When someone enters treatment for oxycodone addiction treatment, — also known as medication assisted therapy — it may be their first or 5th attempt at recovery. Most commonly, patients usually have a lengthy history of opioid use. Patients seeking opioid treatment may also have a history of overdosing and even legal issues related to their substance use.

Oxycodone addiction, along with other prescribed opioids, has reached epidemic proportions. Unfortunately, the number of people seeking oxycodone addiction treatment is much less due to the stigma of medication assisted therapy or lack of resources such as financial, transportation or knowing where to get help. 

In this post, we’ll discuss oxycodone addiction symptoms, what to expect from treatment, and what recovery looks like outside of the program.

Understanding Oxycodone Addiction Symptoms

Addiction to prescription painkillers like oxycodone starts innocently most times. With surgery or a painful injury, a patient may receive an oxycodone prescription from their doctor, which is legitimate and justified. 

However, the body naturally develops a tolerance to opioids over time and causes the body to develop more opioid receptors. Oxycodone attaches itself to those opioid receptors and releases chemicals that affect the brain and central nervous system. The drug acts as an analgesic to relieve pain.

This can cause the brain and body to become hypersensitive to pain, justifying the need for increased doses of the opioid medication. Even the smallest ailments can seem severe enough to justify treatment.

Psychologically, the addicted individual believes they can’t survive without the medication, either because of pain management or fear of severe withdrawals. 

Denial is also a major symptom of addiction and prevents people from associating the consequences of using with the use itself.

This is why it’s essential for those with oxycodone addiction symptoms to enter a medication assisted treatment center, so they can address the physical, psychological and emotional effects of their addiction. Getting sober isn’t a matter of willpower; it’s a matter of skillpower. 

What to Expect When Starting Oxycodone Addiction Treatment

The first step in oxycodone addiction treatment is identifying that there is a problem. Patients are required to commit fully to any medication assisted program, including their involvement in individual and group therapy.

Every patient’s circumstances are unique, which is why there is no one size fits all recovery program for oxycodone addiction. The length of time the individual used oxycodone and the amount used will help determine the appropriate level of care. 

Oxycodone withdrawal symptoms are the same as any other opioid withdrawal symptoms and can be compared to having the flu multiplied by 100.

Symptoms of opioid withdrawal include: 

  • Nausea
  • Sweating
  • Muscle cramping
  • Restlessness
  • Tiredness
  • Anxiousness
  • Diarrhea

Once admitted for treatment, patients will be put on a small dose of either methadone or Suboxone, depending on the amount of opioids still in their system. Counselors, doctors and nurses will then monitor the patient’s progress and increase their dosage until it reaches a therapeutic level — enough medication that it can quiet withdrawals and cravings without creating a euphoric effect.

Is Oxycodone Addiction Treatment A Cure?

To put it simply, no. We believe that addiction is managed rather than cured. 

If the patient does not continue a program of recovery that includes support and life skills education, it will be easy to fall back into the addiction. Maintaining 100% abstinence from all opioids is the only way to prevent relapse. 

The process of leaving oxycodone addiction treatment is through a medication taper — where the patient is slowly tapered off the medication. Tapering won’t happen until the patient has had consistent abstinence from the abused drug and their primary areas of life are stable.

Many patients try to stop medication assisted treatment “cold turkey”. However, it rarely works and causes severe withdrawal symptoms and cravings to use again. In fact, it’s a primary reason for relapse. 

Following your treatment plan through to discharge will give you the best chance possible of maintaining sobriety after treatment.

Oxycodone addiction treatment is meant to enable those who feel that all hope has been lost. You are not your addiction, and with the right coping and life skills, you can make it to recovery.

Don’t let the stigma of medication assisted therapy, fear of withdrawal or the inability to pay, keep you from treatment. In fact, our facility offers multiple funding options for those needing financial assistance, and our dedicated staff is committed to helping you on your recovery journey.

If you or someone you know is in need of oxycodone addiction treatment, contact MedPro Treatment Centers to speak with our on-site medical professionals.