One of the main reasons people seek out more of this drug is because it makes them feel good. It eliminates pain temporarily and creates feelings of happiness and clam. However, there are several unwanted symptoms that may appear as well, such as the following:

• Constipation
• Confusion
• Nausea and vomiting
• Slowed breathing
• Difficulty with breathing
• Sleepiness

It’s possible for a person to overdose on Oxycodone. Many people don’t realize just how serious it can be to take too much of this drug. However, the signs of overdose can be quite serious and even lead to death if not treated. They include the following:

• Difficulty waking
• Lack of response even when painful stimuli is used
• Constricted pupils that don’t respond to light
• Respiratory arrest
• Bluish tinge to lips and fingernails

When a person becomes addicted to Oxycodone, they will exhibit many of the signs associated with other addictions. They will use various means to obtain more of the drug, such as lying or even stealing someone else’s prescription. Their focus will be on obtaining the drug rather than on other areas of their lives. The person will continue taking it even when doctors recommend they quit or if it results in legal or financial problems. While these issues sound like someone with a drug problem for illicit substances, it can happen with prescription medications, especially opioid drugs.

Are You an Oxycontin addict in need of rehab? You may think you can handle your use of the medication, especially if it was first prescribed by a doctor. Even if you’ve increased the dosage because you need more pain relief, you may not realize it’s gotten out of hand.

You may have been complaining of unbearable pain that just won’t go away. You can’t afford to go to a doctor for treatment, so your well-meaning friend offered you one of their Percocet or OxyContin pills. It gave you almost immediate relief. You started searching for ways to get this medication to help you feel better and enjoy life.

Although you started using the medication for good reasons, you soon find it stops working unless you increase your dosage. You don’t feel as well until you take another pill. You still may not realize that you are now addicted to a prescription medication. However, the signs are often similar to other addictions.

You’ll start to focus more on how to access the drug and even be willing to lie and steal to get it. You may end up in financial trouble as you spend more money on Oxy. Family and friends may worry about your medication use and even suggest that you stop using it. However, you may find you’re still functional even when addicted. Many people who suffer from a prescription medication addiction can hold jobs, take care of their families and handle other responsibilities. They are functional addicts, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t addicted.

You may notice you’re more nervous and anxious when you haven’t had an Oxycodone pill for some time. You might become irritable and hard to get along with until you can get more of your medication. If any of this sounds like you, it might be an indication that you have become addicted.

Because Oxycodone is an opioid substance, it can be quite addictive. This means that when you attempt to stop taking it, you will suffer withdrawal symptoms that can be unpleasant at best and painful at their worst. You may feel increased sensitivity to pain and become restless and agitated. You may be unable to sleep and have a loss in appetite. You may also experience diarrhea and extreme sweating or cold.

One of the biggest risks with people who abuse Oxy medications is the increased likelihood that they will seek out heroin or another opiate to curb their cravings. This becomes an even bigger issue if the person is unable to access a prescription or find it on the street.

In these situations, you will need to detox from the Oxycodone. This means you must get it out of your system so that your body can begin functioning normally again. This process can take some time, and it can be uncomfortable or even painful for the first few days. The situation may be even worse if you’ve been using another drug along with the Oxy. Once detox has been completed, drug treatment can begin.

You may wonder if treatment is really necessary or if you can just stop the medication and resume your normal life. The answer depends on several factors. For one thing, it will depend on whether you’re abusing the drug or addicted and for how long. It also depends on how much you’ve been using.

A person who has just started abusing the drug and sees the dangers can usually stop on their own. However, even in this situation it may be best to contact a professional. Doctors will often reduce your dosage before removing the medication completely.

If you have been taking the drug for a long time or have become addicted, you may need rehab to begin recovery. You might need to learn how to deal with pain in a different way or to understand what caused you to turn to the medication in the first place.

Another reason you may not want to stop taking this medication by yourself is because you could suffer withdrawal symptoms that will cause you to relapse. If you’ve combined this drug with alcohol or other drugs, it can be even more serious to stop abusing it. Professional help can ensure you begin recovery in a safe way.

You may need to begin your Oxycodone treatment by going through OxyContin detox first. The detoxification process will help your body eliminate the drug efficiently. It will also give you support during the withdrawal stage, making it easier on your body. This is so important because it will increase your chances of being successful. However, you don’t want to stop here. If you only attend detox and not continue on with drug rehab treatment, you are more likely to relapse.

The next step is Oxycodone rehab. This is where you'll work on the mental part of the addiction. Both steps are critical and will help to guide you toward freedom from Oxy. You will want to attend a drug addiction treatment center that offers rehab for people with an addiction to prescription medications.

People with addictions to prescription medications may have a different background than those who are addicted to illicit drugs. For example, they may have been given the medication by a doctor, which is vastly different from how people begin using other drugs.

As you compare facilities for drug treatment, you’ll notice many of the same types of treatment for prescription medications as for street drugs. For instance, you’ll probably go through individual counseling as well as group therapy. You may need medication to help with the pain or to deal with the cravings or withdrawal symptoms.

Don’t underestimate the power of Oxy addiction. It can be as serious and as difficult to overcome as other opiates. You may need to attend inpatient rehab or an intensive outpatient program to overcome your addiction.

One of the main concerns for people who abuse OxyContin or other addictive opioids is the fact that they often lead to other addictions. They may be paired with alcohol or advance to heroin or morphine addiction.

If you wonder why someone would go from abusing Oxycodone to using heroin, you must understand the need for a drug by the system. As the person takes more of the prescription medication, their system develops a tolerance for it. The same dosage doesn’t seem to knock the pain or stop it for as long. So the person increases their dosage or takes the next dose just a little sooner than prescribed.

This situation will continue as they search for more of the drug from multiple doctors. When they can no longer get it through a prescription, they may try to find a dealer on the street who also provides Oxy. Because the prescription can be costly, especially when you can’t go through your insurance provider, it is often easier to switch to a less expensive drug like heroin.

Once you experiment with other drugs, you may find you’ve turned from a slight addiction to one that takes over your life. To break free of addiction to Oxycodone, you may need to find a drug rehab facility.