Some people may think that oxycodone, also commonly referred to as oxy, can be prescribed by doctors. It’s true that it’s less dangerous than street drugs, such as heroin. However, addiction to painkillers can creep up on you. Oxycodone or Oxy is one such prescription painkiller. Because of the medication’s potency, individuals can follow their doctor’s instructions and still develop a dependency through no fault of their own. Oxy addiction side effects can be devastating. Due to massive overprescribing driven by the pharmaceutical industry, millions have become addicted. When these individuals can no longer get the prescriptions they need, they often turn to cheaper, more illicit drugs such as heroin. Nearly 80% of heroin users took prescription painkillers first.
Heading to an oxycodone detox center in Florida can help you recover from these side effects and begin living a healthier life. At Tides Edge Detox, our team of medical professionals is experienced and compassionate. We understand just how addictive prescription medications can be.
Why Is Oxycodone So Addictive?
Many people believe that they’re immune to addiction because they’ve never used drugs before. You might think that you have enough willpower to know when your medication use is becoming a problem.
Unfortunately, opioids like oxycodone bypass the areas of the brain that use reason and logic. They go straight to the reward centers. When your body gets a hit of enjoyment from the drug, it releases neurotransmitters associated with pleasure and a positive mood.
The problem is that your body is naturally predisposed to do this on its own. Every time you do something enjoyable, like eating or shopping, mood-enhancing neurotransmitters are released. These can even go as far as to dull pain.
When you take oxycodone, your body thinks it doesn’t need to produce its own feel-good chemicals anymore. If you don’t have a dose of the opioid in your system, you might feel worse than you ever have. As your body stops giving you natural chemical rewards, you begin to rely on the medication to help you feel good. Some people get to a point where they need the drug to function on a routine level.
Some Side-Effects of Oxycodone Addiction
Those who take prescription medication as directed are less likely to become addicted than people who use oxy recreationally. Still, even managing pain with prescription medication can quickly lead to addiction.
Some oxy addiction side effects can serve as warning signs that you might be becoming physically dependent on the substance. These include:
- Needing a higher dosage to relieve your pain
- Thinking or worrying about getting or taking your medication
- You’re taking different dosages than your doctor prescribed
- You go to various doctors to obtain more medication
- There’s continued use after the pain is gone
- You get defensive if someone talks about your painkillers
Many physical and psychological oxy addiction side effects occur with frequent and high dosages. These range from mild to hazardous. Although the desirable impacts of the drug include pain relief, mental relaxation, and the release of tension, unpleasant oxy addiction side effects often happen.
Are Withdrawal Symptoms An Oxy Addiction Side Effect?
Because your body loses its natural chemical balance when you take oxycodone, it must work its way back to homeostasis. While this happens, you might feel ill.
Some oxy addiction side effects include flu-like symptoms. When you stop taking the pills, you might experience nausea, vomiting, chills, sweats, and fever.
As you continue along the journey to recovery, you may experience psychological side effects too. Many people feel irritable or depressed as they work toward reconnecting with themselves outside of substance abuse. Mood and mental changes can last for months or even years.
3 Ways to Detox from Oxycodone
Detoxing is a necessary first step in overcoming a substance use disorder. Recovery from addiction begins with flushing the drug out of one’s system. There are several ways this can be done:
- Self-detox: Also known as going ‘cold turkey,’ is the process by which an individual attempts to abstain from using oxycodone or other substances. However, this route routinely fails to lead to recovery because the withdrawal symptoms the individual undergoes are too intense, leading to relapse.
- Professional detox: With medical professionals monitoring one’s progress at a safe, comfortable facility like Tides Edge, this form of detox is the most effective.
- Medication-assisted treatment: Within detox, some individuals need strictly administered medications to help them overcome their cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Medication-assisted treatment or MAT is one way long-term users can recover through detox.
Reach Out to Tides Edge Detox Today
With the proper treatment, you can reframe your mindset, redevelop your spirit and support your emotions as you shift into a state of healing. At Tides Edge Detox Center, we provide drug and alcohol addiction treatment for prescription pill abuse and other substance abuse disorders. Some of our other prescription drug detox programs include:
Whether you know that you need help with oxy abuse or have questions, contact Tides Edge Detox Center at 866.723.3127, or contact us online. We will support you as you progress toward healing.
