What is Roxicodone?
Roxicodone is the brand name of the drug oxycodone and is sometimes called “roxy” or “blue”. Roxicodone is an opioid-based pain medication and is used to treat moderate to severe pain that is not controlled by more mild pain medications.
Opioids
Like other opioids, Roxicodone activates opioid receptors in the brain. When activated, these receptors suppress brain activity, including the ability to sense pain. This suppression in brain activity also suppresses breathing and reduces the movement in the gut, causing the side effects of nausea, constipation, and a low respiratory rate.
Why is Roxicodone Addictive?
Activation of opioid receptors in the brain also releases a combination of chemicals called endorphins. These chemicals are usually released in small amounts throughout the day in response to certain actions to reenforce behaviors that should be repeated. In these small amounts, endorphins may not be very noticeable or just cause a general sense of “feeling good”. In the artificially high levels caused by cause Roxicodone, endorphins can cause a pleasurable, euphoric state called a high. Because endorphins reenforce behaviors, a large release of endorphins creates a craving for continued use of Roxicodone or other opioids.
Signs and Symptoms of Roxicodone Addiction
Because Roxicodone affects the brain in such a significant way, there are several physical signs and symptoms of Roxicodone addiction that may be noticed by the person who is misusing Roxicodone or by other people around them. Addiction also creates several other symptoms that are not physical, but are more psychosocial, affecting the person who is suffering from the addiction with social and psychological signs that may be noticed by others.
Physical Symptoms of Roxicodone Addiction
Physical symptoms caused by Roxicodone addiction are related to how Roxicodone suppresses the brain’s ability to respond and slows many parts of the body that are controlled by the brain. The physical symptoms of Roxicodone addiction include:
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Vomiting
- Constricted pupils
- Slow breathing rate
- Coma
- Hallucinations
- Risk of choking
During an overdose, some of the physical symptoms caused by Roxicodone may be life-threatening. If someone has a slow rate of breathing, is choking but is not able to wake up and cough, or is not responding to you when you speak, then they may be overdosing. If someone is experiencing an overdose you should immediately call 911, administer Narcan if it is available, and provide mouth-to-mouth resuscitation if they are not breathing.
Psychosocial Symptoms of Roxicodone Addiction
Psychosocial symptoms caused by Roxicodone addiction are related to changes in behavior that may be seen with most types of addiction. These symptoms include:
- An inability to stop using Roxicodone, even when you want to
- The desire to use Roxicodone, even when you know it is harming you
- Decreased pleasure and enjoyment from life
- Disruptions in previously good relationships
- Poor performance at work or school
- Spending excess time obtaining or using Roxicodone
- Financial problems
- Legal problems
- New deceitful behaviors
Roxicodone Withdrawal Symptoms
In addition to the symptoms of Roxicodone addiction, someone who has developed a dependance on Roxicodone will have withdrawal symptoms when they stop using it. The withdrawal symptoms of Roxicodone include:
- Anxiety
- Craving for Roxicodone
- Increased rate of breathing
- Sweating
- Increased tear production
- Runny nose
- Dilated pupils
- Stomach cramps
- Goosebumps
- Tremors
- Muscle twitching and tremors
- Fast heart rate
- Fever and chills
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
The more severe withdrawal symptoms, such as seizures and psychosis, that are seen with some types of drug withdrawals do not occur while withdrawing from Roxicodone. While opioid withdrawal can be unpleasant, it is not normally dangerous.
How is Roxicodone Addiction treated?
Roxicodone addiction starts with the important first step of acknowledging the need for help. If you are personally struggling with misusing Roxicodone, this would involve reaching out to a reputable treatment center and talking with one of their team members about your unique situation. If you do not feel comfortable calling a treatment center, you can discuss your situation with a trusted friend, family member, or counselor that you can trust to not only listen to you, but support you with clear, realistic guidance about what you can do to get help. If you believe a close family member or friend is struggling with a Roxicodone addiction, you can reach out to a team member at a treatment center for advice on how to approach them and how to go about getting them enrolled for treatment that will help them achieve sobriety.
Treatment Options
Once the person with the Roxicodone addiction has made the important decision to seek help, then there are two different treatment options that may be used. These include outpatient or inpatient treatment.
Outpatient treatment is ideal for someone who is seeking treatment for the first time and has a more mild Roxicodone addiction. This form of treatment involves meeting with a physician who can help to manage the course of treatment and prescribe therapies that can help. All treatment and therapy visits would be scheduled within the person’s normal routine, disrupting their life as little as possible.
Inpatient treatment is better for someone who finds that their addiction is disrupting their normal life or someone who has relapsed after treatments in the past. Inpatient treatment involves checking into a rehab facility and getting out of your normal environment. Rehab facilities provide 24 hour care and monitoring and provide meaningful support that makes the chances of recovery much higher than in outpatient treatments.
Treatment Structure
In either form of treatment, the focus of treatment will initially be to help with the symptoms of withdrawal as the drug is cleared from the system. The next stage of treatment will be developing coping mechanisms and strategies for staying sober. The final stage of treatment will be maintaining sobriety and preventing relapse through establishing long-term support systems.
Transformations Treatment Center
Transformations Treatment Center is a nationally-recognized addiction treatment facility that has a proven record of helping people to achieve lasting freedom from opioid addiction. Our caring staff are here to help and support you or your loved one in your journey to a life that is free from addiction. Reach out to one of our understanding team members who can help guide you through the process of exploring treatment options and help you on the first step of the journey to a lasting recovery.
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