Signs, Symptoms And Side Effects Of Roxicet Abuse

What Is Roxicet?

Roxicet is a prescription, brand-name drug. It’s a combination of two active ingredients, which are oxycodone and acetaminophen. Oxycodone is a powerful and often misused opioid pain medication. Acetaminophen is available over-the-counter in drugs like Tylenol, and it also relieves pain in different ways from an opioid. The combination component of Roxicet makes it very effective as a pain reliever, especially following surgeries and procedures. Roxicet is intended to be a short-term, as-needed pain medication. Despite medical uses, Roxicet is diverted from prescription use and is frequently misused. The oxycodone is Roxicet affects opioid receptors, which can release dopamine and cause changes in the brain leading to addiction. Acetaminophen doesn’t have addiction potential, but it can damage the liver.

Symptoms Of Roxicet Abuse

With Roxicet and other opioid pain medications, misuse often begins with a legitimate prescription. Someone may be prescribed Roxicet to use short-term following a traumatic injury or surgery. Then, Roxicet causes a pleasurable sense of euphoria. That euphoria can create a reward and reinforcement response, ultimately leading to addiction. Roxicet misuse is characterized as any situation where someone is using this medication outside of how it’s prescribed. Symptoms of Roxicet misuse can include:

• Taking a higher dose of Roxicet than prescribed
• Using Roxicet to achieve certain effects, such as euphoria or relaxation
• Taking Roxicet doses more often than prescribed
• Using Roxicet without a prescription
• Continuing to use Roxicet after pain is gone
• Crushing or breaking Roxicet tablets to snort or inject them

Since Roxicet is a prescription medication, it can be difficult to spot the symptoms of misuse until it becomes a larger problem. Even for the person misusing Roxicet, it may not be apparent until an addiction forms. When people use Roxicet, even when they’re prescribed to use it, there is always a potential for addiction to occur. Some people who start out using Roxicet as prescribed eventually start using more powerful opioids, such as heroin. The initial changes in behavior may be subtle for people who are misusing Roxicet.

Side Effects Of Roxicet Abuse

Two major side effects of Roxicet misuse are addiction and dependence. The longer someone misuses Roxicet, the more likely they are to become addicted and dependent. As well as those effects, physical side effects of Roxicete misuse can include:

• Drowsiness or sedation
• Euphoria
• Constipation
• Headaches
• Stomach pains
• Flushing of the face
• Dry mouth
• Slower breathing
• Changes in mood or rapid mood swings
• Changes in heartbeat
• Chest pain
• Problems swallowing
• Itchiness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Hallucinations

Roxicet Addiction

Roxicet misuse isn’t the same as addiction. Roxicet misuse essentially means someone is using the drug in any way outside of how it’s prescribed. Addiction is a diagnosable disease of the brain that also affects the person’s physical health and often their entire life. Addiction can be diagnosed as mild, moderate or severe, based on the number of symptoms a person displays. Addiction is considered a complex but treatable disease, and the primary symptom is that someone’s use of Roxicet is out of their control. Other signs and symptoms of a Roxicet addiction can include:

• Having a tolerance or dependence on the drug
• Using Roxicet to feel better or deal with problems
• Continuing to use Roxicet even when there are adverse health effects
• Use of Roxicet becomes a top priority
• Maintaining a stash of the drug
• Secrecy surrounding the use of Roxicet
• Neglecting other activities and responsibilities
• Risk-taking while using Roxicet or to get more
• Relationship problems
• Changes in appearance
• Financial or legal problems

Roxicet Long-Term Effects

While people might think about the short-term side effects of Roxicet, they often don’t realize long-term effects can be even more severe. With Roxicet, one of the most severe long-term effects aside from addiction and dependence is the potential for liver damage. Acetaminophen can cause severe liver damage or liver failure and death in people who have been taking Roxicet for a long time. Other possible Roxicet long-term effects can include:

• Kidney damage or failure
• Brain damage
• Low blood pressure
• Damage to the cardiac system
• Seizures
• Respiratory system damage
• Changes in fertility
• Menstruation problems
• Increased risk of overdose
• Gastrointestinal complications from chronic constipation

Rather than continuing to suffer the effects of addiction, contact The Recovery Village. We work with people struggling with addiction as well as their families to help create real change in their lives.