OxyContin and Dependency: What Users Say

• Ore...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 18, 2015

For Pain "I was in a near-fatal car accident when I was 18. I was on morphine for 6 months. After 30 years, it is catching up to me. I am in some pain now most of the time. With oxycodone, I am able to make it through the day and work. Caution during use, if used for over 90 days, dependency could occur easily. Please be aware of this."

• Tom...
• July 18, 2013

For Pain "Have had leg/hip pain for over a year now. My doctor finally put me on OxyContin, and it works fantastic, however, I am concerned about the problem of becoming dependent on this medication. This should not be a long-term medication."

• RSa...
• November 8, 2009

For Pain "As a medical doctor with a practice specializing in the management of acute and chronic pain, I find, from experience, that this medicine has sufficient pain-relieving attributes, but in return comes with a high risk of dependency."

• Anonymous
• September 11, 2010

For Pain "Have suffered chronic knee and lower back pain for 10 years, severe osteoarthritis of both knees, and have torn and bulging discs, age 42. I am so grateful to the locum who initially prescribed OxyContin 12 months ago (now 20 mg x 2) - a prescription for the first time which has lessened the pain and at last improved my quality of life. I was very reluctant to try an 'opiate' and remain on a lower dose by choice. For me, the side effects and fear of becoming dependent are far outweighed by the relief provided. All medicines can be abused and can have side effects - it's a fine balance, but genuine chronic pain sufferers must not be denied an effective treatment."

• mou...
• January 13, 2010

For Pain "I am a 47-year-old male who has taken this drug for 10 years (300 mg per day, every day). Yes, it will ease pain, but normally after 2 to 3 years you have to increase it. I was medically dependent within months. In late fall '09, the medicines just lost their effect by at least 50%. So I was faced with a 50% increase in medicines. I said NO! So I tried a medical detox place to start. After 90 hours there, they said, 'You have done great, we are sending you home.' I was so proud till 4 a.m. the next day. I threw up 90 times in the next 60 hours. I lost 34 lbs. in 8 days and had severe withdrawal symptoms for 2 more weeks. It has been 30 days since I started this, and I will never put that poison in my body."

• See...
• April 9, 2010

For Pain "I've been taking this medication, 10 mg, 4 times a day, and it has really helped. I was initially taking hydrocodone for about a year until having surgery (fusion and laminectomy - L5 S1), and I have to agree with some of you. When I first started taking it, it worked great and provided relief for about 5 to 6 hours. Now, after 6 months, it doesn't seem to be working as it used to, but I will be talking with my doctor next month regarding this issue. It seems to only work 3 to 4 hours and does not provide relief like it used to when I first started taking it. I broke one tablet in half since they're scored and took 15 mg, and this worked, but it tells me I'm becoming or am dependent on it. I tried to go without it for 3 days and I hurt worse and vomited."