Oxycodone is a legal narcotic medication prescribed for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. This type of medication can be administered intravenously (IV), orally, rectally or by injection. If you take oxycodone for pain relief, use of this drug can become habit-forming. Discuss the effects of oxycodone with your doctor prior to beginning this pain management treatment.
Decreased Pain Sensitivity
Oxycodone is an opiate that alters the body's response to pain. This medication interferes with pain signals that are sent to the brain, which can decrease your sensitivity to pain during treatment. Oxycodone can also influence your emotional response to pain and can provide substantial pain relief.
Irregular Breathing
Certain people who take oxycodone develop breathing difficulties during treatment. Symptoms can include irregular breathing or respiratory depression, a condition characterized by a decrease in the rate of inhalation and exhalation. If such respiratory difficulties develop, you can also experience dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting due to decreased oxygen levels within the blood.
Headache
Oxycodone can cause a headache to develop in some people during treatment. Headache pain is typically mild to moderate in severity and will likely resolve with continued treatment. You could also experience drowsiness or weakness in conjunction with headache symptoms. Use of additional pain medications to treat headache pain is not recommended while you are taking oxycodone.
Nausea
After taking a dose of oxycodone, you could experience stomach upset, nausea or vomiting, especially if you take this medication on an empty stomach. Oxycodone can also cause a decrease in appetite or constipation. To prevent such symptoms, eata small, healthy meal or snack prior to taking your prescribed dose of oxycodone.
Seizures
The effects of oxycodone can be severe in some people. Treatment with oxycodone can cause seizures in certain people. The primary symptom of a seizure is uncontrollable shaking of the body. A seizure can also cause confusion or loss of consciousness in some people. If you or a loved one experience a seizure following treatment with oxycodone, seek emergency medical care immediately.
Heart Failure
If you take oxycodone, you could develop an abnormally slow or fast heartbeat. In rare cases, heartbeat abnormalities caused by oxycodone treatment can lead to heart failure, cardiac arrest or death. If you notice any alterations in your heart or breathing rates following oxycodone treatment, contact your primary care physician immediately for further evaluation.
