Someone with a legitimate oxycodone prescription might keep pills on the kitchen countertop and take them while you watch. But what about people who misuse this common opioid medication? How will you know if they’re engaging in risky habits?
The best way to tell if someone is taking oxycodone is to watch for physical, mental and lifestyle changes. These might look like confusion, drowsiness, sweating, or weakness. The person may isolate from others and experience declines in virtually every area of life. If you see these signs, start a conversation.
Many people don’t know that opioid use disorder (OUD) caused by oxycodone is treatable. Medications can correct chemical imbalances caused by drugs and help people create happier, healthier lives.
Common Signs of Oxycodone Use
Oxycodone is a powerful medication, and when it’s misused, it can change almost everything about a person’s life. Symptoms to look for fall into the three categories listed below.
Physical Symptoms
Oxycodone’s known side effects are dose dependent, meaning they become stronger at higher amounts. People who use oxycodone legitimately may experience some of these issues, but their likelihood compounds when people misuse the drug. Physical symptoms include the following:[1]
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Headache
- Itchy skin
- Nausea
- Sweating
- Vomiting
- Weakness or lack of energy
As misuse deepens, some people need larger doses, and their pills eventually don’t seem strong enough. They may crush their pills, mix them with water and inject them. Modern oxycodone pills are harder to crush and inject, and researchers say many people switch to heroin.[2]
People who use heroin may seem very sedated, slipping in and out of consciousness regularly. They may also have needle marks on their arms and legs due to frequent drug injections.
Mental Health Symptoms
Oxycodone works by prompting brain cells to release dopamine, a “feel-good chemical” associated with euphoria and joy. As misuse deepens, people may produce little dopamine without drugs, and they may seem depressed and withdrawn most of the time.
People may also experience anxiety between their oxycodone doses, characterized by the following symptoms:
- Pacing
- Fidgeting
- Grinding teeth
- Sweating
Maintaining oxycodone use is stressful, and many people who misuse drugs experience mood swings and anger outbursts due to the immense pressure they’re facing. Even if someone can hide these changes initially, they eventually become too difficult to disguise.
Lifestyle Changes
Doctors look for specific symptoms when diagnosing opioid use disorders, and many of them involve a person’s lifestyle or behavior.
Symptoms to watch for include the following:[3]
- Frequent failed attempts to quit or cut back on use
- Spending a lot of time getting, using or recovering from oxycodone
- Difficulty meeting work or school obligations
- Giving up activities to spend more time using oxycodone
- Using drugs in hazardous situations, such as while driving
Researchers say people who misuse opioids like oxycodone are more likely to have law enforcement interactions.[4] They may steal pills, or they may steal money to buy pills. Since possessing oxycodone without a prescription is illegal, they may face arrest for simply having pills on them. This can result in large fines or jail time.
How to Differentiate Legitimate Use From Misuse
If a person is using oxycodone according to the parameters of a valid prescription, they may display some of the signs of opioid use, such as appetite changes or drowsiness.[1] However, oxycodone misuse often involves more noticeable, substantial or prolonged signs and symptoms, such as mood swings, social isolation, shifts in priorities, physical changes and lifestyle modifications.[3]
While people may be able to hide many signs of opioid misuse initially, it becomes more difficult over time. Once a full OUD is present, the damage in various areas of life often becomes apparent to friends, family and colleagues.
Legitimate opioid use is linked to future opioid misuse.[7,8] If you know a loved one is taking oxycodone via a legitimate prescription, watch for escalating signs of use and possible misuse.
Why Is Oxycodone Dangerous?
In the past, doctors used oxycodone as a first-line treatment for acute pain. That’s changing as the dangers of opioids become clear.[3] Using oxycodone is associated with both physical and mental health issues.
Overdose is one of the most severe consequences of oxycodone misuse. Opioids depress the central nervous system, causing severe sedation that can lead to death.
Experts say the United States is grappling with an opioid overdose epidemic. In Alabama alone, overdose rates rose 82% between 2006 and 2014.[6] Anyone who misuses oxycodone risks taking too much, overwhelming their body, and dying due to OUD.
Long-Term Effects of Oxycodone Misuse
Any long-term misuse of opioids like oxycodone can cause a range of serious health issues. These are some of the risks associated with prolonged misuse of oxycodone:[3,9-11]
- Damage to endocrine system, including issues with fatigue, depression and infertility
- Reduced immunity
- Increased pain sensitivity
- Increased risks of falls and injuries
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Liver damage
- Respiratory issues, which can lead to brain damage if breathing is so depressed that oxygen doesn’t reach the brain
- Development of OUD
Getting Help for Oxycodone Misuse
It’s difficult to quit oxycodone without help. Brain cells accustomed to the drug malfunction when it’s absent, causing flu-like symptoms and deep drug cravings. Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT) programs that use Suboxone can help.
Suboxone is a prescription medication containing buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist, and naloxone, an opioid antagonist. Buprenorphine latches to receptors, easing withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Naloxone prevents drug misuse. If Suboxone is misused, the naloxone component activates, preventing that misuse.
Your MAT program could help you get sober safely, and continued medication use can help you maintain your sobriety. There is no time limit on how long you can continue using Suboxone to maintain your recovery.
Contact Bicycle Health to find out how telemedicine can bring these programs to your home.
Frequently Asked Questions About Oxycodone Use
These are some of the most frequently asked questions about oxycodone use and misuse:
Even if used according to a legitimate prescription, someone may display some signs of opioid use, such as confusion, dizziness, itchiness or euphoria. If they are misusing oxycodone, signs become more evident, such as mood swings, a focus on getting and using the drug, appetite loss and lifestyle changes.
It can in some cases. Drowsiness or sleepiness is a potential side effect of both legitimate use and misuse.
When it is used as prescribed, oxycodone can effectively manage pain. If misused, it can produce euphoria.
Opioid overdose is possible whenever oxycodone is misused, and this can be fatal. Other issues associated with long-term oxycodone misuse include respiratory issues, digestive problems, damage to the endocrine system and the development of an opioid use disorder (addiction).
Yes, opioid misuse and OUD can be effectively managed. MAT is the recommended course of treatment for OUD. Medications like Suboxone can manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings for oxycodone, and therapy can help to build skills to support a life in recovery.
Reviewed By Peter Manza, PhD
Peter Manza, PhD received his BA in Psychology and Biology from the University of Rochester and his PhD in Integrative Neuroscience at Stony Brook University. He is currently working as a research scientist in Washington, DC. His research focuses on the role ... Read More
- OxyContin Prescribing Information. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2008/020553s059lbl.pdf. September 2007. Accessed April 2023.
- Rates of Opioid Dispensing and Overdose After Introduction of Abuse-Deterrent Extended-Release Oxycodone and Withdrawal of Propoxyphene. JAMA. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2276923. June 2015. Accessed April 2023.
- Opioid Use Disorder. American Psychiatric Association. https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/opioid-use-disorder. December 2022. Accessed April 2023.
- With More Opioid Use, People Are More Likely to Get Caught Up in the Justice System. National Public Radio. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/07/06/626176621/with-more-opioid-use-people-are-more-likely-to-get-caught-up-in-the-justice-syst. July 2018. Accessed April 2023.
- CDC Updates Opioid Prescribing Guidelines with New Recommendations on Tapering or Continuing Prescriptions. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/03/health/opioid-prescription-cdc-recommendations/index.html. November 2022. Accessed April 2023.
- Understanding the Opioid Crisis. Alabama Department of Mental Health. https://mh.alabama.gov/understanding-the-opioid-crisis/. Accessed April 2023.
- Prescription Opioids in Adolescence and Future Opioid Misuse. Pediatrics. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4834210/. November 2015. Accessed January 2024.
- The Prescription Opioid Epidemic: A Review of Qualitative Studies on Progression From Initial Use to Abuse. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5741109/. September 2017. Accessed January 2024.
- Long-term Harms of Opioids. Faculty of Pain Medicine of the Royal College of Anaesthetists. https://fpm.ac.uk/opioids-aware-clinical-use-opioids/long-term-harms-opioids. Accessed January 2024.
- Understanding the Risks of Long-term Opioid Therapy for Chronic Pain. The American Journal of Psychiatry. https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.20220592. October 2022. Accessed January 2024.
- Opioid Addiction. StatPearls. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448203/. July 2023. Accessed January 2024.
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