Oxycontin Side Effects and Addiction Signs

What Is OxyContin and How Is It Used?

When using OxyContin, it’s important to follow your doctor’s prescription and not change or discontinue your dosage without your doctor’s involvement.

OxyContin is the brand name for oxycodone hydrochloride, a medication used to treat moderate to severe pain. OxyContin uses include treating pain from surgery, injuries, neuralgia, bursitis, cancer, and arthritis.

OxyContin is a semisynthetic opioid that is chemically similar to the pain medication morphine. A semisynthetic opioid is a legal substance made in laboratories from chemicals derived from the opium plant.

OxyContin addiction continues to be a leading concern in the U.S. opioid epidemic that started in the 1990s. In 2024, researchers explored the opioid death rate per 100,000 people in every state and found that natural and semi-synthetic opioids, including oxycodone and hydrocodone, accounted for around 8,000 overdoses per 100,000.

OxyContin is prescribed only for daily, around-the-clock pain. Doses range from 10 mg to 80 mg. People with no prior exposure to opioids are advised to start treatment with the lowest dose.Because of the drug’s addictive properties and potential side effects, your doctor will closely monitor your use of this medication.

What Are Possible Short-Term OxyContin Side Effects?

When taken as directed, OxyContin can help alleviate severe pain. At the same time, short-term side effects of OxyContin are possible even when taken as prescribed. The most commonly reported OxyContin side effects in clinical trials include:

Constipation
Nausea
Sleepiness
Dizziness
Vomiting
Itchy skin
Weakness
Headache
Dry mouth
Sweating

Other less frequently reported side effects of OxyContin include:

Abdominal pain
Gastrointestinal problems
Diarrhea
Chills
Fever
Insomnia
Anxiety or nervousness
Altered thoughts
Confusion
Blood pressure dropping when standing up

When taking OxyContin, inform your doctor if you have any of the above side effects at a severe level or if they do not go away. Additional OxyContin side effects that would require emergency medical help include:

Trouble breathing
Shortness of breath
Fast heartbeat
Chest pain
Swelling of your face, tongue, or throat
Extreme drowsiness
Light-headedness when changing positions
Feeling faint

In addition to these side effects of OxyContin, severe drug interactions, including overdose, can occur if you mix OxyContin with alcohol, benzodiazepine drugs (used to treat anxiety and insomnia), or various antidepressant medications.

What Are Possible Long-Term OxyContin Side Effects?

Taking OxyContin over a long period may cause you to experience significant adverse health effects. These long-term effects may include:

An increased risk of treatment-resistant depression
Adverse effects on several organ systems
Shortness of breath
Sleep-disordered breathing
Fatigue
Fractures
Thyroid and adrenal gland dysfunction
Problems with water balance in the body
Decreased gastrointestinal movement
Decreased libido
Overdose or death

Use of OxyContin and other opioids during pregnancy can be dangerous to both mothers and their unborn babies. Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome can cause babies to be born premature, stillborn, or with birth defects.

What Are the Risks and Signs of OxyContin Overdose?

The longer you use OxyContin, the more likely you are to develop a tolerance to the drug. Tolerance means you need to take higher doses of the medication to feel the same effects. Increasing the amount of OxyContin you take increases the risk of overdose.

The risk for overdose and death further increases if you take OxyContin with alcohol.This is because both alcohol and oxycodone are metabolized in the liver. In effect, they are competing for resources in the liver while being processed, and the liver is not able to keep up. Additionally, the added stress on the liver can lead to liver damage.

Additional risk factors associated with OxyContin addiction and overdose include misusing other prescription or illicit drugs or having a personal or family history of depression or other mental health conditions.

Signs of OxyContin overdose include:

Difficulty breathing
Excessive sleepiness
Inability to be awakened from sleep
Slowed or stopped breathing
Limp or weak muscles
Narrowing or widening of the pupils
Clammy, cold skin

If you notice any of these symptoms in yourself or someone else, call 911 right away for medical help.

What Are the Signs of OxyContin Dependence, Withdrawal, and Addiction?

Over time, using an opioid medication such as OxyContin can cause your body to become dependent on the drug, even if you use it as prescribed. The likelihood of dependency increases if you misuse OxyContin by taking it in higher dosages or for a longer period than prescribed. With prolonged use, tolerance will require you to need higher or more frequent doses of the medication to achieve the same effect.

Once your body has developed opioid dependence, it becomes difficult to stop using OxyContin. Suddenly stopping OxyContin use or greatly reducing its dose will likely lead to uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.

Symptoms of withdrawal include:

Restlessness, physical discomfort, or uneasiness
Depression or anxiety
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
Fever
Insomnia
Excessive yawning
Muscle aches
Excess crying or shedding of tears
Excessive discharge from the nose
Sweating
Dilated pupils
Goosebumps on the skin

These symptoms can occur within hours or up to several days of stopping OxyContin use. If you or someone you know is exhibiting any withdrawal symptoms, it is important to get medical attention right away, as some severe withdrawal symptoms could become fatal.

Experiencing withdrawal symptoms is a sign of dependence and possible addiction, known clinically as opioid use disorder (OUD). Safely withdrawing from OxyContin requires tapering off the drug gradually with medical supervision. This allows your body to slowly get used to having less and less of the drug in its system. During this phase, also known as detox, some withdrawal symptoms can still occur. Your doctor may prescribe other medications as part of withdrawal treatment to help to reduce the number and intensity of withdrawal symptoms.

In addition to experiencing dependence and withdrawal symptoms, other signs of OxyContin addiction include:

Taking the drug in larger amounts or for longer periods than initially intended
Having an ongoing desire or unsuccessful efforts to reduce or stop use
Spending a great deal of time acquiring the drug or recovering from the effects of it
Craving OxyContin
Using the drug leads to unfulfillment of roles and responsibilities at home, school, or work
Continuing to use the drug despite social and interpersonal problems that result
Using the drug leads to giving up important social, recreational, or work activities
Using the drug in physically hazardous situations, such as driving or operating other heavy machinery, while high
Continuing to use the drug despite having physiological or psychological problems that are caused or exacerbated by it

To be diagnosed with an OxyContin addiction or OUD, two or three of the above symptoms must be present over the course of the past 12 months. However, even if you are struggling with just one of these signs of addiction, it is advisable to seek help so that you can reduce your risks of developing an OUD or worsening OxyContin addiction. Effective OxyContin addiction treatment is available through a variety of recovery options.

Top 10 Benefits of Entering Inpatient Rehab for Oxycontin Addiction

Inpatient rehab treatment for OxyContin addiction offers many benefits, including supervised detox, counseling, peer support, and time away to learn about yourself.

What Should I Discuss with My Doctor Before Taking OxyContin?

Before medical professionals prescribe OxyContin for chronic pain lasting more than three months, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends first exploring non-opioid treatments. Given the risks of side effects and addiction when using OxyContin, it is important to work closely with your doctor to explore other pain medication options first.

It is dangerous to take OxyContin if you have certain health issues. Share with your doctor if any of these situations apply to you:

Depression or a history of depression
History of any other mental health problems
History of head injury or seizures
Problems urinating
Liver, kidney, or thyroid problems
Pancreas or gallbladder problems
Pregnant or plan to become pregnant
Breastfeeding
A bowel blockage or narrowing of the stomach or intestines
Lung problems such as severe asthma or severe breathing
Any other prescription or over-the-counter medications you are taking, including vitamins and herbal supplements
History of addiction to, or misuse of, alcohol, street drugs, or prescription drugs

If you feel hesitant or anxious about discussing this last point with your doctor, know that information shared with a medical professional is confidential.

What Should I Do If I Start Taking OxyContin?

OxyContin can be an effective pain medication if you collaborate with your doctor. If you start taking OxyContin, it is important to follow these guidelines:

Take OxyContin only as directed by your doctor; do not change your dose on your own.
Inform your doctor if the dose you are prescribed is not helping your pain.
Do not stop taking the medication before consulting your doctor.
Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how OxyContin affects you.
Do not drink alcohol while taking OxyContin, as that can lead to overdose or death.
If your side effects do not get better or are severe, contact your doctor right away.

If you are concerned about your use of OxyContin or that of a loved one, call 800-934-1582(Sponsored) 24/7 to speak with an addiction treatment specialist.

the Take-Away

If you use OxyContin, be sure to report any adverse effects to your doctor. Do not withdraw from OxyContin use or change dosing without your doctor’s involvement.

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