Introduction
Oxycontin is a Schedule II controlled substance drug used to treat acute body pain and muscle spasms. It is an opioid analgesic that comes in the form of controlled-release tablets. Oxycontin is primarily used to manage moderate to severe pain, including serious nerve pain and opioid addiction.
Facts on Oxycontin
Oxycontin’s primary constituent is Oxycodone, a pure agonist opioid with principal therapeutic action as analgesia. Other class members include substances such as Morphine, Hydromorphone, Fentanyl, Codeine, and Hydrocodone. However, Oxycontin should not be used by individuals with certain medical conditions, including allergies to oxycodone, severe asthma or breathing problems, blockage in their stomach or intestines, sleep apnea, head injuries, seizures, drug or alcohol addiction, pancreas, thyroid, liver, or kidney disease, and urination problems.
Administration and Dosage
Oxycontin is available in tablet forms of different variants. These tablets are intended to be taken as a whole and should not be broken, chewed, or crushed. The dosage of Oxycontin oral tablets depends on several important factors, including a history of opioid use and the type of opioid, the kind of pain, age, weight, overall health, and other medication history. Always follow the doctor’s consultation strictly when taking Oxycontin.
Oxycontin During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Using Oxycontin during pregnancy may result in severe and fatal consequences. Clinicians should consider the risks of Oxycontin usage during pregnancy. Due to the lack of studies on Oxycodone’s use in lactating women and its effect on the baby, some may recommend not more than 30 mg of Oxycontin for breastfeeding mothers while others are against its use during breastfeeding.
Pharmacokinetics
The onset of medicine takes place about 1 hour after ingesting the Oxycontin tablet. This controlled-release form of Oxycodone can take up to 12 hours to peak. Oxycodone present in the Oxycontin tablets is metabolized by the hepatic enzymes CYP3A4 and CYP2D6, producing the metabolites Noroxycodone and Oxymorphone, respectively. These metabolites get excreted from the body via the kidney and the excretory system.
Interaction with Other Drugs
Opioid analgesics, including Oxycontin, may enhance the neuromuscular blocking action of specific skeletal muscle relaxants. This can induce an increased degree of respiratory depression and other fatal side effects. Opioid medication can interact with many other drugs, including cold or allergy medicines and COPD medication, medicines that are taken for irritable bowel syndrome or overactive bladder, other opioid pain medicine or prescribed medicine to cure cough, sedatives like Valium – diazepam, alprazolam, Lorazepam, Xanax, Klonopin, Versed, and others, muscle relaxers, anti-anxiety pills, or sleeping pills like Lunesta and Ambien, stimulants medications, medicines for Parkinson’s disease, headaches, treatment medicines for serious infections or nausea and vomiting, marijuana, and alcohol.
Commonly Observed Side Effects
Oxycontin may cause side effects such as drowsiness, headache, dizziness, tiredness, constipation, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and more. Serious side effects linked to Oxycontin usage include euphoria, lethargy, confusion, change in vision, seizures, difficulty breathing, changes in personality traits, and more. If any of these side effects are observed for a prolonged time, the concerned doctor must be informed immediately.
Oxycontin Tolerance and Withdrawal
Opioid tolerance occurs because the brain cells with opioid receptors on gradually become less responsive to opioid stimulations. Repeatedly escalating dosages of opioids tend to alter the brain so that it functions normally when the drugs are present and abnormally in their absence. Drug tolerance and drug dependence are two clinical results involved in the alteration of a prescription. Withdrawal symptoms occur only in patients who have developed a tolerance toward opioid medication usage.
Dependency and Addiction to Oxycontin
Abusing Oxycontin medicine includes taking Oxycontin more than the prescribed dosage, taking the drug for longer a longer period than recommended, and intaking the drug by the means of chewing, injecting, or snorting. There are various physical, psychological, and behavioral traits that indicate Oxycontin addiction. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should consult a doctor immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
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