Oxycodone is the generic name for a drug that contains opiates and is often prescribed as a painkiller. While it does have legitimate medical uses, it can also cause strong opioid addictions. Knowing what an oxycodone addiction looks like can be the first step toward seeking treatment for yourself or someone you love who is struggling with addiction.

Oxycodone Addictions Commonly Cause Digestive Distress

Opiates like oxycodone are known for causing severe digestive distress. Individuals who are addicted to oxycodone will typically suffer from a number of digestive problems, many of which will become chronic. Things like constipation, abdominal cramping, vomiting and nausea are all very typical side effects of an addiction to oxycodone.

Abuse of Oxycodone Results in Disrupted Sleep Cycles

Oxycodone Addiction Looks Like Despair to This Woman

Another way that an oxycodone addiction manifests itself is through a severe disruption of the sleep cycle. Those addicted to oxycodone often find themselves exhausted, and it is common to nod off unexpectedly. 

After taking a dose of oxycodone, there may be a rush of euphoria, and those feelings of exhaustion won’t matter as much to the user. After several hours, however, the exhaustion comes rushing back, and fatigue as well as lethargy are common. In some extreme cases, users can fade into unconsciousness, even having their breathing slow or stop altogether. In the United States, opioid pain relievers like oxycodone are responsible for as many as 20,000 overdose fatalities every year.

Oxycodone Addiction Leads to Obsessive Thoughts and Cognitive Impairment

It is important to remember that the physical side effects of oxycodone abuse are not the only thing that can be negative about addiction. Individuals who are addicted to oxycodone have obsessive thoughts about securing and taking their drug of choice. When oxycodone isn’t available, or something prevents consumption of the drug, logical thinking can go out the window.

Many individuals struggling with addiction to oxycodone aren’t able to derive pleasure from anything but the prescription drug. Former passions, hobbies and interests fade in comparison to the chemical dependency on oxycodone. The drug addiction has actually chemically altered the brain and its ability to function normally.

Addiction Can Change Behavior and Even Personality

An addiction to oxycodone can completely change a person’s behavior. Someone who is typically warm and friendly may become sullen and withdrawn. Someone full of energy and wit could become quiet and isolate themselves from friends and family.

This is partly because of the impact of oxycodone, but it also because of the shame and guilt that surrounds addiction. Unfortunately, these behavioral changes and withdrawing from loved ones can compound the addictive cycle. That is why it is so important to find help as soon as possible in order to combat addiction.

Oxycodone Addiction Can Impact Career and Finances

In addition to harming health, cognitive function and relationships, an oxycodone addiction can also wreak havoc on careers and finances. A person who is obsessive about oxycodone consumption, for example, won’t be able to perform well in the workplace. They may routinely be late, absent or simply incapable of carrying out their duties.

Many individuals also spend large amounts of money procuring more oxycodone. After a prescription runs out, they may need to travel to other doctors or clinics and pay cash in order to fill prescriptions, or they may need to purchase the prescription drugs from dealers who procure them illegally.

Knowing what an oxycodone addiction looks like is the first step to getting help and taking action. At Beaches Recovery in Jacksonville  FL, the despair of addiction can turn into hope and recovery. Call 8666050532 to find out more about rehab programs and how to combat an addiction to oxycodone once and for all.