Oxycodone

By: Tiffany Hoy

What is oxycodone?
Oxycodone is an opioid pain medication. An opioid is sometimes called a
narcotic.

Oxycodone is used to treat moderate to severe pain.

Oxycodone extended-release is used for around the clock treatment of pain.
This form of oxycodone is not for use on an as-needed basis for pain.

Where does oxycodone come from?

Using the opiate alkaloid thebaine, oxycodone was first synthesized by two
German scientists in 1916, as a supposedly non-addictive, synthetic
substitute for narcotics like heroin, which had been banned 2 years earlier.

Manufacturers make Oxycodone by modifying the chemical thebaine, which

is an organic chemical found in opium.

It was hoped that a thebaine-derived drug would retain the analgesic effects
of morphine and heroin with less dependence.

IR & CR
There are 2 different types of Oxycodone. There is immediate release
and controlled release. Immediate release is taken more constantly (every
4 hours), whereas the controlled release you take it every 12 hours.
Controlled release is also known as extended release and it is called
Oxycontin. The controlled release form of the drug is used when a
person needs pain relief over an extended period of time.

First Clinical Use

The first clinical use of the drug was documented in 1917, the year after it
was first developed. It was first introduced to the US market in May 1939.

In early 1928, Merck introduced a combination product containing

Scopolamine, Oxycodone and ephedrine which was later named Schophedal.

This combination is essentially supposed to reduce your circulatory and

respiratory effects.

Oxycodone Side Effects

Constipation
Nausea
Vomiting
Sleepiness
Dizziness
Itching

Heacache

Rare Side Effects

Stomach pain
Bloating or swelling

Blood in the urine

Chest pain
Convulsions
Cough
Difficult urinating

Symptoms of overdose

Changes in consciousness
Chest pain

Extreme drowsiness
Loss of consciousness
Slow or irregular heartbeat

Decreased awareness or responsiveness

How oxycodone affects the brain

When taking Oxycodone, the drug binds to opioid
receptors in the brain and central nervous systems,
reducing both the perception of pain and the
emotional response to it.

How do people abuse oxycodone?

People abuse prescription Oxycodone by taking more than prescribed.
Taking it directly as prescribed, the person taking the medication for a short
period of time will not develop a dependency for the product.

Other ways of abusing Oxycodone is to crush it and snort it or injecting it.

This will produce a heroin-like euphoria.

Oxycodone addiction is one of the leading causes of prescription drug

deaths in the entire country.

Oxycodone Abuse In Florida

State regulations are changing in Florida. Florida has become Americas
primary trafficker in oxycodone addiction, abuse and death.

According to state records, nearly 4,000 people died last year in Florida.
Anyone, not just Doctors, can run a Florida pill mill. Even convicted felons
can get a license.

Withdrawal Timeline
Days 1 2
The most difficult days to get through, the withdrawal symptoms usually kick in
about 12 hours after the last dose was taken. Once the withdrawal fully begins,
the most noticeable symptoms is muscle aches and pain. Along with the pain,
most people sweat, have diarrhea, experience loss of appetite and cant sleep.

Withdrawal Timeline Cont.

Days 3 5
Eating and keeping solid food down will be difficult. Diarrhea tends to stop
during this period. Goosebumps, shivers, abdominal cramping and vomiting
are all common symptoms during this period.

Days 6 and beyond

Difficult eating, nausea and anxiety.