Oxycontin. Oxy. OC. Oxycotton. Hillbilly Heroin. Whatever name you know it by, OxyContin has made an undeniable, lasting impact on America in ways that are good, bad, and every shade of gray in between.
Oxycontin. Oxy. OC. Oxycotton. Hillbilly Heroin. Whatever name you know it by, OxyContin has made an undeniable, lasting impact on America in ways that are good, bad, and every shade of gray in between.
OxyContin is a brand name for the drug oxycodone, a narcotic pain reliever similar to morphine, that is prescribed to relieve moderate to severe pain. It is typically indicated for use twice per day, and should only be prescribed to patients who need powerful, around-the-clock pain relief. It is this “twice per day” dosage that was and is OxyContin’s primary selling point, giving it an advantage over other painkillers that require more frequent usage, which can disrupt daily life and sleep. But it is an accurate recommended dosage?
While OxyContin boasts a 12-hour dosing window, in comparison to many painkillers that last just 4-8 hours, many patients find they need to take another painkiller much sooner than 12-hour dosing allows for. As such, they find themselves using OxyContin three, four, or more times each day, or supplementing between 12-hour doses with other painkillers. This question of how long OxyContin lasts has been a point of debate since OxyContin was still in its trial phase, and was the subject of an investigative piece by The Los Angeles Times.
Unfortunately, as is the case for all opioids, when using OxyContin for an extended period – even as directed – it can become habit-forming. This potential for addiction increases when patients use OxyContin more than twice per day, even when they are doing so not to “get high,” but to better manage their pain. If you are worried you are at risk of becoming addicted or are already showing physical or mental signs of addiction, you may decide to stop taking OxyContin; however, it is important that you do not do this without first consulting a doctor.
