Oxycodone High | What Does Oxycodone Feel Like?

Oxycodone (or oxycodone hydrochloride) is a semi-synthetic opioid drug that is typically used as an analgesic to treat moderate to severe pain and for chronic pain management. It’s found in many brand-name prescription painkillers including Percocet and OxyContin.

The drug is also classified as a Schedule II controlled substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which means it has a high potential for abuse and can lead to dependence and addiction.

Oxycodone abuse includes using the drug in any manner that’s not prescribed. This includes taking it in high doses, injecting or snorting it, or only using it to get high.

Effects Of An Oxycodone High

An oxycodone high is likely to occur around 30 minutes after ingesting the drug. This high can last for up to six hours and can include feelings like numbness, drowsiness, and an overall slowness to the world around you.

Abusing oxycodone to get high can also lead to many negative side effects ranging in intensity from mild to severe. These adverse effects can include:

• problems with coordination
• pain relief/numbness to pain
• dilated pupils
• low blood pressure
• weight loss
• drowsiness
• constipation
• difficulty with concentration
• impaired memory
• impaired judgment

Signs Of Oxycodone Abuse

Drug abuse can show up in different ways, but there are some general signs you can look out for if you suspect a loved one abuses oxycodone. Signs of opioid abuse can include:

• neglecting responsibilities at home, school, or work
• attempting but failing to end oxycodone use
• stealing oxycodone that has been prescribed to someone else
• trying to obtain multiple prescriptions for oxycodone 
• taking higher doses than prescribed
• abusing oxycodone even after experiencing negative outcomes

Risk Factors For Oxycodone Abuse

While anyone can abuse or become addicted to oxycodone, certain risk factors make it more likely for some people, including:

• personal/family history of substance abuse
• prior substance abuse
• personal/family history of mental health issues.
• early exposure to substance abuse
• receiving a prescription for oxycodone

Dangers Of Oxycodone Abuse

Beyond the signs and symptoms of oxycodone abuse, abusing the prescription opioid can also lead to dangerous health problems. These problems primarily occur when the prescription drug is abused long-term, but life-threatening dangers like opioid overdose can happen anytime.

Liver Problems

As with most opioids, oxycodone is filtered through the liver. However, when you consistently abuse the drug, the liver has to work much harder to filter it out of your body. This can lead to liver damage or hepatic impairment.

Taking oxycodone along with acetaminophen (Tylenol) has also been linked to acute liver failure. When this combination of drugs is abused, the levels of acetaminophen in the liver start to build up and can become so high that it leads to an unintentional overdose.

Polysubstance Abuse

Mixing oxycodone with other substances can increase the risk of life-threatening overdose. Some of the drugs that shouldn’t be mixed with oxycodone include:

• alcohol
• other opioid medications like codeine, hydrocodone, methadone, and fentanyl
• sedatives
• benzodiazepines like Xanax and Ativan
• tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline and clomipramine

Oxycodone Overdose

One of the primary dangers of abusing oxycodone is an overdose. Anytime you abuse oxycodone, you increase your risk of an opioid overdose which, if left untreated, can be fatal.

If you or a loved one show any of the following symptoms of an oxycodone overdose, call 911 immediately:

• bluish tint to the skin
• clammy skin
• slow heartbeat
• slow breathing
• dilated pupils
• loss of consciousness

If you use oxycodone, it can be a good idea to have access to naloxone (Narcan). It’s what healthcare professionals use to treat opioid overdoses as it reverses the effects of opioids.

Breathing Problems

Because oxycodone is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant, it slows down activity in the body and the brain. This includes slowing down your breathing. 

If you already have breathing problems or take a high enough dose of oxycodone that it slows down your breathing, it could lead to respiratory depression and death.

Dependence & Addiction

Physical dependence and addiction are significant concerns when it comes to opioid abuse. The more you abuse the drug, the more likely you are to build up a dependence.

When a dependence is built up, your body will no longer be able to function properly without oxycodone. And if you do try to quit, uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms can occur. These withdrawal symptoms can lead you to continue taking the drug and further the addiction.

If you or a loved one live with opioid use disorder, contact us today to learn how we can help.