Oxycodone Side Effects

Oxycodone is an opioid analgesic medication, most often used in treating moderate to severe pain in human beings. Also known as dihydrohydroxycodeinone, nucodan oxycodone and eucodal, oxycodone is an important constituent of various oral medications that are prescribed for relief from moderate to severe pain. It is an active ingredient in a group of drugs commonly referred to as the narcotic pain relievers. Oxycodone was developed in 1916 as a new semi-synthetic opioid, in order to improve the existing opioids and opiates, such as morphine, heroin and codeine, and has come all the way to become one of the most prominent pain killer. More importantly, oxycodone is a habit forming drug which can lead to serious addiction as well as some severe side effects on withdrawal.

Oxycodone Dosage
Oxycodone has a round-the-clock effect on the body which gradually subsides the pain over a period of time. Taking oxycodone in large amounts or exceeding the amount prescribed by the doctor can trigger a series of oxycodone side effects. One should make sure that he or she reads the 'directions to use' properly before popping the pill in the mouth. Oxycodone pill should be taken with substantial amount of water and more importantly, should not be chewed or crushed. The correct way of taking an oxycodone pill is to swallow the whole pill with significant amount of water. Chewing or crushing the pill causes too much of drug release at one time, which may eventually lead to some grievous oxycodone side effects. If the medicine is not showing desired effects or if it is showing some adverse effects, the individual should promptly consult a doctor.

Side Effects of Oxycodone
Oxycodone side effects are usually triggered by oxycodone overdose, interaction of oxycodone with some other medication or withdrawal of the drug. Let's have a detailed look at some of the numerous side effects of oxycodone.

• Common Side Effects: The most common side effects of oxycodone are constipation, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, headache and excessive sweating. The person also experiences blurred vision, dizziness or drowsiness, weakness along with drying of mouth and sleeplessness.
• Less Common Side Effects: The less common oxycodone side effects may also include anxiety, diarrhea, euphoria and dyspnea. Other than these the person may also experience severe abdominal pain, hiccups and nervousness.
• Rare Side Effects of Oxycodone: Though very rare, use of oxycodone for a prolonged period of time can spark some serious complications including impotency, high blood pressure, decreased testosterone secretion and enlargement of prostate gland.

Other than these side effects, the patient may also lose interest in various activities and demonstrate signs of clinical depression.

Oxycodone Reactions
Oxycodone tends to react differently with different individuals. Oxycodone, when administered to a person suffering from certain diseases, such as circulatory shock, chronic pancreatitis, bronchial asthma or severe liver or kidney diseases, can lead some adverse effects on his health and further deteriorate it. In such circumstances, it is wiser to administer any medicine containing oxycodone only after consulting a doctor. On a more serious note, a person indulging in drug abuse or alcohol abuse may also experience some life-threatening side effects of oxycodone when taken in significant amount.

Oxycodone Withdrawal Symptoms
Oxycodone is a habit forming drug, and even if the individual is using it according to the doctors recommendation, may get addicted to it. In such a scenario, stopping the use of oxycodone may trigger some serious oxycodone withdrawal symptoms in the individual. These withdrawal symptoms are very severe, which may eventually lead to life-threatening conditions. The prominent withdrawal symptoms of oxycodone include excessive sweating, rapid heart rate, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and insomnia.

If any of these side effects of oxycodone are noticed, one should immediately consult the doctor. Never try to stop the dosage after you see oxycodone side effects on your body, as this may give rise to several oxycodone withdrawal symptoms, equally serious in nature. Like the side effects of several other medicines, oxycodone side effects can also lead to further complications and hence have to be addressed at the earliest.