Oxycodone Addiction and Sedation Detox

Overdose with oxycodone is common, especially when injected intravenously or used nasally. These routes of administration are more likely to result in overdose since the delivery is in higher doses and onset is faster. Oxycodone overdose symptoms include cold, clammy, or blue skin; excessive sleep; narrowed or widened pupils; seizures; slow, shallow, or stopped breathing; slowed or stopped heartbeat; loss of consciousness; or death. Also, overdose is more likely when oxycodone is taken with benzodiazepines and alcohol.

The oxycodone combination with acetaminophen (Brand name Percocet, Roxicet and Endocet) may lead to liver failure and death due to acetaminophen (Tylenol) toxicity. The makers of Tylenol lowered the maximum adult daily dose from 4,000mg to 3,000mg. Liver toxicity is common since Tylenol (acetaminophen) is found in combination with other drug ingredients and many consumers aren’t aware that they are taking more Tylenol than prescribed.

It is estimated about 60% of Oxycodone use is for non-medical use. Oxycodone is potent and can lead to dependence, tolerance, and addiction after several weeks of misuse. Some patients end up injecting intravenously or snorting nasally to get more drug delivery once tolerance becomes a problem. Patients addicted to oxycodone are more likely to abuse heroin as it will become difficult to maintain use of oxycodone due to cost, availability on the street and (hard to obtain legally and illicitly).

Oxycodone, and oxycodone containing products, can be habit-forming, causing not only physical but also psychological dependence. Withdrawals may occur if the dose of the opiates is reduced or discontinued after long-term use. Using opiates for an extended period can lead to tolerance, where the user needs to increase the dosage of their opiates to achieve the desired effect, whether the desired outcome is pain control or euphoria.

Once the patient develops a tolerance, it becomes even more difficult to stop using due to the withdrawals. Symptoms of withdrawals are an indication of physical dependence and addiction to the opiate Oxycodone. Most patients describe withdrawals as the worst, most frightening experience one will ever encounter. One can only imagine the excruciating pain when the opiate user says that they’d rather die than go through the withdrawals. Oxycodone physical dependence symptoms, such as withdrawals, lead to psychological dependence. That is when addiction takes over the mind and life of the oxycodone opiate user.