Symptoms of Oxycodone Overdose

Oxycodone is a morphine similar to narcotic opioid, which is used in many medications so as to help relieve body pain. Paracetamol is a compound of oxycodone, which helps relieve pain during fever. An overdose can be fatal if not removed from the system as soon as possible. The effect and reactions of the overdose depends on various circumstances, such as whether the medication was consumed alone, or it was combined with other medications or substances such as alcohol.

Signs of Oxycodone Overdose

• The patient will find it difficult to breathe properly and the breath will come out is short strangled bursts.
• The heart rate will slow down below normal limits.
• The patient will want to sleep and will be feeling drowsy. Though the patient must not be allowed to fall asleep as that increases the chances of the patient drifting into a subsequent coma.
• The patient's body will become cold and comparatively stiffer than before.
• The blood pressure will fall to a low.
• The patient may suffer from a form of cardiac arrest.
• The pulse will be slow and the patients may lose control over their muscles.

Oxycodone being similar to morphine is used as a painkiller, though its applicability extends to situations wherein the patient suffers excruciating pain. Often used as a post surgery medication and sometimes recommended prior to surgery, so as to help patients deal with pain. This medication has peculiar tendency of being addictive if its consumption is abused, which is why some patients continue having it in spite of being cured. Its use must be restricted to only those who have proper doctor's prescription for it. It must be kept away from individuals who have had problems with drug addiction and abuse.

Some Usual Side Effects

It would be safer to discuss with your doctor about all your past health conditions so as to make sure whether this medication is suitable for you or not.

• Never have this medication if you have been allergic to other narcotic medicines and cough syrups. Let your doctor know about your allergies and its symptoms.
• Oxycodone slows down motor reactions and make it difficult to concentrate properly.
• The oxycodone dosage must never be taken beyond the prescribed limit for each day or cycle. In case you miss a tablet, just wait for the next day and have a new tablet.
• This medicine must never be mixed with alcohol, as it is bound to cause severe side effects as a result of the chemical reaction between the two components.
• It makes people extremely drowsy so it's better to avoid doing activities that require complete focus and attention.
• It creates withdrawal symptoms in some people who find it extremely hard to give up the medication once their course is complete.
• It must not be taken by pregnant women as the medication will cause the baby to get addicted and it will affect its general health.
• Women who are breast-feeding should never take this medication as it will pass through the milk onto the child. It can lead to withdrawal symptoms in both the mother and the child.
• People with mental illnesses must be kept away from this medication.
• People who have experienced severe head injuries or tumors must not take this medication.

Treatment

The moment you or someone you know accidentally overdoses, call 911 or the medical emergency department. The patient will need treatment as soon as possible. The doctor will need to pump the medication out of the stomach, or induce the patient to vomit. Activated charcoal is the most essential requirement in these times of crisis, as the charcoal will absorb the medication and thereby prevent the body from going through further damage. If the need be the patient will be administered with an antidote against the medication.

Oxycodone must be thrown away in a dumpster, or returned to the pharmacy, once the prescribed course is over and if there are any extra tablets remaining. Liquid medication must be thrown away after a 90 day period, after which it becomes unsafe to consume. Never crush the tablets and dissolve, so as to be administered through injection. This will lead to instant death.