What Are the Symptoms of Withdrawal from Oxycodone?
People who are considering quitting oxycodone often wonder, “What are the withdrawal symptoms of oxycodone?” Oxycodone withdrawal symptoms can be physical and psychological. Withdrawing from oxycodone is not usually dangerous for healthy adults, but it can be unpleasant.
Physical Symptoms of Withdrawal
The physical symptoms of oxycodone withdrawal are related to the dependence that occurs during an oxycodone addiction. Oxycodone naturally suppresses the neurological system, slowing the transmission of nerves and slowing the processes that those nerves control.
When oxycodone is removed, the parts of the body that are suppressed by oxycodone dependence become overactive. This reaction creates physical symptoms that are the opposite of the symptoms that oxycodone creates. Physical symptoms of oxycodone withdrawal include:
- Agitation
- Anxiety
- Muscle soreness and achiness
- Increased tear production
- Runny nose
- Excessive sweating
- Yawning
- Difficulty sleeping
- Abdominal cramps
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dilated pupils
- Goosebumps
Anxiety and flu-like symptoms can start during the early stages of withdrawal and the abdominal symptoms will occur later in the withdrawal process.
Psychological Symptoms of Withdrawal
While the physical symptoms of oxycodone withdrawal are fairly predictable for most people, psychological symptoms of withdrawal will be much less predictable and will be influenced by multiple factors, including the background of the person going through withdrawal and the psychological factors that initially influenced them to start using oxycodone.
Those who started using oxycodone to cope with emotional or psychological stress may find the psychological symptoms of withdrawal much worse than others. Psychological symptoms of withdrawal may include:
- Depression
- Sad mood
- Agitation
- Emotional numbness
- Increased stress
- Lack of motivation
- Rapid changes in mood
Rarely, and in severe cases, psychological withdrawal symptoms may include suicidal thoughts. Psychological symptoms of oxycodone withdrawal may be worse for someone who has an underlying mental health disorder. The length of psychological withdrawal symptoms is unpredictable and may last for significantly longer than psychical symptoms do. Those who go through therapy during and following the withdrawal process may be less likely to experience severe or prolonged psychological symptoms.