Various Oxycontin Tablets

Oxycontin is linked to physical dependence and addiction. Oxycontin contains a narcotic similar to morphine and has been prescribed to treat pain in cases of arthritis, back pain, and cancer.

OxyContin was first introduced in December 1995 and belongs to the drug class known as opioid agonists and is categorized as a Schedule II controlled substance. The active ingredient in OxyContin is oxycodone, a substance found in many different pain medications. However, most other pain medications contain small amounts of oxycodone; OxyContin is a time-release formula that contains a significantly greater amount of oxycodone. Oxycontin is both one of the best selling prescription medications and one of the most abused drugs in history.

OxyContin is indicated for the management of moderate to severe pain; it is commonly prescribed to treat arthritis, back pain, cancer, and other types of painful conditions. A disturbing amount of reports have surfaced detailing widespread addiction to the drug from patients that were prescribed the drug as well as people obtaining the drug through illegal channels. Oxycontin has been linked to over a hundred deaths and its high and addiction has been compared to those of heroin.

The devastation associated with this drug includes armed robberies, criminal indictments of doctors, individual and state lawsuits against Purdue Pharma, and concern from the DEA and FDA. The DEA has asked Purdue Pharma to change its strategy regarding Oxycontin. These suggestions included: marketing OxyContin only to pain specialists, omit its claim that OxyContin is less subject to abuse than other narcotics, and to reformulate the drug.

Timeline:
07/25/2001 - Purdue Pharma added to Oxycontin, at the urging of the FDA, a black box warning, the FDA's strongest type of warning, calling OxyContin as potentially addictive as morphine. Purdue Pharma sent out letters to doctors asking them to only prescribe Oxycontin for severe pain. However, Purdue Pharma still asserts that there is no problem with Oxycontin.
08/09/2001 - Purdue Pharma announced that it is working on patent application for a new formula of the opiate-based drug Oxycontin, hoping to make it less susceptible to abuse and addiction. In the meantime, the number of crimes and deaths attributed to Oxycontin continue to rise.

• Addiction
• Respiratory Depression

• FDA : OxyContin Information
• FDA : OxyContin Questions and Answers

• Oxycontin lawsuit : Purdue Pharma Sued by Consumer Groups
• Oshkosh Northwestern : OxyContin Pain killer or addicter