OxyContin was introduced by Purdue Pharma in 1995 for use in the treatment of cancer patients and in cases of severe and long term pain. Its active ingredient is the synthetic opiate oxycodone which is also found in Percocet, Percodan, and Tylox in the USA. When it was introduced, it was hailed as a significant breakthrough in serious pain relief because it could dispense the oxycodone in a timed release manner, thus giving the sufferer up to 12 hours relief from pain, whereas the other tablets previously available, could only offer 3 to 6 hours. This method of timed release meant that doses of 10 to 160 milligrams of oxycodone could be used in each tablet, rather than the 5 mg, doses used before. It is also available in liquid form.
Oxycodone is an opioid that is derived from the opium poppy.
Opium from the poppy, has been used medicinally for many hundreds of years. It was widely used by everybody, from children to the old in the 19th century, dissolved in alcohol and called ‘laudanum' and very much used by Queen Victoria of England.
After the poppy has flowered, the seed pod is scoured and the milky sap is collected and allowed to dry. From this a variety of alkaloids are extracted and made into different opioids such as codeine, morphine, oxycodone and the widely abused heroin.
The correct name for the oxycodone alkaloid is thebaine.
Opioids have an advantage over other analgesics such as aspirin or paracetamol, in the treatment of chronic pain because the more is taken the more the pain is relieved. This means that they are really effective in managing severe pain. Oxycodone acts by binding to the opioids receptors in the spinal cord and the brain which then block the pain signals but they can also lead to reduced breathing rate or even euphoria, which is why it is abused and when it is abused, addiction becomes a serious problem.
It is because each tablet has a high dosage and because the rest of the tablet is made of inert but water soluble material that makes it ideal for abuse.
The tablets are first crushed, this cancels out the timed release properties, then the powder is either snorted or swallowed or it can be dissolved in water and injected, which increases the risk of HIV and hepatitis.
If you are being prescribed OxyContin DO NOT stop taking it without the advice of your doctor or medical worker. Unlike drug addicts that are looking to get high so increase their doses, genuine users of OxyContin only need to take it to relieve pain. As the pain decreases, so the doses decrease so the danger of becoming addicted is negated. OxyContin abuse was first noted in Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Maine, Pennsylvania and West Virginia in the mining and industrialised areas where there are many industrial accidents and illnesses. The fact that there is often high long term unemployment and declining industry has increased the problem. If you are on welfare and you can make some extra money selling your prescribed OxyContin, the temptation is high. Often though, it is not realised that their prescriptions are being abused. It is because of these areas that the drug got its nick name ‘hillbilly heroin'.
In areas where OxyContin has started to be abused, there is usually an increase in crime. Not only burglary and other thefts but pharmacies are targeted where the only thing stolen is the OxyContin. England suffered its first death from OxyCondone overdose in early 2002.
As Oxycodone slows the breathing rate, it should not be taken with other substances that produce the same effect, such as barbiturates, antihistamines, benzodiazepines and alcohol which is probably the commonest combination leading to death.
