OxyContin: Prescription Drug Abuse & Testing

OxyContin: Prescription Drug Abuse & Testing

OxyContin is an opium derivative, which contains the same active ingredient as in Percodan and Percocet. OxyContin is a very strong narcotic pain reliever similar to morphine. OxyContin is designed so that its oxycodone salt is slowly released over time. OxyContin products are in schedule II of the federal Controlled Substances Act of 1970 in United States.

OxyContin Prescription:

OxyContin is an opiate agonist that provides pain relief by acting on opioid receptors in the spinal cord, brain, and possibly in the tissues directly. Opioids, natural or synthetic classes of drugs that act like morphine have been recognized as the most effective pain relievers available and thus OxyContin is prescribed for moderate to high pain relief associated with injuries, bursitis, dislocation, fractures, neuralgia, arthritis, and lower back pain. It is also used after surgeries and for pain relief after childbirth. It is a commonly used medication for pain relief in cancer patients.

OxyContin Abuse in U.S.:

The power painkiller OxyContin is being abused by more and more people across United States. The heroin-like effects of the drug attract both legitimate and illegitimate users. Although the diversion and abuse of OxyContin appeared initially in the eastern U.S., it has now spread to the western U.S. including Alaska and Hawaii. As a result, OxyContin-related adverse health effects increased markedly in recent years.

OxyContin abused is increasing rapidly due to many factors:

It contains high levels of opium which makes it highly addictive. OxyContin is not laced with other conjugates so an addict can decide exactly how much of the drug is required to get that high. OxyContin is significantly cheaper than street drugs. No wonder, OxyContin is widely referred to as the poor man's heroin.

Most individuals who abuse OxyContin seek the euphoric effects to mitigate pain and to avoid withdrawal symptoms associated with opium abstinence. Effects of OxyContin Abuse:

Chief hazard from all opioid usage is the respiratory depression and OxyContin is no exception. Respiratory depression occurs mostly in elderly or debilitated patients, often following large initial doses in non-tolerant patients, or when opioids are given in conjunction with other agents that depress respiration. Other than respiratory depression, some serious adverse reactions that may be associated with OxyContin use include apnea, respiratory arrest, circulatory depression, and hypertension. It may also cause a reduction in motility associated with an increase in smooth muscle tone in the antrum of the stomach and duodenum. Delayed digestion of food in the small intestine and a subsequent decrease in propulsive contractions has also been reported.

Some common side effects of OxyContin are constipation, nausea, sedation, dizziness, vomiting, headache, dry mouth, sweating, and weakness.

OxyContin Testing:

OxyContin can be detected in urine testing within one or two days following drug exposure although hair follicle based drug analysis may even be performed at longer intervals.

Laboratory testing may involve Antibody based screening assays or Chromatographic procedures. A Mass spectrometric screening can also be done for further validation purposes. However, preliminary evaluation of patients or periodic monitoring can be done by one of those easy-to-use kits which usually work on the principles of specific antigen-antibody interactions.



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