Last Updated: January 17, 2023

The symptoms of oxycodone abuse can be dangerous and lead to many uncomfortable physical, behavioral and social side effects.

Understanding the signs, symptoms and side effects of oxycodone addiction is critical. Many people who misuse oxycodone may try to hide their addiction from their loved ones and will take more steps to disguise it than those who openly share their addiction. Nevertheless, individuals can learn to recognize some tell-tale signs of oxycodone addiction.

The opioid epidemic in the U.S. has many consequences — some falling directly on the person abusing opioids, and others indirectly affecting the person’s community. One of the main drivers of the opioid epidemic is oxycodone, which is the active ingredient in brand-name prescriptions such as OxyContin, Percocet, Roxicodone and Xtampza ER. 

Oxycodone addiction can happen to anyone though it may be hard to recognize in friends, acquaintances or loved ones until a tolerance or dependence is established. Everyone struggling with oxycodone addiction has a unique story.

Understanding Oxycodone Addiction

Prescription opioids like oxycodone are known to be dangerous and addictive. For this reason, oxycodone is a Schedule II controlled substance with a high risk of abuse, addiction and dependence. 

Upon entering the body, opioids bind to mu opioid receptors in the central nervous system, activating them and relieving pain. However, opioids also trigger the brain’s reward circuit, releasing feel-good neurotransmitters associated with calmness and euphoria. Over time, people may develop a tolerance to oxycodone as they need more of the drug to get the same euphoric feeling as when they started taking it.

People are introduced to oxycodone in many ways, including by prescription after an injury or surgery. Because oxycodone prescriptions are often meant to be short-term, a person may then buy oxycodone on the street when the prescription runs out. In some cases, they may even turn to other drugs like heroin: 80% of people who use heroin started with prescription opioids.

Signs and Symptoms of Oxycodone Addiction

An oxycodone addiction rarely goes unnoticed for long. Friends, family and colleagues often begin to notice changes in a person’s behavior while taking the drug. Signs of oxycodone misuse include:

• Taking more oxycodone or for a longer time than intended 
• Unsuccessfully trying to cut back or quit oxycodone
• Spending much time focused on obtaining, using or recovering from oxycodone
• Cravings for oxycodone
• Inability to meet obligations at work, school or home due to oxycodone
• Interpersonal problems due to oxycodone
• Spending less time on other activities due to oxycodone
• Taking oxycodone even when it is physically dangerous
• Taking oxycodone even though you know that the drug is hurting you
• Needing increasing oxycodone doses to achieve the same effects as before
• Withdrawal symptoms when you stop or miss a dose of oxycodone

The Effects of Oxycodone Abuse

There are many different effects of oxycodone misuse. Some effects are physical, while others are behavioral or social. In addition, long-term side effects can become a risk with chronic use. Oxycodone addiction symptoms may differ depending on the person but include:

Physical Side Effects

• Sleepiness or drowsiness
• Constipation
• Headache
• Nausea
• Skin flushing
• Dry mouth
• Slowed breathing

Behavioral Side Effects

• Delusions
• Confusion
• Feelings of euphoria or calmness
• Rapidly shifting moods
• Strange dreams
• Depression
• Decreased libido
• Difficulty speaking
• Memory problems

Social Side Effects

• Legal problems
• Broken relationships with family and friends
• Unemployment
• Homelessness

Long-term Side Effects

• Addiction
• Chronic constipation
• Sleep-disordered breathing
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Fractures
• Falls
• Increased sensitivity to pain 
• Sexual problems, including low libido and infertility
• Immunosuppression

Symptoms of Oxycodone Withdrawal

When you take oxycodone regularly, your body quickly acclimates to the drug’s presence. If you suddenly stop the drug, your body struggles to readjust to being oxycodone-free. The symptoms you experience as your body adjusts are withdrawal symptoms and include:

• Muscle aches
• Insomnia 
• Increased tear production
• Sweating 
• Runny nose 
• Yawning 
• Enlarged pupils 
• Abdominal cramps 
• Goosebumps
• Nausea or vomiting 
• Agitation 
• Anxiety 
• Diarrhea

Oxycodone Overdose

One of the biggest dangers of oxycodone addiction is the potential for overdose. Taking too much oxycodone can be deadly, especially if combined with other substances like benzodiazepine drugs. Symptoms of an oxycodone overdose include:

• Pale, clammy skin
• Limp muscles
• Bluish lips or fingernails
• Vomiting
• Gurgling noises
• Unresponsiveness
• Slowed or stopped breathing or heartbeat

An oxycodone overdose is a medical emergency and can be deadly. If you suspect someone is overdosing, administer naloxone (Narcan) if available and call 911. 

Oxycodone Abuse Statistics

Oxycodone is one of the most commonly prescribed opioids in the U.S. To better understand the gravity of the opioid epidemic, it is best to acknowledge statistics on oxycodone misuse:

• Of those with an oxycodone prescription, 12.8% misused it in 2020
• Of people who misused prescription drugs in 2020, 30.4% of them misused oxycodone
• Oxycodone is the 54th most commonly prescribed medication in the U.S.
• More than 4 million Americans were prescribed oxycodone in 2020
• In 2020, 415 Ohioans died from an overdose of prescription opioids like oxycodone 

These statistics show that oxycodone abuse remains widespread and dangerous.