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More than 12 million people in the United States reported using prescription painkillers for drug abuse in 2010. People who become dependent on them sometimes move on to more addictive, illegal, and dangerous drugs such as cocaine and heroin. Those who have used opiates for an extended period of time, their bodies becomes desensitized to the drug. But when they start to ease themselves off of it there are 2 phases they will have to go through. Through these initial phases, it can last anywhere from a week to a month. It is then followed by long-term withdrawal symptoms, which often include emotional and/or behavioral issues.

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muscle aches

restlessness

anxiety

agitation

tearing eyes

runny nose

excessive sweating

sleeplessness

excessive yawning

low energy

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diarrhea

abdominal cramps

nausea

vomiting

dilated pupils

rapid heartbeat

goose bumps

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Oxycodone is an opioid drug used to relieve moderate to severe pain in adults who can't be treated with other pain medications. Oxycodone may be prescribed following an injury, trauma, or major surgery. It may also be prescribed to treat other types of severe pain, like cancer pain.

Brand names for immediate-release oxycodone include:

Brand names for controlled or extended-release versions of oxycodone include:

OxyContin CR (controlled-release)

Xtampza ER (extended-release)

There are also combination medications that include oxycodone, such as:

oxycodone combined with acetaminophen (Percocet)

oxycodone combined with acetaminophen (Xartemis XR)

oxycodone combined with aspirin (generic available)

oxycodone combined with ibuprofen (generic available)

Oxycodone is derived from the poppy plant. It binds to the mu opioid receptor and blocks the feeling of pain. Since oxycodone works in the pleasure centers of the brain, it has a high potential for abuse and addiction. For this reason, oxycodone is classified as a federal controlled substance (C-II).

If you've been prescribed oxycodone, you may be curious as to how long the effects will last in your body, and how long the medication may show up on a drug test. It's also important to understand what to do if you decide to stop taking oxycodone. Abruptly stopping the medication can lead to withdrawal symptoms.

The amount of oxycodone needed for analgesia (pain relief) varies widely between people. Usually, a doctor will start you on a low dose and then increase the dose slowly until your pain is well controlled. People who have taken an opioid medication before may need to take a higher dose in order to experience pain relief.

Oxycodone is taken by mouth (oral) and should be taken with food. You should start feeling the effects of oxycodone in just 20 to 30 minutes. Oxycodone reaches peak concentrations in the bloodstream in roughly one to two hours following ingestion. Extended- and controlled-release formulations can take three to four hours to reach peak concentration in the bloodstream.

Over time, you may build up a tolerance to oxycodone. This means it may take longer to feel the pain relief or the relief may not feel as strong. When this happens, your doctor may want to increase your dose or switch you to a different type of pain medication. Don't take a larger dose of oxycodone without speaking to your doctor first.

One way to find out how long a drug will last in your body is to measure its half-life. The half-life is the time it takes for half of the drug to be eliminated from the body.

Immediate-release formulations of oxycodone have average half-life of 3.2 hours. In other words, it takes 3.2 hours for the average person to eliminate half of the dose of oxycodone. Controlled/extended-release formulations of oxycodone have a longer half-life of about 4.5 hours to 5.6 hours, on average.

It takes several half-lives to fully eliminate a drug. Since everyone metabolizes medications differently, the half-life will vary from person to person. For most people, oxycodone will fully clear the blood within 24 hours, but it can still be detected in the saliva, urine, or hair for longer than that.

Oxycodone can be detected in:

saliva for one to four days after the last dose is taken

urine for three to four days after the last dose is taken

hair for up to 90 days after the last dose is taken

You will likely stop "feeling" the pain relief of oxycodone long before it fully clears your body. This is why your doctor may have you take a single tablet of oxycodone every four to six hours while you're in pain.

Controlled or extended-release formulations last longer, so they are usually taken every 12 hours.

A number of factors can influence the time it takes for oxycodone to clear the body. These include:

Age

The blood concentrations of oxycodone have been shown to be 15 percent higher in the elderly (over age 65) compared to younger adults. It may take longer for elderly people to clear oxycodone from their system.

Gender

According to the package insert for OxyContin, oxycodone concentration for healthy female subjects was up to 25 percent higher than in males. The same was seen in studies for Xtampza ER. The reason for this is unclear.

Liver function

The average half-life of oxycodone increases by 2.3 hours in people with liver dysfunction. This means it will take longer to clear oxycodone from the body.

Kidney function

One study found that the average half-life of oxycodone increases by one hour in people with kidney problems.

How long you've been taking oxycodone

If you take oxycodone regularly, it can accumulate in fatty tissues in your body. This means that the longer you've been taking oxycodone, the longer it will take to be completely eliminated from the body.

Alcohol

The effects of oxycodone are increased if you consume alcohol. Not only will it take longer to clear oxycodone from your body, but it can also lead to dangerous side effects, including a potentially fatal overdose.

Other medications

Oxycodone is cleared by your body through a pathway known as cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A). Drugs that inhibit CYP3A4 make it more difficult for your body to break down oxycodone. Taking oxycodone with the following medications could result in serious problems, including respiratory depression:

macrolide antibiotics, such as erythromycin

azole antifungal agents, such as ketoconazole

protease inhibitors

Alternatively, drugs that induce CYP3A, such as rifampin, may decrease the effects of oxycodone.

Don't stop taking oxycodone abruptly without consulting your doctor because you can have serious withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms occur when the body has become dependent on a drug.

If you experience withdrawal symptoms, it doesn't necessarily mean you're addicted to oxycodone. Dependence is different from addiction. In drug dependence, the body has become used to the presence of a drug, so if you stop taking that drug suddenly, you will experience predictable symptoms known as a withdrawal symptoms.

These may include:

Dependence usually doesn't occur until after several weeks of taking the drug consistently. Your doctor may reduce your dosage gradually over time to prevent withdrawal. This is called tapering. It's recommended that the dose is decreased gradually while monitoring carefully for signs and symptoms of withdrawal.

If you do experience withdrawal symptoms, they can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe. Everyone experiences withdrawal differently, but in general symptoms begin to improve within 72 hours and decrease significantly within a week. Your doctor can help you manage your symptoms.

The pain relief effect of immediate-release oxycodone will wear off within four to six hours, but the drug may still be detected in the saliva and urine for up to four days hours and in the hair for 90 days after the last dose.

There are also a number of factors that could alter the time it takes for oxycodone to clear the body, including:

age

gender

liver and kidney health

how long you've been taking oxycodone

certain medications

You shouldn't drink alcohol or take other street drugs while taking oxycodone as these will increase your risk of experiencing major side effects, including serious breathing problems. Tell your doctor if you're taking any other medications.

Never take more than your prescribed dose of oxycodone, even if you feel that the medicine is not working. It's possible to overdose on oxycodone.

Seek emergency care if you experience any of the following symptoms after taking oxycodone:

difficulty breathing

slowed or stopped breathing

cold, clammy skin

loss of consciousness or coma

extreme sleepiness

constricted pupils

limp or weak muscles

vomiting

Opioids such as oxycodone have been associated with serious health issues, including addiction and overdose. In 2015, more than 20,000 people died from opioid prescription-related overdoses in the United States, according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

You should carefully read the information contained in the product label before you begin treatment with oxycodone. Only take your prescribed dose. Contact your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.

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how long does oxycodone stay in your system

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How Long Does Oxycodone Stay in Your System: Blood and More

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Oxycodone is an opioid drug used to relieve moderate to severe pain in adults who can't be treated with other pain medications. Oxycodone may be prescribed following an injury, trauma, or major surgery. It may also be prescribed to treat other types of severe pain, like cancer pain.

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Opioids are in the national spotlight right, as millions of people report using them and often abusing them, and thousands of Americans die each year from opioid overdoses. The following are some key facts about opioids:

Estimates are showing that overdose deaths from drugs will probably be more than 59,000 for the year of 2016, representing the biggest ever increase in the U.S., based on information from The New York Times

The large number of overdose deaths is primarily related to opioids including OxyContin and heroin

The estimate is that the number of deaths related to drug overdoses rose 19 percent from 2015 to 2016, and it looks like there's set to be another increase for 2017

Some of the areas where there were the biggest spikes in overdose deaths included the East Coast states like Maryland, Florida, Pennsylvania and Maine

Opioids are prescribed for pain, both acute and chronic, but heroin is also an opioid

New and incredibly potent and deadly opioids have also hit the market in large numbers recently including fentanyl

Opioids usually come in pill form, unless it's heroin, and they are crushed into powder and snorted and injected often

Opioids can lead to a euphoric high, and also addiction and dependence

So, is OxyContin an opiate? We'll go into details about opiates vs. opioids and specifics of OxyContin below.

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Is OxyContin an Opiate? Facts About Opioids

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Opioids are in the national spotlight right, as millions of people report using them and often abusing them, and thousands of Americans die each year from opioid overdoses.

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Semi-synthetic opioid drug prescribed for pain as Tylox®, Percodan®, OxyContin®. Derived from the poppy plant, has high potential for abuse.

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OxyContin is a Schedule II controlled substance in the U.S., meaning the use of this drug carries with it a high potential for abuse and addiction. It's also one of the most prescribed and illegally obtained drugs in the U.S.

When you take the time-release OxyContin, the risk of addiction is lower, but many people will take the drug in ways other than what's prescribed. For example, people will break the capsules or crush the tablets. They can then snort them or chew them, which takes away the time-release component of OxyContin and instead releases the effects all at once. This creates a euphoric high. People may also crush the tablets and dissolve them in a liquid so they can inject them. The high that occurs when OxyContin is abused is often compared to that of heroin.

So how do you know if someone is addicted to OxyContin? One of the first OxyContin side effects with an addiction is a preoccupation with the drug. This can include taking it and obtaining it. People who are addicted to OxyContin will often become completely focused on finding their next dose of the drug, and they may build a tolerance and start taking higher and higher doses to achieve the desired effect. Another OxyContin sign of addiction includes mixing it with other substances such as alcohol to amplify the effects.

People who are addicted to OxyContin will often lose interest in things they were previously engaged in, including school, work, and relationships. Some of the physical OxyContin side effects that come with abuse of the drug and addiction include fatigue, apathy, confusion and nausea, and vomiting.

If someone overdoses on OxyContin their breathing and heart rate may slow since it is a respiratory and central nervous system depressant.

Someone who is dependent on OxyContin, with or without an addiction, will experience certain side effects if they stop taking the drug suddenly. OxyContin side effects stemming from withdrawal can include anxiety, restlessness, insomnia and aching muscles. OxyContin withdrawal symptoms can also seem like the flu, can include cramps and diarrhea, and in serious cases may include seizures and convulsions.

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Signs, Symptoms, & Side Effects of OxyContin Abuse

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OxyContin is a Schedule II controlled substance in the U.S., meaning the use of this drug carries with it a high potential for abuse and addiction. It's also one of the most prescribed and illegally obtained drugs in the U.S.

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difficulty breathing

slowed or stopped breathing

cold, clammy skin

loss of consciousness or coma

extreme sleepiness

constricted pupils

limp or weak muscles

vomiting

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Shallow breathing

Slow heartbeat

Confusion

Severe drowsiness

Severe constipation

Sexual problems

Feeling lightheaded

Seizures

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It blocks the feeling of pain. Since oxycodone works in the pleasure centers of the brain, through the mu opioid receptor, it has a high potential for abuse and addiction. For this reason, oxycodone is classified as a federal controlled substance (C-II).

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The effects of oxycodone are increased if you consume alcohol. Not only will it take longer to clear oxycodone from your body, but it can also lead to dangerous side effects, including a potentially fatal overdose.

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The average half-life of oxycodone increases by one hour in people with kidney problems.

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The average half-life of oxycodone increases by 2.3 hours in people with liver dysfunction. This means it will take longer to clear oxycodone from the body.

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Oxycodone/Oxycontin concentration for healthy female subjects was up to 25 percent higher than in males.

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Blood concentrations of oxycodone have been shown to be 15 percent higher in the elderly, typically over the age of 65 compared to younger adults. It may take longer for elderly people to clear oxycodone from their system.

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If you take oxycodone regularly, it can accumulate in fatty tissues in your body. This means that the longer you’ve been taking oxycodone, the longer it will take to be completely eliminated from the body.

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Drugs that inhibit CYP3A4, the genes that encode monooxygenase which causes drug metabolism and synthesis of cholesterol, steroids and other lipids. This make it more difficult for your body to break down oxycodone. Taking oxycodone with the following medications could result in serious problems, including respiratory depression:

macrolide antibiotics, such as erythromycin

azole antifungal agents, such as ketoconazole

protease inhibitors

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It is mainly taken in tablet form but if crushed into a fine powder can be inhaled through the nasal.

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Oxycontin is a strong prescription pain medicine, for adults, that is a  semi-synthetic opioid. It is taken to manage moderate to severe pain that helps with daily activities.Also prescribed for pain caused by cancer, severe arthritis, sickle cell disease, and nerve damage. It is not often used for children less than 11 years of age, who are not already taking opioid pain medicines regularly to manage severe pain. It is the brand name of the opioid oxycodone, an extended, more controlled  version. The result is a rapid, powerful high because the entire extended release medicine affects the person at one time.

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Oxycontin is derived from the poppy plant.

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Roxycodone

Roxybond

Oxy IR

Hillbilly Heroin

Kicker

OC

Ox

Roxy

Perc

Oxy

Oxycotton

Oxaydo

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Inhaling vapors by heating tablet on foil

Crushed and sniffed or dissolved in water and injected