Oxycontin is a powerful opioid that helps with pain but comes with a range of dangers. It’s important to understand the risks and potential for addiction before starting this medication. If you are dealing with Oxycontin addiction or any other opioid addiction in Massachusetts, an effective opioid addiction treatment program at Evoke Wellness at Waltham can help you recover. Reach out to us by calling us at 866.276.1920 to get started with an opioid addiction treatment program.
Oxycontin: Why Its Effectiveness Makes It Dangerous
Oxycontin is the brand name for oxycodone hydrochloride, a painkiller used to help people manage pain after surgery, cancer treatments, and more. Like other opioids, Oxycontin works by affecting the central nervous system and stopping pain signals in the brain.
This semi-synthetic opioid alleviates pain while also flooding your brain with dopamine, leading to a feeling of euphoria. Your brain registers this euphoria as an experience it wants to repeat, so it may give you cravings to encourage you to use the substance again.
The faster and more powerful the drug is, the more likely you are to become dependent on it or addicted to it. Oxycontin is highly effective, which means that it can also be very dangerous.
Oxycontin Side Effects
Oxycontin side effects can differ depending on how much you are taking. In people who have an Oxycontin use disorder, the typical side effects can be more extreme. For example, nausea that someone taking it for the first time might experience could present as vomiting in someone with an addiction to Oxycontin.
Some of the most common Oxycontin side effects can include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Itching
- Dry mouth
- Sweating
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Constipation
People who are dependent on the drug may also experience seizures or respiratory issues. In some instances, psychiatric effects are also present in people who have an Oxycontin addiction. These can include hallucinations, as well as abnormal dreams, anxiety, and even depression.
Addiction is a very common side effect of Oxycontin use. The more you use the medicine, the more your body becomes accustomed to it, leading to tolerance. This then causes you to experience less powerful effects from your usual dose. In response, your brain urges you to increase your dose.
Using more of the drug can put you at risk of overdosing, which can be fatal because Oxycontin depresses your respiratory system and your heart rate.
Oxycontin Abuse: How Our Treatment Programs Can Help
Oxycontin misuse is dangerous, contributing to the thousands of people who die each year as a result of opioid addiction. The best approach to overcoming Oxycontin misuse in a way that maximizes your chances of getting and staying sober is to turn to treatment programs.
At Evoke Wellness at Waltham, we offer a variety of outpatient programs in a welcoming and safe setting. For those who have mental health conditions that co-occur with addiction, we also offer an inpatient program where you can get the high level of support you need.
Compassionate and Evidence-Based Support
With skilled staff who can guide you through every step of your Oxycontin recovery, you have the opportunity to get to the root cause of the addiction when you come to our center. Once you can do that, you can make the necessary changes that will help you remain sober.
We provide both individual and group therapy sessions that rely only on the most effective evidence-based therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). CBT helps you recognize negative self-talk and harmful thought patterns that could affect your mood and, therefore, your actions.
For those who struggle with powerful emotions, DBT is another option. It combines two seemingly opposite ideas: accepting your current situation and seeking to improve it by making positive changes. Additionally, our group therapy sessions can go a long way toward helping you feel less isolated as you go through the recovery process.
Call Evoke Wellness at Waltham to Start Your Oxycontin Recovery
You don’t have to go through the experience of an opioid addiction on your own. Our compassionate and evidence-based treatment programs are designed to give you the tools and support you need to overcome addiction and achieve lasting sobriety. You can get the personalized care you deserve by turning to the dedicated team at Evoke Wellness at Waltham. Please speak with one of our experts by calling us at 866.276.1920 or contacting us online to learn more about our opioid addiction treatment programs in Massachusetts.
