Oxycodone is a semi-synthetic opioid used to treat moderate to chronic and severe pain depending on the prescription brands and formulations. Available in prescriptions drugs like Percocet, OxyContin, Roxicodone, and Oxecta; oxycodone is one of the most desirable drugs on the street for abuse and the maintaining of opioid addictions.
Diversions of these drugs are continuously increasing for the high dollar value they attract. In an opioid naïve individual, the dangers of using oxycodone is more than alarming and for those who abuse it repeatedly, regardless of their tolerance levels, the consequences are immense. The following are 15 common dangerous side effects of oxycodone.
1. Tolerance
Tolerance to oxycodone is a dangerous side effect that keeps building with continued use. Some oxycodone medications are only prescribed for chronic and severe pain such as for those suffering from cancer and the benefits of taking the drug exceed the risks. Tolerance, however, can lead an abuser to use the drugs excessively or consume them via rapid delivery methods such as snorting, smoking, or injecting.
2. Dependency
Once you take oxycodone a few times, your brain and body adapts to the presence of the drug. Unless you continue to take certain amounts, you will experience adverse physical and/or psychological symptoms known as withdrawals.
3. Addiction
Addiction is characterized by uncontrollable cravings and use, despite the negative consequences. According to a report from the FDA “Recent evidence suggests that oxycodone may be more reinforcing than morphine.” The reinforcing effects of oxycodone are what make you crave the drug and alter your thought processes and behaviors to continue its use, often leading to relapse after attempting to cease use. Oxycodone addictions have been closely compared to heroin addictions. In fact, many heroin addicts satisfactorily alternate between the two drugs when one or the other is unavailable.
4. Withdrawals
Withdrawals from oxycodone may be more severe than some of the other opioid medications depending on the oxycodone products used, dosage levels, durations of use, and routes of administration. To say the least, they can be unpleasant and painful, but, they can become complicated and dangerous in someone with compromised health or co-existing disorders and this is all too common among oxycodone abusers.
5. Increased Abuse Potentials
One of the most common dangerous side effects of oxycodone comes with extensive abuse. Many of the drugs contain high contents of oxycodone in extended release or controlled release formulations that are designed to be taken orally and have long-lasting effects. Once the person’s opioid tolerance and dependency levels increase, they tend to find ways to bypass these abuse deterrent mechanisms and switch to more rapid delivery methods of consumption to enhance or increase the intensity of the drugs.
6. Diseases
Oxycodone increases the abuser’s propensity to engage in risky behaviors such as IV use or unsafe sex which can lead to diseases such as HIV, AIDs, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis, or STDs. There are a wide range of blood born diseases identifiable as resulting from IV use along with liver, kidney, pulmonary, and cardiovascular diseases. Hormonal changes may also account for some other common dangers such as the development of diabetes.
7. Acetaminophen Toxicity
Percocet is a popular oxycodone medication that can be found more readily in the family medicine cabinet, through friends and associates that contains acetaminophen. Taking too much Percocet can result in acetaminophen toxicity which can cause liver and kidney failures along with other vital organ damages and death.
8. Respiratory Problems
If abused, Oxycodone can cause a variety of respiratory problems.
Oxycodone can cause respiratory problems including difficulty breathing and cough from smoking, infections from reduction in immune system functions that are often associated with unhealthy habits, vitamin deficiencies, and poor health, or diseases which are common in heavy opioid abusers.
9. Infections
Infections are dangerous side effects of oxycodone as abusers often ignore health problems, share paraphernalia including straws and needles, or inject the drugs. Various ingredients in the drugs meant to deter abuse can cause significant infections at the injection sites, in the veins and arteries, and throughout other organs as it is carried in the circulation of blood. According to Purdue Pharma L.P,” With parenteral abuse, the inactive ingredients in OXYCONTIN can be expected to result in local tissue necrosis, infection, pulmonary granulomas, and increased risk of endocarditis and valvular heart injury.
10. Cardiovascular Problems
Oxycodone is a central nervous system depressant that can have an impact on every organ in the body. It can cause irregular heart rate and blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases and infections of the heart lining, valves, and muscles. Circulatory problems from damaged blood vessels can contribute to the dangers and compromises can result in stroke or cardiac arrest.
11. Mental Health Disorders
Oxycodone can cause long term mental health disorders including depression, anxiety, dysphoria, insomnia, cognitive deficits, thought abnormalities, aggression, memory impairments, and personality disorders.
12. Impaired Social Functioning
Impaired social functioning can lead to job loss, incarcerations, financial, legal, and housing problems and these are not easy burdens to overcome. Not only does it affect the oxycodone user, but, their families and loved ones as well.
13. Criminal Behaviors to Support Habit
Oxycodone addicts are well known for committing crimes to support their habits. Theft and robberies, forgeries, doctor shopping, sales and trades on the street, and prostitution, are all illegal acts, but, the dangers are ignored once the drug takes control.
14. Relationship Damages
Aggression, domestic violence, child neglect, and the irresponsible behaviors of an oxycodone abuser can literally destroy the family unit and there is usually a great deal of lost communication and trust in relationships that may never be regained.
15. Overdose
Oxycodone is a central nervous system depressant that slows down breathing and heart rate, possibly to a fatal extent. According to the World Health Organization, “As oxygen saturation (normally greater than 97 per cent) falls below 86 per cent, the brain struggles to function.” The person can suffer significant brain and vital organ failures with death likely to occur if not treated immediately.
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