Oxycontin Oral : Usage,Effect,Precautions and Medical conditions contraindicate it.
What is oxycontin, and how is it used?
Oxycontin is the extended-release brand name version of generic oxycodone. The pills of oxycontin contain oxycodone hydrochloride salts in the strengths of 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 60, and 80 milligrams in the extended-release formulations.
The medication is useful in the long-term treatment of severe pain conditions that require around the clock analgesia. Contrary to oxycodone pills, oxycontin pills are only for the long-term chronic pain conditions where other medications such as non-opioid analgesic, immediate-release opioids, and combinational opioid analgesics, are not sufficient for adequate pain-relieving effects.
What are the effects of oxycontin?
Oxycontin imparts pain-relieving effects that last for about 10 to 12 hours. It acts on the brain by binding to the opioid receptors and activating the mu-opioid receptor. The medication is about two times more potent than morphine in terms of analgesic effects when taken by mouth.
Additionally, like all other opioids, oxycontin also cause some adverse effects on the body. Based on the clinical trials, some common side effects include:
- Constipation (23%)
- Somnolence (23%)
- Nausea (23%)
- Pruritus (13%)
- Dizziness (13%)
- Vomiting (12%)
- Headache (7%)
- Asthenia (6%)
- Dry mouth (6%)
- Sweating (5%)
In addition to these mild effects, oxycontin may also cause several adverse effects such as the risks of abuse, addiction, and misuse, life-threatening respiratory depression, fatal interactions with benzodiazepines and other central nervous system depressants, severe hypotension, opioid withdrawal symptoms, and other physical and psychological effects.
What medical conditions contraindicate the use of oxycontin?
Several medical conditions contraindicate the use of oxycontin. A health care provider may not prescribe the medication to someone having the following health conditions:
- Significant respiratory depression
- Acute or severe bronchial asthma
- Gastrointestinal obstruction including paralytic ileus
- Anaphylaxis
- Hypersensitivity to oxycodone or any other components of the pills
Are there any warnings and precautions associated with oxycontin?
Oxycontin contains boxed warnings, including:
- Oxycontin is a schedule II controlled substance that exposes its users to the risks of opioid addiction and abuse. As it is an extended-release medication, it delivers the opioid over an extended time period, thus increasing the chances of overdose and death.
- Addiction through oxycontin can occur both with the recommended doses or if someone abuse or misuse it.
- A health care provider should assess each patient for the risks of addiction or misuse before oxycontin and monitor the patients for the development of behavioral symptoms of addiction.
- Abuse of oxycontin by chewing, crushing, injecting, or snorting the medication will result in an uncontrolled release of oxycodone, thus causing overdose or death.
- Severe life-threatening respiratory depression can occur with the use of oxycontin, even when taken at recommended doses. If not recognized and treated on time, it may lead to death.
