What is Oxycodone?
Oxycodone is a potent prescription opiate doctors use to treat moderate to severe pain. When it is used medically, oxycodone can improve the comfort and quality of life of patients with cancer, arthritis, and injuries that are nonresponsive to other pain medications.
Unfortunately, oxycodone and other opiates are also extremely addictive. This means that whether the use of oxycodone begins with a prescription or in an illicit setting, addiction is not only a possibility but also likely with long-term use or abuse.
Most of us are aware of the opioid epidemic that began in the 1980s. But many are unaware that the epidemic continues. While we are still facing high rates of addictions and overdoses, we also know more about these drugs than we ever did in the past.
And help is available today, starting with an oxycodone detox.
Oxycodone and the Opioid Epidemic
The second most common form of illicit drug use in the country is the misuse of prescription painkillers. Opioids, in particular, have proven truly problematic over the last several decades. In 2019, over 70% of all drug overdose deaths involved an opioid.
Because they alter two of the most important functions in the human body, the central nervous system and pain receptors in the brain, misuse of opioids can have severe consequences. Oxycodone is one of the most dangerous.
Heroin, hydrocodone, fentanyl, and morphine are also some of the biggest contributors to the ongoing opioid epidemic.
Signs and Symptoms of Oxycodone Misuse and Dependence
Prescription drug misuse takes many shapes. It may be as simple as taking higher doses of the drug than your prescription calls for. Taking your pills with alcohol or other substances on the warning label or ingesting them through any unapproved method also constitutes misuse.
For example, if your prescription calls for oral ingestion of your medication, this is the only method that you should use. Crushing and snorting, chewing, or injecting prescription medications can be incredibly dangerous, even fatal.
While even prescription use can become dangerous, misuse will cause problems and dependence sooner. And those problems may be far more severe. But because it is a common prescription medication, it can be difficult to distinguish between appropriate use and misuse.
The paragraphs above identify some of the most common methods of misuse. Now, let’s talk about the next stage: dependence.
Oxycodone Dependence Side Effects
Some of the most common side effects of oxycodone dependence include:
- Increased tolerance, requiring you to take more of the medication to achieve the same level of pain relief.
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking the medication.
- Increased pain sensitivity.
- Constipation, nausea, vomiting, and dry mouth.
- Sleepiness and dizziness.
- Confusion and depression.
- Itchiness and sweatiness.
- Lowered energy, strength, and sex drive.
If you’ve been battling the side effects of dependence, our oxycodone detox can help.
What is an Oxycodone Detox?
An oxycodone detox is a process that allows the body to rid itself of the substance. There are different types of detoxes, and not all are created equally. An at-home oxycodone detox is generally considered less effective and more dangerous than a supervised oxycodone detox.
Any shortcuts or home remedies for oxy detox are likely to be temporary band-aids rather than long-term solutions. Alternatively, our professional oxycodone detoxes are designed to set you up for long-term success.
What to Expect from Oxycodone Withdrawals
The type, duration, and severity of your oxycodone withdrawal symptoms can vary depending on many individual factors. The type of detox is one of these factors. For example, your symptoms might be more numerous and severe during a cold turkey oxycodone detox than they would be during a medically supervised oxycodone detox in our facility.
A few other factors that may alter your experience include:
- Your overall physical health.
- Your mental health.
- How long and how often you have used oxycodone.
- Your method of use.
- Other substances in your body.
The dose is another important factor. Oxycodone prescriptions are given at different doses and under different brand names. OxyContin, Percocet, Percodan, and several other prescription drugs contain oxycodone.
Oxycodone Withdrawal Symptoms
Despite external factors that may influence your experience, some oxycodone withdrawal symptoms are more common than others. Here are some of the ones that occur the most frequently:
- Anxiety, depression, and agitation.
- Muscle aches, pain, and fatigue.
- Teary eyes, cough, and runny nose.
- Insomnia, sweats, and excessive yawning.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Trouble concentrating.
- Increased heart rate.
- Mood swings.
Oxycodone withdrawal symptoms can be mental, physical, or both. The potential timeline of oxycodone withdrawal is difficult to predict because the experience is different for everyone. But on average, symptoms appear within the first 12 hours of the last dose and last up to one week.
When you attempt to detox alone at home, this can be a scary, difficult, and even dangerous experience. When you attend a professional oxycodone detox, we can help mitigate the risks and make you more comfortable.
Treatment Options for Oxycodone Withdrawal
One of the biggest benefits of choosing a medically supervised oxycodone detox is that we can help eliminate or reduce many of your withdrawal symptoms. You will also have 24-hour access to the care and support of a dedicated medical team in a safe and comfortable facility.
These benefits are what make this one of the top methods for oxycodone detox. But this is not your only option, and not all are eligible for medically assisted detoxes. Social detoxes are similar, occurring under the same conditions, but without the medication.
This is an ideal option for those who react adversely to the medication or who have less severe addictions and do not need it. At-home detoxes are rarely successful, and that is not for a lack of effort. Oxycodone is an extremely addictive drug that affects both the body and brain.
Our dedicated team of professionals will not only ensure your safety and comfort but will also offer guidance and help you boost your confidence to prepare for the next stages of recovery.
Aftercare and Planning for Recovery from Oxycodone
While detox is an extremely important first step, it is not the end of the road. Finding long-term peace in sobriety often requires long-term care. This care can take place in several settings, ranging from full-time to part-time, with activities like support group meetings filling in the spaces in between.
After an oxycodone detox, we offer several continued recovery options, and we personalize them to fit the needs of each client we meet. We offer inpatient, residential treatments, detox aftercare, outpatient programs, and sober living settings.
Wherever you are in your recovery, we will meet you there and guide you to where you want to be. Recovery starts here, at Divine Detox. Withdrawal symptoms have kept many individuals feeling trapped in the deadly addiction cycle.
Our oxycodone detox and treatments can help you break free.
Oxycodone Detox Orange County
The best time to enter an oxycodone detox is now, not when the problem gets worse, as it inevitably will. Certain things in life cannot be ignored or wished away. Addiction is one of them. Thankfully, we have a resolute team of professionals who have helped hundreds of individuals regain control of their lives.
Conveniently located in Simi Valley, we are easy to get to from Thousand Oaks, Westlake, Ventura, Woodland Hills, and Santa Monica. But we have also helped clients from all over the country.
Our customized care plans are centered entirely around your needs, meaning that no two treatments will be the same. Call us today at 818-938-2177 to start building yours.