Hydrocodone and oxycodone are opioid-based pain relieving medicines that require a prescription. Hydrocodone, which is often prescribed as Vicodin, and oxycodone, sometimes prescribed as Oxycontin, are safe, effective and rarely cause addiction when taken as prescribed, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. However, abuse of these medicines, which has become a "serious public safety concern," according to the FDA, may cause addiction. Among the symptoms of such addiction are physical dependence, drug-seeking behaviors and improper ways to take these medicines.
Physical Dependence
Hydrocodone is generally mixed with other pain relievers, including acetaminophen, and as such, requires fairly high doses before addiction is likely to occur. Oxycodone, especially when prescribed as Oxycontin, is a more powerful opioid and produces a euphoria that can be addictive. One sign of addiction to either of these powerful pain relievers is the onset of withdrawal symptoms when the drugs are stopped. Withdrawal symptoms may include restlessness, anxiety, runny nose and teary eyes, dilated pupils, sweating, chills, nausea or vomiting, muscle soreness, irritability and possibly increased heart rate and blood pressure, according to AddictionSearch.com.
Drug-seeking Behavior
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends referral to addiction prevention programs when oxycodone or hydrocodone users exhibit drug-seeking behaviors. These behaviors include increasing demand for the drug or taking more than the prescribed amount, forging prescriptions, losing prescriptions often or going to several different doctors to obtain prescriptions, stealing or borrowing these drugs or going to the emergency room often with complaints of pain.
Improper Intake
Oxycontin is a time-release form of oxycodone, meant to allow for pain control for 8 to 12 hours. Instead of taking the pills orally, as prescribed, those who are addicted to the drug may crush the pill and snort or inject the medicine, which causes the entire dose of medication to be released at once. This sudden release of such a significant amount of the active drug can cause serious side effects, including drowsiness, slowing of the respiratory system or even death.
