Roxies is a street name for Roxicodone, the brand name for oxycodone—an opioid painkiller. While this drug has legitimate medical uses, it is also an opioid and has significant potential for misuse, dependence, and opioid use disorder (OUD).
Roxicodone is a brand-name version of the drug oxycodone hydrochloride, an opioid painkiller.[1]
Doctors use this medication to treat moderate-to-severe pain that hasn’t responded to other therapies or for short-term pain management such as after a surgery or procedure. The effects of a single dose of Roxicodone typically last three to four hours.
Doctors and patients must be very careful when considering the drug’s potential benefits for treating pain. Roxis like oxycodone have significant misuse potential.
Misusing roxies involves taking the opioid in any way other than prescribed, such as by:
Compulsive Roxicodone misuse can lead to physiological dependence and addiction and cause a myriad of mental and physical health problems.
When discussing oxycodone misuse, many people talk about OxyContin, but an equal dose of Roxicodone can be just as dangerous.
Semisynthetic opioids like oxycodone are one of the leading causes of opioid deaths in the United States and a major contributor to the ongoing opioid epidemic.[2]
Roxies addiction, also known as opioid use disorder, is a chronic and complex condition characterized by problematic Roxicodone misuse despite negative consequences.
There are 11 tell-tale signs and symptoms of an addiction to roxies, including:[3]
In time, people with OUD can become physically dependent on drugs. Your body may become accustomed to when the medication is present and struggle when it’s not. If you quit using Roxies abruptly, you can develop withdrawal symptoms.
Opioid withdrawal is often described as “flu-like,” but discomfort is real and can be significant. If left untreated, distress could prompt you to return to drug use.
The following symptoms are common during Roxicodone withdrawal:[3],[4]
If you have become dependent on or addicted to roxies, medical detox is the safest setting to go through withdrawal. You receive 24/7 care and supervision, including opioid withdrawal medications like methadone or buprenorphine.
Yes, it’s possible to overdose on roxies, especially if you misuse roxies or regularly mix them with other depressants like alcohol, benzodiazepines and barbiturates.
An opioid overdose becomes more likely if Roxicodone is combined with other drugs that can affect breathing.[5]
The following symptoms characterize a Roxies overdose:
These symptoms should be considered a medical emergency, as they can be life-threatening and may result in death or permanent brain damage. Call 911 immediately if you suspect an overdose.
If available, administer naloxone (Narcan) to the overdosing person. This medication can rapidly reverse the life-threatening effects of a Roxicodone overdose. However, you should still call 911 even if you administer Narcan since the medication may only last for a few minutes.
In the short term, misusing roxies can cause serious issues such as these:[4],[6]
More serious side effects that may signal a medical emergency include the following:[5]
Some people develop episodes of such extremely slow breathing that they damage brain cells. This damage can be permanent.
People who keep misusing opioids can develop long-term problems, including opioid dependence and opioid use disorder (OUD).
Over time, many people who develop opioid use disorders experience a notable deterioration in their ability to care for themselves and those around them. They may experience financial difficulties, have trouble maintaining social and work relationships, and see other declines in their mental and physical health.
Additional health risks include:[3],[5]
If a person has an addiction to roxies, Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT) is considered the gold standard for treatment. MAT consists of one of three U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved medications:
At Bicycle Health, we use Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) therapy for MAT. Suboxone can prevent withdrawal symptoms and cravings for opioids, allowing the individual to focus on recovery.[7]
The buprenorphine component of Suboxone occupies opioid receptors, thereby preventing withdrawal. If the medication is misused, such as crushed and injected, the naloxone component is activated, preventing overdose and serving as an additional safety mechanism and misuse-deterrent. Suboxone is widely viewed as an effective and safe method to support recovery from opioid use disorder.[9]
Suboxone and other forms of MAT are available via prescription. As part of a MAT program, the patient will receive counseling and other forms of support.
If you are concerned about using Roxicodone and interested in MAT, reach out to Bicycle Health to get started.
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 of the brain dopamine system in substance use disorders and in aging. He also studies brain function in obesity and eating disorders.
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