OxyContin Withdrawal

Understanding OxyContin Withdrawal Effects

 

Since OxyContin is a legally prescribed drug, many addicts believe that the synthetic opioid is relatively mild. Nothing could be further from the truth. OxyContin is approximately eight times as powerful as Percocet, another heavy strength prescription semi-synthetic opioid. In addition, while Percocet pills are in some sense “stuffed” with acetaminophen to substitute for pure opioid, OxyContin contains basically just oxycodone and some filler.

 

It’s not uncommon for recuperating patients to develop physical dependencies on oxycodone. However, the situation can be measurably worsened if the patient/user ingests OxyContin inappropriately. For instance, if you crush up the OxyContin pills, thus defeating the time-release chemical mechanism, or if you freebase the drug, oxycontin withdrawal can come on more suddenly and can be complicated by other medical side effects associated with inappropriate use.

 

Understand also that OxyContin Abuse over a long period of time can physically change the brains structure and even the way your neurons respond to endogenous endorphins. In other words, withdrawing from oxycodone can precipitate changes in the brain, as well.

 

Relapse on the drug can be very dangerous. Your brain’s chemistry may have reverted back to normal, and the “high” you get off of your first relapse dose may be exaggerated and potently lethal. Obviously, once you quit OxyContin, you don’t want to relapse -- but if cravings overtake you, remember that a sober, “opioid naive” individual has far less of a tolerance to the drug than does a tolerant addict.