Oxycodone Addiction

Are You Struggling with Oxycodone Addiction?

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Page Clinically Reviewed on 7 July 202430 September 2024 by Kerry Canning, MBChB | Medical Editor

Key Takeaways 

• Oxycodone is an opioid drug prescribed for the management of moderate to severe pain 
• Due to its effects on the central nervous system and ability to elicit feelings of euphoria, oxycodone has an addictive potential
• Physical dependence and addiction to oxycodone can occur at prescribed doses and is more likely to develop in people taking the drug for longer than three months^2,3
• In the UK, oxycodone is a controlled, Class A drug but is illicitly misused in oral or intravenous forms6,8
• Signs of oxycodone addiction include taking higher doses or taking it for longer than prescribed, experiencing cravings, needing more oxycodone to produce desired effects (i.e., tolerance) and experiencing withdrawal symptoms when use is reduced or stopped⁹ 
• Detoxification may be required prior to commencing treatment for oxycodone addiction. A medically managed withdrawal provides medical supervision and relevant medications to ease the detox process
• Medical treatments combined with talking therapies, like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and support groups, can be effective in managing oxycodone addiction¹¹ 
• Residential rehabilitation at Castle Craig is delivered through personalised treatment plans, spanning from medically supervised detox to aftercare, to support long-term recovery

What Is Oxycodone?

Oxycodone is a semi-synthetic opioid drug prescribed in pill or liquid form. It can also be given as an injection in hospital settings. It is used to relieve moderate to severe pain after surgery or due to illness. In cases where other medications have not provided adequate pain relief, it can also be used for the management of chronic (long-term) pain. Due to its potential for misuse, healthcare professionals are advised to discuss the risks of opioid addiction with patients and agree on strategies for tapering treatment. 

Oxycodone has various brand names, including Longtec, OxyContin, Oxypro, Reltebon and Zomestine. The pill and liquid forms tend to work within 30–60 minutes and last up to 4–6 hours. Slow-release tablets are also available which provide longer-lasting pain relief but don’t take full effect until 1–2 days after treatment.^1–3

Derived from the poppy plant⁴, oxycodone works directly on opioid receptors in the central nervous system (CNS) to reduce feelings of pain. Like other opioids, it is a CNS depressant, meaning that its use can lead to a reduced breathing rate, decreased blood pressure and sedation. These effects can be life-threatening.³ 

Due to its effects on the CNS and ability to elicit feelings of euphoria, oxycodone can be a habit-forming drug. Whether you are taking it as medically prescribed or using illicit non-medical doses, oxycodone has a high potential for misuse.^2,3 In 2001, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amended the labelling of OxyContin to include stronger warnings advising physicians against prescribing oxycodone for mild or temporary pain.⁵

In the UK, under the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1971, oxycodone is classified as a controlled, Class A drug. This classification and its related penalties reflect the potential for harm related to misuse of oxycodone.⁶ In the US, in 2022, there were 14,716 overdose deaths involving prescription opioids, such as oxycodone.⁷ 

Oxycodone is illicitly misused orally or intravenously. It is known by a variety of street names, such as Hillbilly Heroin, Kicker, Oxy, OC, Ox, Perc or Roxy.⁸

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Side Effects of Oxycodone

Oxycodone is a potent opioid drug which can produce various physical and mental side effects. These effects can include: 

• Anxiety 
• Depression 
• Altered mood 
• Dizziness 
• Headache 
• Gastrointestinal discomfort
• Constipation or diarrhoea 
• Breathlessness 

Depending on the period you have been using oxycodone or the dose you are taking, you might experience some of the more serious side effects. Severe effects, such as a reduced breathing rate, can occur with high doses of oxycodone. Extended use (over three months) can precipitate the development of addiction and physical dependence, even at prescribed doses.^2,3 

Withdrawal syndrome is an adverse event which can occur if oxycodone use is abruptly reduced or stopped. Symptoms of oxycodone withdrawal can include¹: 

• Agitation 
• Anxiety 
• Panic attacks 
• Difficulty sleeping 
• Shaking
• Sweating 
• Nausea and/or vomiting 
• Heart palpitations (awareness of your heartbeat) 

Oxycodone Addiction 

Oxycodone addiction is a significant issue affecting patients and healthcare systems. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) provides helpful criteria for recognising and diagnosing substance use disorders (SUDs), such as oxycodone addiction. 

Signs of Oxycodone Misuse

Oxycodone dependence or misuse can be hard to recognise if you don’t know what to look out for. The DSM-5 criteria describe the loss of control, physical dependence, risky use and social issues that can arise from opioid misuse and addiction. Knowing these signs can help you to recognise when you or someone you know is slipping into prescription drug addiction. Early recognition can facilitate timely and appropriate treatment to aid recovery from oxycodone addiction.

The DSM-5 criteria for diagnosing oxycodone addiction, an opioid use disorder, are: 

• Using more oxycodone or using it for longer than prescribed 
• Inability to reduce or stop oxycodone use 
• Experiencing cravings 
• Investing significant amounts of time in obtaining, using or recovering from oxycodone 
• Neglecting important work, social or recreational activities due to oxycodone use 
• Inability to maintain usual responsibilities at home, work or school due to oxycodone use 
• Repeated use despite dangerous consequences 
• Continued use despite physical or psychological issues that could be caused or exacerbated by oxycodone use 
• Continued use despite relationship issues 
• Development of tolerance, i.e., requiring higher doses to achieve the desired effect 
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms that are alleviated by using oxycodone  

The DSM-5 also provides guidance for grading severity. Someone experiencing 2–3 symptoms is likely to have a mild disorder, 4–5 symptoms indicates a moderate disorder and 6 or more symptoms denotes a severe substance use disorder.⁹

Risk Factors for Developing Oxycodone Addiction

Certain biological and environmental factors can increase the likelihood of developing drug addictions, like oxycodone addiction. These risk factors include¹⁰: 

• Lack of parental supervision 
• Parental drug misuse and/or illicit activities 
• Drugs available at school 
• Early drug use 
• Drug experimentation 
• Childhood aggression 
• Low peer refusal skills 
• Community poverty 
• Smoking or injecting drugs 

Oxycodone Detox

Before therapeutic treatment can start, you may need to go through a detoxification process from oxycodone. It is important to seek medical support when withdrawing from oxycodone, rather than stopping use abruptly. The latter may trigger uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms which can be challenging to overcome on your own.¹¹

Symptoms of oxycodone withdrawal can feel like a severe flu and vary depending on the degree of dependence. These effects can occur within hours of last use and persist for days or weeks afterwards. Short-acting oxycodone can produce withdrawal symptoms within 8–24 hours which last 4–10 days, whereas long-acting preparations can elicit symptoms within 12–48 hours that last for between 10–20 days.¹² 

Oxycodone withdrawal symptoms include nausea, sweating and anxiety. Intense cravings can also occur when oxycodone use is abruptly reduced or stopped. These cravings can make it more difficult to maintain abstinence and often result in relapse.    

Medically managed withdrawal is a detox option which provides medical supervision and appropriate medications to help minimise uncomfortable withdrawal effects. 

It is important to remember that after independent or medically managed withdrawal, relapse is common. People are also at increased risk of overdose during this time as physical tolerance to oxycodone has been lost. It is therefore vital to follow-up with appropriate long-term treatment and support for oxycodone addiction.¹¹ 

Please note, that opioid overdoses are medical emergencies that require immediate medical intervention. If you are looking for advice for a friend or family member in crisis, please call the emergency services. 

Treatment for Oxycodone Addiction

As with other opioid use disorders, oxycodone addiction can be effectively managed through a combination of medical and behavioural approaches. These approaches can be initiated in community settings or within residential rehabilitation facilities. 

Medical Treatments

Three drugs have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of opioid use disorders. These are:

• Methadone
• Buprenorphine
• Naltrexone

These drugs can be prescribed as alternatives to oxycodone as part of opioid replacement, maintenance or substitution therapy. Both methadone and buprenorphine are opioids, meaning that they are able to block the effects of other opioids, reduce cravings and ease withdrawal symptoms. As people suffering from oxycodone addiction have developed tolerance, these medications should not produce euphoric effects at therapeutic doses. 

Naltrexone is a non-opioid drug which works by blocking opioids from binding to receptors in the brain. This medication is usually delivered by an injection which lasts for up to four weeks.

Medical treatment may continue long-term, i.e., for many years, for people living with opioid use disorder.

Talking Therapies

There are various forms of talking therapy which can be helpful in the management of oxycodone addiction. These include: 

• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
• Motivational enhancement therapy (MET) 
• Family counselling 
• Support groups/mutual help groups  

Approaches like CBT can empower patients to recognise negative thought patterns and understand how they link to addictive behaviours. This can help initiate behaviour changes that promote healing and recovery.^11,13

MET is a therapeutic approach which fosters motivation and engagement with opioid use disorder treatment. This approach features motivational interviewing and is a short-term intervention used to support self-efficacy and empower patients to make positive choices.¹⁴

Family counselling and support groups can provide social support to promote lasting recovery from oxycodone addiction. Mutual help groups, such as Narcotics Anonymous and SMART Recovery, provide a safe space for sharing experiences and facilitate peer learning during the recovery process. These groups also supply encouragement and accountability, which can support long-lasting recovery from oxycodone addiction.^11,13 

How Can Castle Craig Help?

At Castle Craig, we recognise seeking help for oxycodone addiction as a bold and courageous step towards recovery. We are here to support you throughout your treatment, offering guidance, care and expertise to help you overcome oxycodone addiction and achieve successful recovery. 

Inpatient treatment can provide you with the time and space needed to recover from oxycodone addiction, without being exposed to relapse triggers. 

We offer a comprehensive treatment approach, which has been developed to address all aspects of opioid use disorders, like oxycodone addiction. Our treatment programmes are tailored to meet the unique physical and psychological needs of individual patients. Key elements of our personalised programmes include: 

• Medical Detoxification: Our medically supervised detoxification process takes place at our on-site detox centre. This process supports patients withdrawing from opioids, like oxycodone and prepares them for the next steps in their recovery
• Therapeutic Interventions: We offer a range of evidence-based therapeutic interventions, including individual and group counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and family therapy. These approaches can help in identifying the underlying causes of addiction, establishing effective coping mechanisms and promoting lasting behavioural transformations
• Psychiatric Support: Dependence on opioids such as oxycodone often coexists with other mental health disorders. Our integrated approach ensures that patients receive comprehensive psychiatric care, helping to address co-occurring conditions such as anxiety, depression and trauma-related disorders
• Complementary Therapies: Castle Craig delivers a variety of holistic treatments, such as mindfulness meditation, yoga and art therapy. These therapies can support emotional healing and enhance well-being
• Aftercare Planning: We recognise that long-term recovery requires ongoing support. By providing detailed aftercare plans, we can equip patients with resources and tools for maintaining sobriety post-treatment. Our aftercare plans feature access to outpatient services, support groups and continued counselling

If you or someone you know is struggling with oxycodone addiction, it can be frightening and feel hopeless. But help is available and people do recover. 

Contact us today to arrange a free, confidential assessment and find out how we can support you on your addiction recovery journey.