The symptoms of oxycodone addiction are often similar to those seen in other drug addictions. They often include physical, mental and behavioral signs. Some of the symptoms experienced, especially those related to physical withdrawal, may actually feed a person’s addiction further. With treatment, however, many of the symptoms of oxycodone addiction can often be alleviated so the user can begin the process of recovery.
Oxycodone is a prescription opioid painkiller. Health-care providers often prescribe it to help treat significant pain related to surgery or certain health problems, such cancer and infections. It works by changing the way the brain and nerves work, so they don’t interpret pain signals as intensely as usual. Like many other opiates, such as morphine and methadone, oxycodone has the potential to become addictive when used incorrectly or over long periods of times.
The path to oxycodone addiction often begins with tolerance. This is when a person needs to take more of the drug to get the same effect. In some cases, users may experience withdrawal symptoms if they miss a dose of the drug. These may include moodiness, anxiety, stomach upset, trouble sleeping and flu-like symptoms. Other physical symptoms of oxycodone addiction can include a worsening of the normal side effects of the drug, such as constipation, headaches, dizziness and breathing problems.
In addition to physical signs, there can also be mental and behavioral symptoms of oxycodone addiction. For example, users may feel that they need the drug just to get through the day. Or, they may fear withdrawal symptoms so much that they continue to take the drug even if it is causing problems in their life. In terms of behavior, people addicted to oxycodone may act erratically and give up activities they used to enjoy. They may seek the drug out at all costs, no matter the harm to their jobs, families or finances.
Treatment to help overcome the symptoms of oxycodone addiction is often key to helping users recover. Such treatment can include administration of certain medications to help with physical withdrawal and/or block the effects of oxycodone. One such drug, called buprenoprhine, mimics some of the effects of opiates on the brain, which can help keep withdrawal symptoms at bay when a person first stops using oxycodone.
Once a person can overcome these initial physical symptoms, work can usually begin to help treat the mental and behavioral symptoms. Counseling, support groups and cognitive behavioral therapy are often recommended to help users learn how to live their lives without the drug.
