To first understand Oxycontin® one must take a closer look at the drug itself. Oxycontin® is a strong, semisynthetis opioid agonist that offers effective relief for moderate to severe pain. (3) It is used to treat pain that comes from having cancer, sickle cell anemia, severe back injuries, or some other physical injury. (4) Oxycontin® is made up of the parent drug oxycodone and which has been a continuing problem in the United States since the 1960’s for abuse. In 1970, Congress placed oxycodone in Schedule II (CII) by passing the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. Although the status of CII, oxycodone continued to be abused. After the release of oxycodone in the form of O

· Analgesic - A compound that relieves pain by altering perception of pain-related stimuli without producing anesthesia or loss of consciousness (6)

So what is so different about Oxycontin®? Well look at Oxycondone is found in other drugs such as, Percodan and Tylox. But these painkillers usually contain only about 5 mg of oxycodone and they require repeat doses. Oxycontin® tablets on the other hand contain 20mg to 160mg in a time release tablet that can last up to 12 hours. (2) So how does Oxycontin® relate to other painkillers? Oxycontin® is a substance that is much like morphine and it also has the same liability of morphine but it is twice as potent of morphine. (5) Oxycontin is also much like heroin when it is taken improper, and has similar withdraw symptoms. (14)

9.)Critical Care Drug Monographs: Naloxone Lynne Kelly CCTC March 1, 2000.Available at: http://critcare.lhsc.on.ca/icu/cctc/procprot/pharmacy/mono2/naloxone.html

xycontin (controlled released oxycodone) the rate of abuse escalated. From 1990 to 1996 the emergency department episodes involving oxycodone were stable, but this has tripled, from 3,190 in 1996 to 10,825 in 2000. (5)

v Lost prescriptions will not be refilled

Since early 2000 there has been a significant number of reports of the OxyContin® tablets being abused. The patterns of abuse involve crushing the tablets to inject or snort the medication or mix it with water and drink it (3). This in return causes the release of the entire dose into the bloodstream with possibly consequences, meaning death. (7) This leads to the rapid release and absorption of the oxycodone. Alcohol and other opioid also increase the potential for addiction. (1) The Patients should be advised that OxyContin® is a potential drug of abuse. They should protect it from theft, and it should never be given to anyone other than the individual for whom it was prescribed. (2)

As with all pure agonist opioid, Oxycodone carries the same side effects. The effects are anioxysia, euphoria, addictive, feelings of relaxation, respiratory depression, constipation, miosis, and cough suppression. The specific mechanism of Oxycodone is unknown, however, the mechanisms for other agonist opioid drugs are known and are used to explain the mechanism of oxycodone. (4)

Some topics in this essay:
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