening illnesses, and they also run the risk of infecting other users.
You run the risk of being arrested, convicted, and receiving a criminal record if you are found in possession of oxycodone that belongs to someone person.
It may appear that taking oxycodone to "self-medicate" for physical pain or to dull emotions will make things better at first, but after you develop a tolerance to the drug, your life will become significantly more challenging as a result of your addiction.
numbs the sensations you're experiencing and hinders you from confronting the issues that are plaguing your life. When you are in need of assistance, it also makes it more difficult for you to find it.
What precautions should I take if I take oxycodone-CR products even though a doctor has not prescribed them to me?
Taking oxycodone without a prescription or in a different manner than what was given is fraught with danger. But if you do decide to take it, you can lower your chances of experiencing an overdose by doing the following:
Oxycodone should not be broken up or chewed prior to swallowing.
Oxycodone should not be broken up and snorted.
It is not safe to inject oxycodone that has been dissolved in water.
If you are not accustomed to taking opioids, you should not take oxycodone.
Oxycodone should not be taken with any other opioids, alcohol, or other sedating medicines such as Gravol and benzodiazepines (for example, Xanax, Ativan, or Valium).
Do not take oxycodone on your own, as there will be no one around to assist you in the event that you overdose.
It is not a good idea to consume oxycodone so soon after going through the withdrawal process from opiates.
If you take oxycodone, you can keep yourself safer if you avoid taking it in these ways, but it is still extremely risky to take oxycodone for which you have not been prescribed it or in a manner that deviates from the specified dosage.
Get treatment right away if, after using, you start to feel low or depressed, especially if you have thoughts that you might hurt yourself.
What should I do if I ingest oxycodone-CR items that aren't prescribed to me?
It is always dangerous to take oxycodone without a prescription or as prescribed. If you must take it, you can lessen your risk of overdose by doing the following:
Before swallowing oxycodone, do not crush or chew it.
Oxycodone should not be crushed and snorted.
Do not mix oxycodone with water and inject it.
If you aren't used to taking opioids, don't use oxycodone.
Oxycodone should not be mixed with any other opioids, alcohol, or sedative drugs like Gravol or benzodiazepines (such as Xanax, Ativan, or Valium).
Don't take oxycodone by yourself if you don't have anyone to help you if you overdose.
Don't use oxycodone just after you've gone through opioid withdrawal.
You can be safer if you avoid using oxycodone in these ways, but taking oxycodone that is not prescribed to you or taking it incorrectly is still quite harmful.
Seek immediate assistance if, after taking, you have feelings of unhappiness or depression and believe that you may hurt yourself.
How can I tell if I'm addicted to oxycodone?
Wrong.
Purchasing oxycodone on the street provides funds to criminals. They might shoplift it from pharmacies or steal it from sick relatives or other people, or they might sell the oxycodone that was legally prescribed to them. Prescription oxycodone is frequently paid for using tax resources or through private health insurance. Purchasing oxycodone that has been prescribed and paid for by our health-care system wastes money that could be used to treat sick individuals.
Oxycodone's effects make it more difficult to drive or operate machinery safely. If you drive after taking oxycodone, you are more likely to crash and injure or kill yourself or another person.
How can I tell if I'm addicted to oxycodone?
If you take oxycodone on a daily basis, your body will become accustomed to the medicine. You may be addicted if you:
To achieve the same effect, you must take increasing amounts of oxycodone.
If you stop taking oxycodone abruptly, you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as shaking, cramps, vomiting, muscle soreness, difficulty sleeping, and anxiety.
You spend so much time and money getting oxycodone that you neglect important aspects of your life.
Regardless of the troubles it produces in your life, continue to use oxycodone. If any of these things occur, you will most likely want assistance in withdrawing from oxycodone.
What should I do if I am unable to discontinue oxycodone?
There is support!
If you have attempted to stop smoking but have been unsuccessful, the first step is to see a doctor. Depending on your age, health, and medical history, your doctor may recommend opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) with methadone or buprenorphine (Suboxone) or prescribe medications to alleviate withdrawal symptoms.
You can cease using oxycodone with the aid of group support, counseling, or a stay in a drug treatment center. Avoid all other mood-altering substances, including alcohol. These techniques aid in preventing relapse (the use of hydrocodone again). Relapse following withdrawal is common and is associated with a high risk of toxicity. OMT is the greatest method of relapse prevention.
See your doctor or contact one of the organizations listed below for more information.