Oxycontin TeachbackDerek Moore

Overview• OxyContin is the brand name for the drug,

oxycodone. It is a very common opioid pain medication that is used to treat pain for an extended period of time.

• “Common side effects of OxyContin include constipation, nausea, pruritus, drowsiness, and vomiting. Other side effects include weakness, xerostomia, and diaphoresis. See below for a comprehensive list of adverse effects.” (Oxycontin Side Effects)

Cont.• Although OxyContin has many benefits for pain

management, it also has many side effects and risk factors.

• The greatest risk factor is abuse and addiction.• Symptoms common to OxyContin abuse include:

Behavioral symptomsPhysical symptomsCognitive symptomsPsychosocial symptoms.

Behavioral Symptoms

• Lying• Stealing• Neglecting responsibilities• Easily irritable

Physical Symptoms

• Extreme drowsiness• Dizziness• Nausea• Headache• Dry mouth• Weight loss• Weakness & fatigue

Cognitive Symptoms• Impaired judgment• Memory loss• Difficulty concentrating• Delusional

Psychosocial Symptoms

• Mood swings• Aggression• Anxiety• Depression• Social troubles

Other Side Effects

Oxycodone vs. Heroin• Research has shown the two drugs to be

strikingly similar, this is because they are both opioids. However, one is a legal narcotic and one is an illegal street drug.

• At their purest forms the drugs are essentially the same, and addicts find them interchangeable (besides the price).

Chemical Differences

• As you can see there are virtually no differences, however heroin is perceived as a more dangerous drug due to dealers cutting, lacing, and mixing the drug with other dangerous substances.

• What was most shocking to me was the price differences.

“An 80 mg OxyContin can cost $60 to $100 a pill. In contrast, heroin costs about $45 to $60 for a multiple-dose supply” (Leinw).

• It’s crazy to think that you can get double the amount of heroin for half the price, this is the leading reason people switch from using OxyContin to abusing heroin.

• So do you think OxyContin needs to be more closely monitored in todays world?

ReferencesCherrier, M., Amory, J., Ersek, M., Risler, L., & Shen, D. (n.d.). Comparative Cognitive

and Subjective Side Effects of Immediate Release Oxycodone in Healthy Middle Age and Older Adults. Retrieved March 01, 2016, from

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2757528/Heroin and Morphine; Almost the same? (2011). Retrieved March 01, 2016, from

https://painpolicy.wordpress.com/2011/08/03/heroin-and-morphine-almost- the-same/Leinw, D., & L. (2013). OxyContin a gateway to heroin for upper-income addicts.

Retrieved March 01, 2016, from http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/04/15/heroin-crackdown-oxycodone-hydrocodone/1963123/

OxyContin Abuse Information. (n.d.). Retrieved March 01, 2016, from http://www.whitedeerrun.com/prescription-drugs/oxycontin/causes-effects/OxyContin Side Effects in Detail - Drugs.com. (n.d.). Retrieved March 01, 2016, from

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/oxycontin-side-effects.html