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Illicit Uses
Oxycodone is abused for its opiate-like effects. In addition to its equipotency to morphine in analgesic effects, it is also equipotent to morphine in relieving abstinence symptoms from chronic opiate (heroin, morphine) administration.For this reason, it is often used to alleviate or prevent the onset of opiate withdrawal by street users of heroin and methadone. In early studies by the Addiction Research Center in Lexington, Kentucky in the 1960's, it was discovered that the subjective and physiological effects of oxycodone were greater than an equivalent dose of morphine in opiate substance abusers. Many dosage forms are available. Oxycodone’s behavioral effects can last up to 5 hours. The drug is most often administered orally. The sustained-release formula has a longer duration of action (8-12 hours). A recent study comparing controlled released products containing oxycodone (Oxycontin) and morphine (MS Contin) reported that Oxycontin was twice as potent as MS Contin.
As with most opiates, the adverse effects of oxycodone abuse are dependence and tolerance development. Oxycodone’s co-formulation with acetaminophen has also increased the likelihood of acetaminophen-induced hepatic necrosis with chronic dosing. Its availability in sustained release formulations has increased the dosage forms from 10 to 160 mg per tablet making it more attractive than oxycodone to opiate abusers and doctor-shoppers. The original idea of polymer-formulations of oxycodone was to reduce the likelihood of misuse with high dose formulations. Opiate abusers quickly learned the ease of extraction of the molecule from the polymer formula and have been injecting or snorting the crushed and/or dissolved tablets because of its’ higher dosage formulations.