OxyContin is a brand-name form of the powerful opioid oxycodone. Doctors sometimes prescribe this medication to treat serious pain. However, all OxyContin use comes with a possibility of addiction if you don’t follow your prescription closely. The symptoms of OxyContin addiction include significant mental changes. They also include important changes in your physical function.
If you’re suffering from OxyContin problems, turn to New Start Recovery. We have the expertise needed to help you break the cycle of addiction. We also provide several forms of treatment designed to help you avoid future problems.
Physical Symptoms of OxyContin Addiction: Addiction Diagnosis
Doctors look for the presence of 11 total symptoms when diagnosing OxyContin problems. Some of these symptoms are related to your behavior and emotional state. However, others are physical.
What are the physical symptoms used to diagnose addiction? One common sign is rising tolerance to the effects of OxyContin. Another classic symptom is withdrawal. Withdrawal occurs when your brain doesn’t get the amount of OxyContin it expects. It can produce physical symptoms such as:
- Achy muscles
- Sweating
- A runny nose
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Pupil dilation
- Goosebumps on your skin
You may also experience cramping in your abdomen.
Other Physical Symptoms of OxyContin Addiction
Some of the symptoms of OxyContin use are not unique to addicted people. They can also appear in people not affected by addiction. Short-term examples of these physical effects include:
- Constipation
- Sleepiness
- A slower than normal breathing rate
- Feelings of nausea
Other possible effects take longer to appear. They are also more specific to regular use and addiction. For example, you may experience weight loss. Recurring bouts of flu-like symptoms are also common. In addition, you may experience a decline in your normal sex drive.
Long-Term Physical Symptoms of OxyContin Addiction
If you suffer from long-term addiction, other physical symptoms can occur. One common long-term issue is chronic constipation. You may also experience other chronic problems in your digestive system. In a worst-case scenario, you can develop a life-threatening bowel obstruction.
Long-term addiction can also damage your cardiovascular system. Potential consequences include heart failure and stroke. In addition, your reproductive health may suffer.
Overdose as a Physical Symptom of OxyContin Addiction
If you take too much OxyContin, you can overdose. This is true whether or not you’re addicted. An overdose overloads your system. As a result, your breathing rate may slow down too much. You can also stop breathing altogether. Unless you get help immediately, an overdose can kill you.
OxyContin Addiction Treatment Can Help
If you’re addicted to OxyContin, effective treatment is available. This treatment can help you overcome the existing physical symptoms of addiction. It can also help prevent future physical issues from occurring.
Medication is a mainstay in treating OxyContin addiction. Some medications help you make it through detox and withdrawal. Others help you avoid relapse once detox is complete.
OxyContin addiction treatment also often includes therapy. This therapy helps you understand how addiction affects you. It also helps you recognize behaviors and thoughts that support the addiction. In addition, therapy provides you with crucial coping skills. These skills make it easier to stay sober in everyday life.
Seek OxyContin Rehab at New Start Recovery
At New Start Recovery, we feature quality treatment for OxyContin addiction. This treatment will also help you recover from all other opioid problems. Our Oxycontin rehab services start with drug detox. We follow detox with suitable options for both inpatient and outpatient care. New Start also helps you stay OxyContin-free long-term. We do this, in part, through our sober living program. You can also join our alumni program. For more information, call us today at [Direct]. You can also reach out through our online form.