Roxicodone Overview

Roxicodone (oxycodone hydrochloride tablets USP) is an opioid pain medication. An opioid is sometimes called a narcotic. Roxicodone is used to treat moderate to severe pain. The extended-release form of this medicine is for around-the-clock treatment of pain that is not controlled by other medicines. This form of Roxicodone is not for treating pain that is not around-the-clock.

Roxicodone Abuse Treatment

It is stated that in a single year as much as 11 million people will make use of an opioid, such as Roxicodone, for a non-medical purpose, at least once. The US Department of Health and Human Services Roxicodone statistics define this as the use of Roxicodone that has not been prescribed to the person or the specific use of the drug as an induction to elevated neurotransmitter levels (or "high" as it is otherwise known). In the US alone, the number of hospital admission rise to about 100 000 people related to oxycodone related medication with Roxicodone only forming a small number of admissions and hydrocodone forming a larger number. These statistics are shown to relate to people of the age group 16 - 49 with a larger percentage forming in the age bracket teens to early 20's. The high price of the drug tends to see high rates of abuse in the middle to upper class households. However, with the production of generics hitting the market this trend seems to be spreading to the lower spectrum as well. It is stated that if you used Roxicodone once in a non-medical manner, it does not constitute you as an addict. Roxicodone is a highly addictive drug, but it takes a more established routine of consumption to form an addict. Most of the time people who are legally taking Roxicodone as a prescription tend to fall under that category, with most of them needing to be weaned off of the drug at the end of their prescription. Even under these circumstances (if the user took the drug exactly as prescribed), they are not deemed abusers or addicts, even if they are dependent on the drug, as long as the dependency is for strict medical purposes and deemed necessary by a medical professional.

Roxicodone Signs of Abuse

Controlled Substance Roxicodone (Roxicodone hydrochloride) contains Roxicodone, a mu-agonist opioid of the morphine type and is a Schedule II controlled substance. Roxicodone (Roxicodone hydrochloride), like other opioids used in analgesia, can be abused and is subject to criminal diversion. Drug addiction is characterized by compulsive use, use for non-medical purposes, and continued use despite harm or risk of harm. Drug addiction is a treatable disease, utilizing a multi-disciplinary approach, but relapse is common.

Effects of Roxicodone Abuse

• Chills
• Cold sweats
• Confusion
• Difficult or labored breathing
• Change in consciousness
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Constricted, pinpoint, or small pupils (black part of the eye)
• Decreased awareness or responsiveness
• Extreme drowsiness
• Loss of consciousness
• No muscle tone or movement
• Severe sleepiness
• Slow or irregular heartbeat

Roxicodone Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawal symptoms, after either abrupt cessation or fast tapering of Roxicodone, may occur and include:

• Agitation
• Palpitations
• Restlessness
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Tremor
• Abdominal cramps
• Blurred vision
• Psychosis has also been reported during withdrawal from Roxicodone

Roxicodone Abuse Statistics

Abuse of Prescription Drugs such as Ritalin is Increasing. In a study, it was found that nearly 7 million Americans abused prescription drugs, including Ritalin--more than the number who abused cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, Ecstasy and inhalants, combined. 3.8% of 12th graders reported having used Ritalin without a prescription at least once in the past year in 2007. In 2004, Ritalin was involved in an estimated 3,601 hospital emergency department visits, compared to 271 in 1990. From 1990 to 2000, 186 deaths in the US were linked to Ritalin. The risk is highest for those who snort large amounts of the drug. Since 1995, it has ranked on the Drug Enforcement Administration's list of "most stolen" medications.