Oxycodone is a pain killer which belongs to a group of drugs called opioid analgesic medications. It can be prescribed under certain circumstances, but its administration carries a risk of potential addiction.
What is Oxycodone used for
The addiction is frequently reported in patients who take oxycodone for acute/chronic physical pain, depressive or traumatic psychological pain, disorders such as fibromyalgia and insomnia as well as individuals who opt for oxycodone and use it as recreational drug in order to achieve euphoria.
Since addiction to prescribed medications becomes a severe problem it is essential to estimate whether the patient is a suitable candidate for the specific drug and prescribe the drug for a short period, if this is possible. Oxycodone Addiction Clinical Characteristics
Symptoms of oxycodone addiction develop in individuals who have been taking the drug for some time, have developed addiction and then, without realizing they are addicted, chose to reduce the dose, or the dose is reduced by their physician.
The first thing they have to face is varying degree of pain. Apart from that there is a felling of panic since they got used not to feel pain but instead experience pleasure after taking the drug. Such individuals show signs of restlessness, hallucinations, disturbance in the sleep patterns, sometimes severe insomnia and muscle/joint pain which affects practically the entire body.
Additionally, there may be nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps or pain. Irritability, nervousness, mood swings and anxiety occur as well. It is also not unusual to experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, runny nose, sneezing, excessive sweating and goose bumps.
Oxycodone Addiction Treatment
It is hard to deal with any addiction. Oxycodone addiction can be especially difficult to deal with because patients are aware that once they stop using the drug, the pain may return. It is also hard to cope with all the physical problems closely connected to addiction.
The first thing one should do is to admit he/she has developed addiction. What follows is checking into a treatment program that includes detoxification of the body and removal of all the remnants of the medication. Some people try to deal with addiction by themselves. Most of them fail. This is why a specially designed program may be of great help when it comes to prescription drug addiction.
After detoxification, one is supposed to opt for counseling. By doing so he/she reduces the chance of relapse and return to addiction.
Unfortunately, it is not strange that some people who have been suffering from unbearable pain often return to their addiction because their pain simply cannot be controlled with other pain killers.
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