Oxycontin is a time-released formula of the opiate pain-reliever oxycodone. Oxycontin is manufactured by Purdue Pharma L.P., headquartered in Ontario, Canada. The website PubMed Health explains that Oxycontin is typically prescribed for the treatment of continuous pain over an extended period of time in patients who require regularly scheduled doses. Oxycontin, like all opiate drugs, may cause drug dependence with improper use.
Detoxification
The text "Treating Drug Problems" defines detoxification as the period during which a person is withdrawing from a substance. During detoxification, symptoms characteristic of withdrawal syndrome begin to appear. The "Clinical Manual of Addiction Psychopharmacology" explains that opiate withdrawal in its earliest stages causes runny eyes and nose, sweating and excessive yawning and may progress to include painful sensations, muscle spasms and stomach upset. Detoxification can be aided with the help of medications that will ease the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms. Some opiate-addicted individuals may require maintenance therapy on one of these types of medications in order to minimize the risk of relapse.
Clonidine
Clonidine is a drug that is sometimes used to alleviate the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms such as elevated blood pressure, increased heart rate, anxiety and excessive sweating. The "Handbook of Psychiatric Drugs" explains that clonidine is a good choice for treating opiate addiction in an outpatient setting.
Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine is a recent addition to the family of medications used to treat opiate addiction on an outpatient basis. According to the "Handbook of Psychiatric Drugs," since 2000, the FDA has approved two formulations of buprenorphine for this purpose. The first formulation is simply buprenorphine, which acts in a manner that is pharmacologically similar to opiates of addiction in order to prevent the onset of withdrawal symptoms. The second formulation is a combination of buprenorphine and a drug called naloxone. This particular combination is thought to have less potential for abuse.
Methadone
In-patient treatment for opiate addiction is typically treated with a daily dose of the long-lasting opiate called methadone. It is also used on an outpatient basis by clinics that are licensed methadone maintenance treatment centers, says the "Handbook of Psychiatric Drugs." Methadone does not provide the rewarding feelings produced by commonly abused opiates such as heroin or morphine, but it is effective at relieving the discomfort of withdrawal.
LAAM
Another option for treating oxycontin and opiate addiction is the drug called levomethadyl acetate, or LAAM. It is similar to methadone but needs to be taken only three times weekly. The "Clinical Manual of Addiction Psychopharmacology" notes that LAAM therapy may need to be augmented by another drug such as methadone for the first 48 hours of treatment, as LAAM typically fails to provide relief from withdrawal during this time.
References
- PubMed Health: Oxycodone
- "Treating Drug Problems"; Arthur W. Bloom; 2005
- "Clinical Manual of Addiction Psychopharmacology"; Henry R. Kranzler, M.D. and Domenic A. Ciraulo, M.D.; 2005
- "Handbook of Psychiatric Drugs"; Jeffrey A. Lieberman and Allan Tasman; 2006
