Oxycodone

Oxycodone is a notorious opioid considered to be the main gateway drug to harder opioids. It is a prescription medication and thus is not difficult to acquire.

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About

Oxycodone is often prescribed to people who have suffered injuries. Uses for it include suppressing pain that may be lingering after a patient received surgery. Due to its pain-killing nature, this substance also creates strong feelings of relaxation, euphoria, and can be used as an effective sleep aid. These additional positive effects are what makes Oxycodone addictive.

It is one of the most commonly abused drugs in America. It also has a tolerance rate, further increasing the need to take more. This is why it is important to only take a doctor recommended dose of Oxycodone and only at the most opportune times. Failure to follow those guidelines can result in an addiction faster than most people will realize.

If an Oxycodone addiction gets out of control, it is not uncommon to overdose, especially due to its tolerance rate. Those who are taking Oxycodone against the will and/or instructions of a doctor should seek help immediately before potential overdosing can occur.

Treatment for Oxycodone

Symptoms of withdrawal from Oxycodone include sleeping difficulty, appetite loss, restlessness, nausea and other feverish symptoms.

However, Opiate Replacement Therapy (ORT) has been proven an effective way to detox from Oxycodone while diminishing the side effects of the withdrawal. This is done by using other medications with similar effects to Oxycodone into making the brain believe that it is still receiving Oxycodone.

There are three different medications to choose from, and each may be better suited for someone depending on the person. The only drawback is that these substances also have the potential to be abused. Methadone and Suboxone are the first two substances. Methadone has a higher success rate, but also a higher rate of being abused due to being a weak opiate itself.

The other substance is Vivitrol, which is given once a month and is the safest option of the three, however in order for it to be safe, the patient must be fully detoxed of all alcohol and opiates.

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