Oxycodone is a very commonly used opioid pain medicine. As a controlled substance, it’s only available by prescription in America.
People frequently have questions regarding oxycodone including what does it do, how does it work and what does it look like. Below we’ll cover answers to these questions and also provide information about pink oxycodone, which is a version of the drug.
When someone takes oxycodone, it binds to receptors in the central nervous system and triggers endorphins to flood their body. That’s what feels good about being high on a drug like oxycodone. With continued oxycodone use, the brain is wired to want to continue seeking out what triggers pleasure or a reward response, which is how the cycle of addiction begins.
In addition to the high of oxycodone and other opioids, because of its impact on the central nervous system, it also can slow the respiratory system and lower a person’s body temperature.
Along with addiction, another significant risk with the use of oxycodone is dependence. Dependence is different from addiction and can happen on its own, or along with psychological addiction. Dependence refers to a situation in which someone has taken an opioid like oxycodone for a period of time and their body has become used to it. Then, when they stop using it suddenly, they experience withdrawal symptoms.
Dependence can happen even when someone uses oxycodone for a short period of time as instructed, so doctors will often wean people off the medicine slowly by gradually reducing their dose.
OxyContin, which is the brand name of oxycodone, comes in extended-release forms in the following doses:
- 10 mg
- 15 mg
- 20 mg
- 30 mg
- 40 mg
- 60 mg
- 80 mg
Doses that are higher than 40 mg are intended for use in opioid-tolerant patients. If they’re given to someone who isn’t tolerant to opioids, these high-dose pills can lead to breathing problems and potentially fatal respiratory depression.
When someone takes extended-release oxycodone, the effects last for around 12 hours, so someone would usually only take them a maximum of twice a day.
Immediate-release oxycodone, on the other hand, starts to reach peak levels of effectiveness in anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour after taking it and is effective for around three to six hours. Most prescriptions for immediate-release oxycodone call for it to be taken every four to six hours.
Pink oxycodone isn’t the only color that oxycodone comes in. It can also be white, green or blue, but it’s often round. The imprints on oxycodone depend on the company that manufactures it and the strength of the dose.
If you or a loved one live with addiction or are using drugs recreationally and want to stop, The Recovery Village® can help. Reach out to one of our representatives today to learn how you can start on your path to recovery.