7 Symptoms of Addiction to Oxycodone I Didn’t Recognize Until It Was Too Late

It’s more common to suffer from an addiction and not know it than many people think. I actually struggled with oxycodone addiction for years without realizing it, even though I had all the telltale signs and symptoms. Call 800-994-1867Who Answers? now to find rehab centers where you can safely recover from opioid abuse and addiction.

1. Dependence

It is important to remember addiction and dependence are not the same; in fact, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a person can be dependent on a drug they aren’t addicted to. But when you’ve been abusing a medication like oxycodone, it is likely you will become both dependent on and addicted to it.

I took oxycodone every day, and I started taking higher doses without my doctor’s permission in order to combat the tolerance I experienced. This is a form of abuse. Eventually, I felt like I couldn’t cope with anything unless I took high doses of the drug.

2. Withdrawal Symptoms

Again, many people experience withdrawal symptoms after only taking the drug as prescribed, but I was taking large doses often that were not approved by my doctor. And every time I tried to cut back on my own, I would experience intense withdrawal symptoms that felt like the flu. When I started taking large doses of the drug again, I felt better, but I was putting myself in serious danger.

3. Mood swings

Experiencing withdrawal is a major warning sign of oxycodone addiction.

I started having mood swings all the time, which are a common side effect of oxycodone abuse. My family members and friends didn’t understand what was happening with me and asked if my medication could be the cause. I didn’t want to believe it was, so I ignored the problem. But my mood swings made it hard for me to determine which of my emotions were mine and which were being amplified by the drug.

4. Apathy

Over time, my attitude toward the other aspects of my life began to change. I stopped caring about the activities and hobbies that used to matter so much to me. I even stopped caring about work and school to the point where my boss suspended me and I failed one of my favorite classes. There came to be a point where nothing mattered as much to me as getting home and being able to take my medication, which I was using much more often than I needed to.

5. Hostility

My roommate tried to talk to me about my drug use one day. He told me I was doing something dangerous and that he was really worried about me. “You’re just not like yourself,” he said.

I told him he had no idea what he was talking about, that I was fine and that my medication was necessary for my health. I told him my doctor had prescribed it to me, so it couldn’t be hurting me. Unfortunately, I also said a lot more because I was so mad that he had brought up my substance abuse in a negative light.

Eventually, we made up from the fight, but I realize now that I wouldn’t listen at the time because I just wanted to keep using. And this is the behavior of an addict.

6. Using While Alone

I liked the feeling the drug caused when I took large doses. Sometimes, I would do it with friends because we all liked the feeling, but over time, I started using it to get high when I was alone. This is because I wanted to feel that same feeling all the time.

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7. Thinking About Switching

I didn’t even realize I was addicted when I thought about switching to a stronger drug. I thought a lot about how I could get my doctor to prescribe me a more intense opioid to fight the effects of tolerance, even about how I could obtain those drugs without my doctor knowing.

Addiction Requires Treatment

Once I did finally realize I needed help, all the signs and symptoms were so obvious. But it was still necessary for me to be treated in a professional rehab center in order to safely recover from my addiction. If you or someone you know is exhibiting these signs of a severe substance use disorder, call 800-994-1867Who Answers? today so you can find a rehab center that can help you.