The Signs Of OxyContin Addiction

OxyContin, also known as OXY, OC, or Oxycotton is a very powerful oral prescription pain reliever that is used to both moderate and severe pain. While this pain medication is legitimately prescribed in the United States of America, some people might become addicted to it. Due to its highly addictive nature, it is important for people to get an understanding of the signs of OxyContin addiction. People who abuse OxyContin might develop tolerance to it after repeated exposure, making the user to take higher doses of OxyContin to attain the preferred effects. If the addicts skip a dose of medication, they might begin to experience withdrawal symptoms.

Very rarely will you get a person that intentionally sets out to use OxyContin. Most likely, there is a condition where the drug is prescribed to a person, a tolerance develops and then addiction follows. Generally, OxyContin is prescribed to individuals who have tenacious pain. What makes this drug a bit different from others in the same class is that it contains a time-release agent which disperses the drug in one's body over a period of twelve hours. There are many signs of OxyContin addiction some of which are looked at below.

A common sign of addiction to OxyContin is bone or muscle pain. Individuals who abuse this drug might complain of bone and muscle pain, particularly if they have run out of medication or missed a dose. Users might appear weak or might be unable to carry out daily activities that were easy for them to complete before. Additional muscular symptoms like frequently involuntary leg movement or twitching might be a sign than one has an OxyContin addiction.

Another sign of OxyContin addiction is breathing problems. People with this addiction might experience several breathing issues. You might notice a reduction in the number of breaths taken by an user each minute. In certain people, breathing might be labored or shallow. Physical activities such as running and walking up stairs might be very hard for the user to carry out without severe breathing problems. In severe addiction cases, OxyContin might result to respiratory arrest in some individuals.

Skin changes are also common among OxyContin addicts. Research shows that these addicts might develop goose bumps on their skin or experience random cold flashes. Such signs might happen even in warm environments. Addicts' hands might be abnormally clammy, sweaty and cold. Some OxyContin addicts might experience insomnia, which is a chronic condition that makes an individual incapable of falling asleep. OxyContin addicts might go for a number of days without sleeping or might complain of being tired and unwilling or unable sleep.

Dizziness is also among the sign of OxyContin addiction. When this drug is taken in large amounts, the addict might experience a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure. These alterations might result to additional symptoms like dizziness, fainting, lightheadedness or coma. A stomach problem is also a common sign of this addiction. If the addict misses a dose or runs out of medication, they might develop symptoms such as constipation, nausea or vomiting. Other symptoms that are related to OxyContin addiction may include dry mouth or headache in certain people.

OxyContin addicts may also have behavioral changes. Some users will tend to be easily irritable or appear depressed, especially if they run out of medication. These signs can have a severe effect on the user's education, work and social relationships. This might be stressing to children, especially if it is a parent who is involved in the addiction.

More severe symptoms of OxyContin addiction are experienced when an individual decides to quit the abuse on their own or they no longer have access to the drug. Stopping the drug intake abruptly results to withdrawal symptoms that can at times be very severe. At the lowest level, the user tends to experience anxiety, agitation, excessive yawning, chills and sweating. Withdrawal symptoms can be much more severe in some users depending on the amount they have used and the period they have used it. When the signs of OxyContin addiction become clear, it is advisable to seek help. One should choose a treatment center that offers a drug free holistic approach to the addiction. Although drug addiction can be quite challenging, it is possible to recover provided you seek help when you realize the addiction signs.