Oxycodone Withdrawals: Symptoms & Treatment

Oxycodone is a potent and addictive synthetic opioid found in prescription medications like Percocet and OxyContin. Opioids have contributed to a major epidemic in the United States, in which millions of people have developed opioid addictions. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, between 26.4 million and 36 million people abuse opioids worldwide, with 2.1 million people estimated to suffer from addictions related to prescription opioids.¹ Oxycodone is one of the many opioids that users can become easily tolerant to and dependent on, making it difficult for them to quit. As a drug rehab in Massachusetts, we understand that once an addiction has developed, quitting can result in uncomfortable and even painful oxycodone withdrawals.

What Are the Symptoms Of Oxycodone Withdrawal?

Long-term use of any opioid can lead to psychological and physical dependence. When a person’s tolerance for an opioid grows, they have to be using more of it to experience the same side effects. The body will eventually become used to ingesting a certain dose of this substance every day, creating an addiction.

When addiction occurs, the brain and body conform to it. Opioids are especially known for affecting the brain’s chemical makeup and function. As a result, oxycodone withdrawals are expected when a person who’s abused the drug for a long period suddenly stops using it or attempts to quit cold turkey.

Withdrawals from oxycodone can be broken up into different stages or a timeline. The stages of oxycodone withdrawal are categorized by the duration of time and by the severity of symptoms. These symptoms may begin anywhere between 6 and 30 hours after the person’s last use.

Some common oxycodone withdrawals that occur in the early stage of detox include:

• Anxiety
• Body pains and aches
• Difficulties sleeping
• Excessive sweating
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Irritability
• Paranoia
• Runny nose
• Watery eyes

Around three days after the person’s last use, their symptoms may peak. During this stage, the person’s initial symptoms may worsen, and they may also develop new symptoms like:

• Blurred vision
• Chills
• Diarrhea
• Dilated pupils
• High blood pressure
• Increased heartbeat
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stomach cramps

The oxycodone withdrawal timeline and severity of symptoms are often dependent on the duration of the person’s addiction, their health, how often they use the drug, and whether they’ve used other substances. Oxycodone withdrawals can be extremely dangerous if the person doesn’t receive medical assistance or attempts to detox on their own, with severe dehydration from diarrhea and vomiting being the most fatal of symptoms.

At Clearbrook Treatment Centers Massachusetts, we offer medically supervised detox from oxycodone that is specifically designed to identify and mitigate the signs and symptoms of withdrawal and help patients safely wean off drugs under 24-hour care.

How Long Does Oxycodone Withdrawal Last?

As we previously mentioned, the duration of oxycodone detox symptoms is dependent on the severity of the person’s addiction and how long they’ve been using the drug. For instance, a person who has engaged in oxycodone abuse for two years may experience longer and more severe withdrawal symptoms than someone who has been abusing it for eight months.

However, the duration of opioid withdrawal is not set in stone, and each person’s experience may differ. Generally, oxycodone withdrawals can last anywhere between one to three months. Even if the individual has moved onto an opioid rehab program, withdrawal symptoms like tiredness, depression, and difficulties sleeping may continue to linger.

How to Cope With Oxycodone Withdrawal

The more support you have in your recovery journey, the more likely you’ll be to stay on track. The best way to cope with oxycodone withdrawal is by undergoing a medical detox and receiving professional opioid or prescription drug addiction treatment. While many people may want to withdraw from oxycodone at home, this increases the person’s risk of experiencing health complications that could be life-threatening. A medical detox like the one we offer at our Massachusetts inpatient drug rehab provides medical assistance, medication management, and a clean and comfortable space, all done under 24-hour care.

Our Northeast addictions treatment center offers a variety of addiction services to ensure that we can help every patient that walks through our doors. If you’re struggling with oxycodone addiction and want to begin your recovery journey, call Clearbrook Treatment Centers now at 570-536-9621 or send us your contact information to learn more about our Massachusetts substance abuse treatment.