Misusing oxycodone can cause short-term and long-term effects on your body, mind, and behavior. Early help through oxycodone addiction treatment or rehab can prevent serious problems and support recovery.
Why Misusing Oxycodone Can Be Dangerous
Oxycodone is a prescribed opioid medication primarily used by people at large to get relief from pain. When you take Oxycodone as prescribed by your physician, it can decrease the amount of pain you experience. However, if you use Oxycodone either more often than prescribed, take a larger amount than prescribed, or take it without medical approval, then this would be considered Oxycodone abuse. Many abusers of Oxycodone use it for the feelings of relaxation it provides. Some people will also be required to take more than what was prescribed to relieve their pain. Long-term misuse of Oxycodone can lead to serious adverse effects.
Compared with other varieties, some prescription forms of the drug oxycodone are sold under the generic name OxyContin as extended-release (XR) formulations; those XR formulations are designed to release a steady dose of the active ingredient into the bloodstream over an extended period of time. People who improperly misuse their prescriptions by crushing or breaking them into smaller pieces oppose this design structure by instantaneously accessing all of the active ingredients in that prescription at once. Prolonged abuse of oxycodone has been shown to alter the brain's pleasure centers. and extract positive emotions such as happiness or a sense of relaxation. Using oxycodone for a long time can change the brain, making the body rely on the drug and increasing the risk of addiction. By understanding the early stages of oxycodone addiction, you will have an idea of how to get yourself out of an oxycodone addiction problem if you are currently an oxycodone user, before developing a severe problem and wondering how to recover from oxycodone addiction naturally.
Immediate Effects of Oxycodone Misuse
There are short-term effects on your body, mind, and behavior when you misuse oxycodone. These effects from using oxycodone are often temporary; however, they are also very serious. Using oxycodone the wrong way for a short time can affect your body, mind, and behavior, for example, a slow heartbeat, confusion, or doing risky things without thinking. The other short-term side effects associated with oxycodone include: sedation, nausea and vomiting, confusion, and impaired judgment. Less than one time of misusing oxycodone could result in you causing a serious injury to yourself or others if you misuse it with alcohol, other drugs, or both.
If you continue to misuse oxycodone, you may develop early physical symptoms of dependency. You could require increased amounts of oxycodone to produce an equal amount of effect compared to prior usages; therefore, if you experience any of the above mentioned symptoms, contact a physician who can help you find a treatment facility such as oxycodone addiction rehab, thus giving you support, care and assistance throughout the withdrawal process; also by recognizing early signs of withdrawing from oxycodone and seeking professional assistance to withdraw from oxycodone which could prevent future long-term problems associated with using oxycodone.
Long-Term Effects of Oxycodone Misuse
Continue misuse of oxycodone could result in various long-term consequences as time goes on. Each time a person uses oxycodone, they may develop tolerance to the drug as a result of repeated use, therefore requiring higher doses to get the same effect. When a person is dependent on oxycodone, they will need it for many of their daily bodily functions. If they suddenly stop using oxycodone, they are more than likely to experience several withdrawal symptoms. There are several potential withdrawal symptoms associated with oxycodone, which may range from muscle aches, night sweats, anxiety (feeling nervous), insomnia (not sleeping), nausea, tension or pain in the legs, and discomfort.
If you continue to engage in abusing oxycodone, you may become addicted to oxycodone. If this occurs, you would have extreme difficulty in being able to stop using oxycodone, even though you are aware of the many negative consequences related to your use of oxycodone. There are treatment programs available where early detection and treatment by professionals who will facilitate your recovery could help you manage the longer-lasting effects of oxycodone misuse. With appropriate direction and medical assistance while in an oxycodone addiction treatment program, you should be able to successfully recover from your addiction to oxycodone.
When Misuse Becomes Addiction
Initially, the use of oxycodone may just be for the purpose of treating pain; however, as time goes by, controlling the use of oxycodone can become very difficult. Addiction is created when both the mind and the body become dependent on oxycodone, creating strong cravings for the drug even when it is causing them harm. Without treatment from an addiction recovery center, there is a good chance that an addict's daily functioning, including the ability to work, go to school/college, and maintain healthy relationships, will begin to suffer, and they will feel hopeless about being able to stop using oxycodone without help.
When To Get Help
If you have been using oxycodone, it might be time when you need to look for assistance because your usage is becoming unmanageable or even affecting your health and day-to-day life. Some of the symptoms of oxycodone problem use include the need for more of the drug to achieve the same result, feeling sick when attempting to stop the use of the drug, and having thoughts about the drug. Getting help early can make recovery much easier.
Conclusion
Abusing Oxycodone can start with acute effects that don't appear serious at first, but, over time, can gradually lead to chronic health problems and dependency. An individual who occasionally uses Oxycodone could evolve into a user who is negatively impacted by the drug in many areas of his/her body, mind, and daily life, which is very difficult to control over time.
The positive note is that you will be able to recover. Individuals with the correct support and direction can restart their lives after gaining a sense of stability. A professional Oxycodone addiction treatment program will give you the appropriate framework, support, and recognition to continue your recovery both safely and securely.