Oxycodone is an opioid painkiller (brand name OxyContin) commonly prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain. All drugs in the opioid drug class are highly addictive, which is why it’s important to take oxycodone exactly as prescribed. If you or someone close to you uses oxycodone, knowing how to recognize symptoms of oxycodone abuse can help you or your loved one get the help needed to treat addiction and avoid an overdose.

Nobody should ever have to struggle with overcoming addiction on their own, including you. If you’re suffering from substance abuse, call our 24/7 confidential helpline at 800-934-1582(Who Answers?) to learn more about addiction treatment centers that can help.

Mood Symptoms

Addiction can lead to changes in your mood and energy level as daily life activities and responsibilities become secondary to oxycodone use. For instance, if you feel that you’re having a particularly bad day just because you couldn’t use oxycodone, you may be struggling with physical dependency and addiction.

Common mood symptoms associated with oxycodone abuse:

• Euphoria
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Irritability
• Mood swings

Physical Symptoms

Oxycodone abuse triggers up to several physical symptoms you may experience when using the drug, and when not using the drug. For instance, taking too much oxycodone at once can cause extreme sedation and increase the risk for an overdose. Alternately, quitting oxycodone abruptly can cause strong cravings and mild to severe withdrawal symptoms.

Common physical symptoms associated with oxycodone abuse:

• Drowsiness
• Sedation
• Restlessness
• Agitation
• Constricted pupils
• Constipation
• Weight loss

Oxycodone physical withdrawal symptoms may include:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Sweating
• Shaking
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Runny nose
• Tearing eyes
• Increased heart rate
• Seizures

Behavioral Symptoms

Oxycodone abuse can cause changes in your behavior that compromise your social life, family life, and relationships. You might also make a series of unhealthy lifestyle changes to accommodate drug use, and to prioritize drug use over everything else.

Common behavioral symptoms of oxycodone abuse:

• Thinking about oxycodone use repeatedly throughout the day
• Doctor shopping, or visiting multiple doctors to obtain multiple oxycodone prescriptions
• Loss of relationships
• Social withdrawal
• Stealing oxycodone from friends and family
• Using oxycodone in secret
• Hiding oxycodone throughout the home

Psychological Symptoms

Opioid abuse changes your brain chemistry in a way that affects your overall mental health and decision-making abilities. Over time, oxycodone abuse can increase your risk for more serious mental health conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Common psychological symptoms associated with oxycodone abuse:

• Psychological addiction
• Difficulty with organizing thoughts
• Difficulty with focus and concentration
• Confusion
• Poor judgment
• Poor decision making
• Emotional numbing
• Memory problems

When used correctly and short-term, oxycodone can help you manage and reduce pain for an injury, surgery, or another health condition. But when abused, oxycodone can lead to physical dependency and addiction, which increases the risk for coma, overdose, and death.

If you or someone you care about is using oxycodone and displaying any of the above symptoms, it may be time to get help. Call our 24/7 confidential helpline at 800-934-1582(Who Answers?) to learn more about drug rehab centers that can diagnose symptoms of oxycodone abuse and help you successfully overcome addiction.