Oxycotin

OXYCOTIN

1 - OXYCOTIN- This is the latest narcotic drug; now, in the twenty-first century, it is taking the country by storm. Under the brand name, OxyContin, it is normally prescribed for severe back pain, joint pain, or pain in terminal cancer. Street names for it are "Oxy" and "OC."

The claim is made that, because it is a time-release medication for pain relief, the drug is not addictive unless its casing is broken. But, after broken and chewed, it becomes a high which can produce instant addiction. If crushed and swallowed fast, it can lead to death through cardiac arrest.

If taken as prescribed, Oxycotin relieves pain. Here is the web comment of one person with a knee injury, who took the pills for pain relief for several months, exactly as prescribed, without breaking them: "I'm trying to wean myself from the Oxycotin. I've been taken to the ER twice, thinking I was having heart attacks. I've been having shortness of breath, chest pains, headaches, anxiety attacks, and vomiting."

Then there are those who break the tablets for a high. The person feels

supremely good for a time. But as the letdown begins, a strong need is felt to take still more of it.

The withdrawal symptoms are absolutely horrible. After being happy for several hours, there is nodding off. Then comes profuse sweating, constipation, headaches, yawning, pinpoint pupils, slurred speech, aching in every bone, heart palpitations, runny nose, tearing, twitching muscles, fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, uncontrolled coughing, hot and cold flashes, insomnia, weakness, no appetite, and more.

Withdrawal involves two to three weeks of living horror. Here is how one person who went through it describes the experience: "It's pure hell. The hot and cold sweats, leg cramps, some abdominal problems, diarrhea, and vomiting. If you are really at your end, you will do whatever it takes to get your life back. I did. I love life today. The withdrawals are a long 2-3 weeks of no sleep. I know. I've been there. That's why it's almost impossible to do it as an out-patient or at home. I didn't sleep at all for 10 days. All my bones severely ached. I could not sit still. I had a lot of pain and headaches. I was sick like a dog, with flu-like symptoms. You get jumpy and cranky. Also stomach aches and diarrhea. Afterward, I was weak and shaky for quite some time."

Here are more web comments:

"Quitting Oxycotin is hellish, and has the same withdrawal symptoms as heroin. The pills are ruining my daughter's life. She started it for simple pain. But when the doctor wouldn't prescribe more, she turned to heroin. Now she lives on the streets with her two children, homeless. We tried to help her, but she says she can't stop."

According to Medicaid charts, in the past two years, OxyCotin has gone from 35th prescribed drug to 10th. Purdue Pharma, the company manufacturing the drug, is doing very well financially. Although the drug board requires all drugstores to carry the drug, many drugstores are quietly removing it from their shelves. The word quickly gets out that, since they no longer sell it, there will be no need to rob that particular store at night.

"OxyCotin is one of the most powerful and addictive drugs in existence. For the people who feared the day when powerful narcotics like cocaine and heroin would become legal prescription drugs, I'm afraid that day has arrived."

Major health insurers and HMOs will have to finance longer stays in detox and rehab centers. Paying for three to seven days is useless. Experts say it takes at least 90 days for the brain and body to return to near normal.