OxyContin is one of the trade name for the powerful painkiller called oxycodone hydrochloride. Purdue Pharma manufactures OxyContin. In 10 years as of this writing, emergency-room visits related to OxyContin have jumped more than 100 percent, according to the Drug Abuse Warning Network. In 2000 alone, 6 billion prescriptions for OxyContin were written, a near 20-fold increase from 1996. OxyContin has properties similar to morphine and requires a physician's prescription and guidance. Common side-effects include addiction and adverse interactions with other prescription and over-the-counter drugs.
Drug Interactions Explained
Drug interactions occur when a combination of medications prevents the drugs from performing as expected. These interactions may affect the drug's absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination. Taking a drug with qualities too similar to OxyContin may cause an unintentional overdose, and drugs that have opposing constituents may cancel its effect on the body.
Central Nervous System Depressants
The Purdue Pharma company warns that patients may have adverse reactions when mixing OxyContin with central nervous system depressants. These include thorazine, used to treat schizophrenia, general anesthetics, sedatives and alcoholic drinks. Mixing OxyContin with any of these substances may cause hypotension or unusually low blood pressure, sedation and respiratory depression. Strokes may occur in extreme cases.
Opioid Analgesics
Drugs such as the opioid analgesic buprenorphine have adverse interactions with OxyContin. Mixing these two drugs negates OxyContin's pain-killing effects, and may even cause withdrawal symptoms, such as pain, nausea and restlessness. Other examples of opioid analgesics include pentazocine and nalbuphine.
Aspirin and Cold Medicine
OxyContin contains acetaminophen, found in cold and cough medication. Taking OxyContin with any type of aspirin or cold medication may cause acetaminophen overload that may cause gastrointestinal bleeding and severe stomach pain.
Fatality
Doctors use clonazepam to treat patients with seizures and panic disorders. A May 2003 study published in the "Journal of Forensic Science" details a death resulting from the interaction between clonazepam, OxyContin and other prescription and non-prescription drugs. In March of 2001, a 38-year old female was found dead in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Medications found at the scene include OxyContin, clonazepam and aspirin. Lead author David L. Burrows reported that the victim's bloodstream showed elevated concentrations of clonazepam and OxyContin, which led to respiratory failure.
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