Drug Profile: OxyContin

Manufacturer: Purdue Pharma

Pharmacological Class: Semi-synthetic Opiate

Medical Uses: A painkiller for severe illnesses like cancer.

Availability: Schedule II Drug (controlled & available only with a prescription in the U.S.)

Addiction Potential: High

Potential Side Effects: Common side effects may include dizziness, nausea, fatigue, constipation, euphoria, and lightheadedness. More severe potential side effects, which are usually associated with overdoses or inappropriate use, include pupil constriction, apnea, shallow breathing, respiratory arrest, hypotension, and death, among others.

Withdrawal Symptoms: People who are going through OxyContin withdrawal may experience muscle and bone pain, fever, cold sweats, vomiting, depression, and anxiety. (Visit our page on OxyContin Detox for more information.)

Signs of Abuse:

• Taking more frequently than the doctor prescribed.
• Taking higher doses than the doctor prescribed.
• Sharing the substance with others.
• Administering the substance in a method that is different from that prescribed by a physician (for example, crushing the pill into a powder form and then snorting or injecting it instead of swallowing).

Controversies Surrounding the Substance:

• As of 2002, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) noted that the majority of OxyContin-related deaths were from oral administration (as opposed to, for example, mixing OxyContin with alcohol or another substance). The U.S. DEA has identified at least 146 deaths but potentially as many as 464 deaths related to OxyContin use.
• In May 2007, the makers of OxyContin pled guilty to misrepresenting the substance’s addiction potential. Despite concerns from doctors who had studied the drug, the company provided its sales representatives with inaccurate information, according to the U.S. attorney on the case. As a result of the legal action, the company was required to pay $634.5 million in fines.