Endone is an effective pain medication but comes with risks of abuse and addiction. Learn the risks and side effects of taking Endone.
Treating pain can be complex and can sometimes require around-the-clock monitoring and medications. Endone is a strong painkiller that is used to treat severe or chronic pain. The main ingredient in Endone is oxycodone hydrochloride — also known as oxy — and is also sold under the brand name OxyContin.
Endone is an opioid. Opioids act on specific receptors in the brain to reduce feelings of pain. What Endone can do is slow down the neurons in the central nervous system, which produces a calming effect and can relieve pain.
Endone can be a life-changing medication for people struggling with chronic pain, but it’s important to know the addictive properties and possible side effects so people can use their medication safely.
What is Endone?
As a prescription opioid, the main ingredient in Endone is derived from the opium poppy plant. Opioids act on receptors in the brain and body that regulate feeling pleasure and pain. Taking Endone can block these receptors from pain signals, which can help patients manage moderate to severe pain.
By acting on pain and pleasure receptors, taking opioids like Endone can also produce positive or relaxed feelings. This high makes Endone a target for abuse. The body can become dependent or rely on it to function properly.
Safe use of Endone usually involves starting at a low dose and maintaining the lowest dose possible to manage pain. Endone can be abused even if it is prescribed, and abusing it can increase the risk of overdose.
What Does Endone Look Like?
Endone can come in a couple of different forms, including as a tablet or as an oral solution. Tablets are usually easiest to consume if the medication is taken outside of a hospital setting, as they don’t require the measuring or dosing required for an oral solution.
Endone usually comes in a white, uncoated tablet. Different types of pills may be different doses, depending on the dose prescribed to you by your doctor. Tablets can come in 10, 20, 40 and 80 mg tablets. Patients just starting to use Endone may take just a 5 mg dose by breaking a 10 mg Endone tablet in half.
Endone Uses & Treatment
Endone is used to treat moderate to severe pain and it’s is normally used when other non-opioid medications failed to sufficiently manage a person’s pain. In some cases, Endone can also be used for a severe cough or diarrhea.
Endone is not usually the first medication prescribed for pain since it has a high risk for abuse and addiction. However, it can be a good choice for people who experience consistent around-the-clock pain. Endone is not appropriate for people with lung disease or breathing conditions, as it can slow breathing or make it more difficult.
Common Side Effects
There are various Endone side effects that can range from uncomfortable to severe. When someone first starts taking Endone, they might experience side effects before their body has learned to tolerate the drug.
- Confusion
- Drowsiness
- Euphoria
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Sweating
These Endone effects often go away as the body adjusts to the medication. However, these side effects can be exaggerated or made more dangerous if a person is drinking alcohol while taking Endone. Because alcohol is also a central nervous system depressant, it can cause side effects like troubled breathing or make drowsiness worse. It can also increase the risk of overdose and death.
- Chest pain
- Trouble breathing
- Feeling faint
- Swelling of the throat or tongue
- Loss of consciousness
Long term risks of Endone also include dependence and addiction. The body can come to rely on Endone to function normally. People using the drug may experience withdrawal symptoms when they do not take a regular dose.
Importantly, there can also be risks of stopping Endone. Coming off of the drug should be done slowly and with supervision. Endone dosage should be reduced in stages. Medical supervision can help to reduce unpleasant side effects or risks. Those struggling to stop taking the drug should seek treatment for substance dependence or addiction.
Endone Side Effects in the Elderly
Endone side effects in the elderly can be more dangerous, as elderly patients may be taking multiple medications at the same time that can exaggerate drug effects. Older adults may also be less efficient at breaking down the drug in the body, which can lead to toxic levels.
It’s important to discuss all medications and health history with your doctor before you start taking Endone.
Is Endone Addictive?
As an opioid, Endone can be addictive. Even prescription use can lead to physical dependence or abuse. Dependence on the drug means that the cells and neurons in the body learn to only function normally with Endone present. An Endone addiction can result in secretive or drug-seeking behavior, “doctor-shopping” or using other people’s prescriptions.
Food and Drug Administration. “Medication Guide OXYCONTIN.” August 2015. Accessed August 22, 2019.
Sadiq NM; Dice TJ; Mead T. “Oxycodone.” StatPearls Publishing, January 2019. Accessed August 22, 2019.
Food and Drug Administration. “OXYCODONE HYDROCHLORIDE ORAL SOLUTION.” December 2016. Accessed August 22, 2019.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Prescription Opioids.” June 2019. Accessed August 22, 2019.
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