Oxycontin Addiction

OxyContin is a semisynthetic opiate prescribed for chronic or long-lasting pain. The medication’s active ingredient is oxycodone, which is also found in drugs like Percodan, Percocet and Tylox. In Oxycontin the drug is found in a potent, sustained release (time release) form containing anywhere from 10 to 160 mg of oxycodone. (The 160 mg formulation was discontinued in the U.S. in 2001). It is used to treat terminally ill cancer patients and chronic pain sufferers as well as relieving postpartum, postoperative and dental pain. OxyContin comes in liquid and tablet forms taken every 6 hours. Long-acting tablets are available to take every 12 hours.

Street terms for OxyContin: Hillbilly heroin, Oxy, Oxycotton

When taken as prescribed it works quite well for chronic, severe pain. However, because of its potency it has a high abuse potential. When people cross the line between medically indicated use and addiction, they often start to use the medication innappropriately. They may crush the tablets so that they get an acute rush. But this causes the addiction to spiral more rapidly out of control. And they also tend to take some of the medication in the long acting form as well. OxyContin tablets have a controlled-release feature and are designed to be swallowed whole. In order to bypass the controlled-release feature, abusers either chew or crush the tablets. Crushed tablets can be snorted or dissolved in water and injected.

Because of the high potency and long duration of action, Oxycontin addiction is extremely difficulty to stop on your own. The withdrawal symptoms and cravings to use again are often overwhelming. Even attempts to slightly wean down on the dose can trigger severe withdrawal symptoms and agitation.

Patients of mine have described coming off of it as worse than heroin or just about any other opiate (exception perhaps being methadone, another long acting opiate).

Even though Oxycontin (Oxycodone) addiction is a more challenging opiate addiction to treat, rest assured that in many cases it can be treated with buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex).

This drug is usually treated by detox with Subutex, as opposed to Suboxone. Because of its longer duration of action, there can be sensitivity to the naloxone present in the Suboxone formulation - which could precipitate withdrawal before you get any relief - something you do not want! Make sure you discuss this point with your buprenorphine provider.

The addiction to Oxycontin has been steadily increasing over the last several years, as reported in the following U.S. government studies:

According to the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 2.8 million persons aged 12 or older had used OxyContin nonmedically at least once in their lifetime. This is a statistically significant increase from the 1.9 million lifetime users in 2002.

A questionnaire about OxyContin was included in the 2002 Monitoring The Future Study for the first time. During 2003, 1.7% of 8th graders, 3.6% of 10th graders, and 4.5% of 12th graders reported using OxyContin within the past year. During 2004, 1.7% of 8th graders, 3.5% of 10th graders, and 5.0% of 12th graders reporting using OxyContin within the past year.

The increased ease of getting this medication over the internet - for an inflated fee and a cursory (if any!) phone consult with a physician has further fueled the increase in this addiction.

Click this link to discover the Suboxone Treatment Options offered by Dr. Gilman