The Effects Of Oxycontin – Therapeutic Effects, Side Effects, And Adverse Effects

Therapeutic effect refers to the desired, expected effect of medication after it has been administered. The effects of Oxycontin on the human body are quite numerous. What will be discussed here, however, are the categorized effects of Oxycontin – whether they’re therapeutic effects, side effects, or adverse effects.

The chief therapeutic effects of Oxycontin include relief of pain and relaxation. The opioid component of Oxycontin attaches to the brain and spinal cord receptors which results to analgesia. It is usually indicated in patients with cancer and post op pain, conditions where extended pain is expected.

For you to be able to fully grasp the side effects and adverse effects of Oxycontin, you must first recognize the distinction between the two. A lot of individuals make the mistake of thinking that the term “side effect” is synonymous with “adverse effect”, even if they’re not. The term side effect refers to the expected, non-therapeutic effect of the drug to the human body. Side effects are generally transient and disappear after a medication is discontinued. These may not require immediate intervention because they are expected to disappear after some time.

The term adverse effect, however, refers to the unexpected, non-therapeutic effect of the drug that may pose a threat to an individual. Adverse effect may call for interventions such as lowering the drug dosage and stopping the medication.

The following are some of the usual side effects of Oxycontin: constipation, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, pruritus (skin itching), headache, dry mouth, sweating, and asthenia (body weakness). Because you now understand what the term side effect means, you automatically recognize that the previously enumerated symptoms should not cause you severe anxiety because they are expected and will not last long.

Alternatively, the usual adverse effects of Oxycontin are respiratory depression, apnea (temporary cessation of breathing), respiratory arrest, severe allergic reactions (severe rashes and skin itching, swelling of the mouth), somnolence (sleepiness), hallucinations, seizures, tremors, and vision changes. If you experience the aforementioned reactions while you’re on Oxycontin, it is very important to report to doctor as soon as possible. Such reactions are not normal and may require serious interventions.

Indeed, it really does make a big difference to know the therapeutic effects, side effects, and adverse effects of Oxycontin because it lets you know when to seek consult immediately to a doctor.