Going through OxyContin withdrawal is a tough process. It’s what happens when someone stops taking OxyContin, a strong painkiller, after using it for a while. The body and brain have gotten so used to the drug that they react badly when it’s not there anymore, like losing a controlled substance. (1)
People going through this can feel sick. They might get bad headaches, feel super tired but can’t sleep well, get upset stomachs or even throw up, and their whole body might ache. On top of all that physical stuff, they could also feel anxious or depressed because withdrawing affects their mood.
Anyone dealing with this needs to get help from doctors or professionals who know how to make withdrawal easier and safer. Trying to do it alone can be really hard and sometimes dangerous. With the right support, though, people can manage these drug addiction symptoms better and take steps toward getting better without relying on medication.
What is OxyContin?
OxyContin is a type of painkiller that doctors prescribe to help people who are dealing with really bad pain, like from surgery or serious injuries. It’s super strong and belongs to a group of medicines called opioids, which work by blocking out chronic pain signals going to your brain. Because it’s so powerful, it can also make you feel very relaxed or even high, which is why some folks use it in ways they shouldn’t. (2)
Even though OxyContin can be a big help for people in lots of pain, taking it for too long or in the wrong way can lead to big problems. Your body might start needing more and more pain relief to feel normal, which can lead someone down the road toward addiction.
Doctors closely monitor how this medicine is used in a hospital or treatment center and ensure it helps rather than hurts.
Signs and Symptoms of An OxyContin Addiction
OxyContin addiction, like other opioid addictions, is characterized by a series of behavioral, physical, and psychological signs that indicate an unhealthy dependence on the medication. (3)
Understanding these signs can help in recognizing when someone might be struggling with addiction or substance use disorder:
- Increased Tolerance: The individual requires higher doses of OxyContin over a period of time to achieve the same effect.
- Withdrawal Symptoms: When not using OxyContin, the person experiences withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, anxiety, restlessness, muscle aches, and insomnia.
- Preoccupation with Obtaining OxyContin: The person spends a significant amount of time thinking about, obtaining, and using OxyContin, often at the expense of other responsibilities or activities.
- Using OxyContin Despite Negative Consequences: The person continues to use OxyContin despite experiencing negative consequences in their personal, professional, or social life.
- Loss of Control: They are unable to control their use of OxyContin, even when they have the intention to stop or reduce their consumption.
- Increased Isolation: They withdraw from social activities and relationships, preferring to spend time alone or with others who also use OxyContin.
- Changes in Behavior and Mood: The person may exhibit mood swings, irritability, agitation, or depression. Their behavior may become unpredictable or erratic as side effects.
- Financial Problems: They may experience financial difficulties due to excessive spending on OxyContin or related activities.
- Neglecting Responsibilities: They neglect important obligations such as work, school, or family responsibilities in favor of using OxyContin.
- Physical Symptoms: Physical signs of OxyContin addiction may include pinpoint pupils, drowsiness, slurred speech, slowed breathing, constipation, and itching.
- Doctor Shopping: The individual seeks out multiple doctors or pharmacies to obtain prescription drugs of OxyContin.
- Denial or Minimization: They deny or minimize the extent of their OxyContin use when confronted by loved ones or healthcare professionals.
It’s essential to note that addiction manifests differently in each individual, and not all signs may be present in every case. Additionally, the severity of symptoms can vary depending on the duration and intensity of OxyContin use.
If you or someone your loved one is struggling with OxyContin addiction, seeking professional help from a healthcare provider or addiction specialist is crucial for recovery from physical dependence or opioid use disorder.
OxyContin Withdrawal Symptoms, Timeline & Detox Treatment Options
OxyContin is a brand-name semi-synthetic opioid drug, otherwise known as oxycodone. This opioid is derived from the poppy plant and has a high potential for abuse. In the past, OxyContin’s risk of abuse was minimized, which later became an integral part of the escalating national prescription opioid abuse problem. (4)
OxyContin continues to be widely prescribed today, and while it offers benefits to patients experiencing moderate to severe pain, abuse rates are high. Individuals who abuse OxyContin often develop a tolerance, leading to increasingly higher doses.
Long-term use causes dependence and addiction, which results in OxyContin withdrawal syndrome when users stop taking the drug. OxyContin withdrawal symptoms are uncomfortable, often described as having a bad case of the flu. This often encourages users to keep using it, even if they want to stop. (5)
Regardless of why you started, do not allow OxyContin withdrawal symptoms to stop you from getting the help you deserve or tapering off the drug.
What Are the Symptoms of OxyContin Withdrawal?
Opioid withdrawal is highly unpleasant and is a primary driving force behind continued use. If you have tried to quit cold turkey in the past, you know how challenging it can be.
OxyContin withdrawal symptoms are similar to other opioid withdrawal symptoms. Since there are several variables to consider, symptoms can differ from one user to the next — and so can the severity of these symptoms.
The most common OxyContin withdrawal symptoms include: (6)
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Excessive sweating
- Increased heart rate
- Cold flashes
- Runny nose
- Restlessness
- Muscle and bone pain
- Involuntary leg movements
The above symptoms are acute withdrawal symptoms and may range from mild to severe. If you are a polydrug user, you may experience withdrawal symptoms.
Acute OxyContin withdrawal symptoms typically last a matter of weeks. However, post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) can last much longer — in some cases, years. (7)
This syndrome refers to impairments that often last months after abstaining from a substance of abuse. These symptoms mimic those associated with mood and anxiety disorders, including insomnia, mood swings, and elevated anxiety levels.
It is estimated that 90% of recovering opioid users experience PAWS to some degree.
Although withdrawal symptoms are uncomfortable, taking OxyContin carries a high risk of severe respiratory depression, resulting in coma or death.
Since OxyContin withdrawal can also be life-threatening under certain circumstances, it’s vital to seek the support of a professional medical team for medical supervision.
Research shows that complications of opioid withdrawal may be underestimated and monitored inadequately. Although most fatal cases of opioid withdrawal occur in jail, prisons, and related facilities, there is a risk of severe complications — especially concerning untreated dehydration. (8)
When your goal is to complete the OxyContin withdrawal process safely, it’s recommended that you do so in a structured, controlled environment.
Taking this step will help you reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms and benefit from an individualized treatment plan.
What Causes OxyContin Withdrawal?
When taking OxyContin, the process that leads to withdrawal is complex. When studying the effects of opioids, three types of opioid receptors have been identified — mu, delta, and kappa. The mu receptor is responsible for reinforcing the actions of opioids. (9)
Like other substances of abuse, OxyContin also influences your brain’s reward system, increasing dopamine levels. Since a rise in dopamine produces feelings of pleasure, this can reinforce drug-taking behavior.
OxyContin withdrawal occurs when a patient dependent on the drug stops taking it suddenly. From a clinical standpoint, OxyContin withdrawal is one of the most powerful factors driving dependence and addictive behaviors.
When you repeatedly take OxyContin for an extended period, this alters your brain so that it functions ‘normally’ when OxyContin is present and abnormally when it’s not. (10)
This alteration leads to opioid tolerance (the need to take higher and higher doses to achieve the same opioid effect) and opioid dependence (your susceptibility to your symptoms of withdrawal).
Tolerance develops because your brain cells with opioid receptors become less responsive to opioid stimulation. Several brain areas are involved in developing OxyContin withdrawal symptoms, making this process highly complex.
Although OxyContin withdrawal symptoms typically develop when you stop taking this drug, symptoms may also develop when you reduce your dose. In some cases, a dependence develops unintentionally in a matter of weeks.
It’s important to note that the OxyContin withdrawal process is a highly individualized experience. When seeking support, many variables exist, including your medical history.
While the underlying cause of OxyContin withdrawal is similar for most users concerning neurological variables, symptoms vary because of individualized variables.
For example, research shows that individuals suffering from mood and anxiety disorders are highly associated with non-medical prescription opioid use and opioid abuse. (11)
In some cases, individuals were living with mood and anxiety disorders before OxyContin use. However, researchers believe that for some, opioid use precipitates anxiety disorders.
Opioid abuse may lead to co-morbid psychiatric disorders among those vulnerable. Regardless, when mood and anxiety disorders are involved, the OxyContin withdrawal process can be more complex, particularly concerning PAWS symptoms.
How Long Does OxyContin Withdrawal Take?
OxyContin withdrawal varies from one individual to the next.
When considering the duration of OxyContin withdrawal, it’s essential to consider this drug’s half-life. Unlike long-acting opioids, OxyContin has a short half-life of just 3.5 hours, +/- 1.5 hours. (12)
This timeline refers to the amount of time it takes to eliminate half a drug’s active substance from your system.
If you have developed a dependence, you can expect OxyContin withdrawal symptoms in as little as 4-8 hours after your last dose — but the medication will not begin to wear off for 12-24 hours fully.
On the first day, many users experience severe flu-like symptoms. OxyContin withdrawal symptoms may then last for 1-2 weeks, although some people only experience significant symptoms for a few days.
This timeline will depend on several factors, including:
- The strength of the OxyContin dose
- The length of time you’ve been taking OxyContin
- How you were administering OxyContin (e.g., taking pills vs. injecting)
- Genetic variables that contribute to addiction
- Underlying mental health conditions
When dealing with PAWS symptoms, treatment can last for months, even years. It is not uncommon for PAWS symptoms to disappear and resurface, creating a roller coaster of emotions and ongoing challenges. (13)
How to Safely Manage OxyContin Detox
When withdrawing from opioids, several medications are available to make the withdrawal period more comfortable. These medications target specific OxyContin withdrawal symptoms, as well as compulsive drug use and cravings.
Methadone or buprenorphine are commonly used in maintenance therapy detox programs. However, other medications may also be administered, such as anti-nausea and anti-anxiety medications. (14)
Since opioid withdrawal management is so complex, it’s important to seek the assistance of a treatment facility that understands the value of holistic treatment, including appropriate psychosocial support.
OxyContin withdrawal management isn’t typically enough for users to abstain from using. Ongoing support is often required to prevent relapse and address any underlying mental health conditions.
One reason relapse prevention is so important is that when you withdraw from OxyContin, your tolerance drops. If you relapse, taking the same dose you once did, you increase your risk of overdose.
Deaths have resulted across the United States, specifically from the abuse of OxyContin. These deaths result from high doses and as a consequence of mixing opioids with alcohol and other drugs. (15) (16)
When taking alcohol and OxyContin, both of these slow breathing, increasing your risk of fatal complications.
If you are dependent on both OxyContin and alcohol, this is something your healthcare team must know. If they think you’re only being treated for OxyContin withdrawal but are also dependent on alcohol, this could lead to unexpected symptoms, including seizures. (17)
Throughout the OxyContin withdrawal period, your symptoms will be monitored, and medications will be administered when necessary.
Do not underestimate the power of talk therapy and open communication. Your safety is of the utmost importance. Communicate with your care team, especially when discussing the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale symptoms. (18)
This scale will help your care team better understand the severity of your symptoms. Of course, some symptoms will be more evident to an outside observer than others (e.g., tremors and vomiting vs. muscle and joint pain).
When to Contact a Medical Professional
OxyContin withdrawal is often the first step of many. Although this initial step is imperative to long-term recovery, it is just the beginning. Most users require a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses their individualized needs and evolving goals.
When seeking the support of a professional treatment facility, you will gain access to a holistic treatment plan. Some users receive outpatient treatment and addiction treatment, whereas others require a more intensive inpatient treatment plan for drug abuse.
The best option for you will depend on several variables which can be discussed directly with your healthcare team. When creating your medical detox plan, your healthcare team monitors your progress and makes necessary adjustments in your treatment programs.
Experts will work with you to determine what will benefit you most, significantly increasing your chance of long-term success.
If you are ready to take the next step, know you’re not alone. You can overcome the OxyContin withdrawal process comfortably and safely. Reach out to Zinnia Health to discuss your options today by calling (855) 430-9439.
Citations
- https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/oxycodone
- https://www.asahq.org/madeforthismoment/pain-management/opioid-treatment/what-are-opioids/
- https://www.whitedeerrun.com/prescription-drugs/oxycontin/causes-effects/
- https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Oxycodone-2020_0.pdf
- https://americanaddictioncenters.org/withdrawal-timelines-treatments/oxycontin
- https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/opioid-withdrawal-symptoms
- https://drugabuse.com/treatment/withdrawal/post-acute-withdrawal-syndrome/
- https://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/blog/yes-people-can-die-opiate-withdrawal
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526012/
- https://www.fda.gov/media/131026/download
- https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2011/martins-opioids
- https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2006/040330s015,040341s013,040434s003lbl.pdf
- https://clearbehavioralhealth.com/post-acute-withdrawal-syndrome/
- https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/poison-control-center/opioid-withdrawal-management-acute-care-setting-quick-treatment-tips
- https://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs/651/abuse.htm
- https://health.uconn.edu/poison-control/about-poisons/medications/information-for-people-using-pain-pills-or-other-opioids/pain-pillsopioids-frequently-asked-questions/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64116/
- https://nida.nih.gov/sites/default/files/ClinicalOpiateWithdrawalScale.pdf
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