# I don't care what it gets on the street. Oxycontin SUCKS! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 1, 2003, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-what-it-gets-on-the-street-oxycontin-sucks/199026 "2003-09-01T22:14:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-what-it-gets-on-the-street-oxycontin-sucks/199026/21 "2003-09-04T00:17:59Z")
Hmm. As soon as I started writing this post, a video of “The Needle and the Damage Done” by Neil Young came on VH-1 Classic. My experiences kind of mirror those of **calliope** - well, except for the whole “legitimate medical uses” thing. OCs ruined opiates for me. I used to buy a couple of pills every month or two on the street. One time I took (swallowed, not snorted. I’m not _that_ stupid!) an Oxycontin 40 that I thought was a 20. Instead of making me feel good (that is, quite happy and talkative, but not cloudy-minded or “high”) all day, it made me feel good for 45 minutes, then for the next eight hours, gave me horrible stomach pains if I did anything but lay prone. Sometimes even then. A couple weeks later, I took a 20mg pill. Same thing. A couple weeks, or maybe even a month after that, I took a Lortab. Same thing, except that the pain didn’t last as long. Bummer. I don’t touch opiates anymore. Actually, I guess it’s a good thing. I know I’ll never get hooked - that’s for sure. I just hope I don’t end up needing it for a legitimate medical reason. ---
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-what-it-gets-on-the-street-oxycontin-sucks/199026/22 "2003-09-04T00:59:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KidCharlemagne \* > \*\*Definately addictive but still indicated for longer term use than oxycontin. \*\* True. I just remember my agonizing withdrawal from it and never would want anyone to go through that. Even tapering is painful. But at least it made me realize that I have the possibility of an addiction to these things, which is good. And Vicodin, luckily, makes me sick, so I know I’ll never get addicted to that. But I won’t touch Ultram again - just because that withdrawal was hideous. Ava ---
**Author:** ![county](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@county](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/county)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-what-it-gets-on-the-street-oxycontin-sucks/199026/23 "2003-09-04T01:58:21Z")
All you guys with the negative reactions - that stuff is a narcotic, you are just not trying hard enough. ---
**Author:** ![Dragonblink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Dragonblink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragonblink)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-what-it-gets-on-the-street-oxycontin-sucks/199026/24 "2003-09-04T02:57:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Qadgop the Mercotan \* > \*\* Sounds like you’re not wired neurologically to be good at abusing opiates. \*\* Has there been any research to establish evidence of certain people being immune to the main effects of opiates (i.e. pain relief and ‘intoxication’)? I ask because I not only don’t get any pain relief from Vicodin, but after my knee surgery the nurses kept giving me more and more morphine because it simply wasn’t working – not the slightest impact on my pain, and no happy head trip to make me forget the pain. I looked morphine up in the Nurse’s Drug Handbook I have at home, and from what I can tell they gave me very nearly the maximum dose. The _only_ effect it had was to make me vomit every single time I moved. Finally they switched to Toradol … when that kicked in I was in pure heaven, since the pain was finally standable. Works a treat on my migraines too. Can I conclude from this that I probably wouldn’t get any pain relief from Oxy either? ---
**Author:** ![scott\_evil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@scott\_evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scott_evil)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-what-it-gets-on-the-street-oxycontin-sucks/199026/25 "2003-09-04T11:32:09Z")
Hey, I like **OxyMoron**. He gave a great subway tour when I was in NYC for Megadope, and he and his boyfriend look so cute together! _What?_ Oh, Oxycontin. Oxycodone, also what’s in Percocet. I’ve had Percocet. No big whoop. This pillhead doesn’t go for the opiates, really. I prefer the benzos. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![township](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f475e1/32.png) [@township](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/township)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-what-it-gets-on-the-street-oxycontin-sucks/199026/26 "2003-09-04T14:47:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by scott evil \* > [Oh, Oxycontin. Oxycodone, also what’s in Percocet. I’ve had Percocet. No big whoop. This pillhead doesn’t go for the opiates, really. I prefer the benzos. :eek: \*\* Well you won’t prefer the “benzos” if you use enough to get to the point where you have to be detoxified. Those drugs (“bensos”) have a “half life,” they get down into the bones and detoxing can take 6 months to a year and it isn’t a pleasant process - it isn’t pain free either. the medical profession (IMO) screwed up with prescribing all that stuff before they knew what the drug could cause. ---
**Author:** ![Peach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/67e7ee/32.png) [@Peach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peach)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-what-it-gets-on-the-street-oxycontin-sucks/199026/27 "2003-09-04T18:20:37Z")
it popular on the street because, like others have said, its taken crushed and snorted and usually taken while drunk increasing that fucked up sensation. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-what-it-gets-on-the-street-oxycontin-sucks/199026/28 "2003-09-04T18:29:35Z")
Also increasing that death sensation. From what I’ve read, most opiate overdoses aren’t technically overdoses at all, but rather fatal interactions between opiates and alcohol. Of course, it was a while back that I read this, so someone please correct me if I’m wrong. > [@](#): > > Originally posted by \*township \* > the medical profession (IMO) screwed up with prescribing all that stuff before they knew what the drug could cause. They’re still doing it. I have a friend who went to see a doctor just this week. The doctor said “Some people just need to stay on this stuff (Xanax) their whole lives. Maybe you’re one of them.” And he wrote him another prescription. I have some anxiety. My doctor prescribed me Buspar, which seems to work great, but isn’t closely related to benzodiazepenes and supposedly isn’t addictive. Sure does mellow me the hell out, though… ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-what-it-gets-on-the-street-oxycontin-sucks/199026/29 "2003-09-04T19:19:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by whiteboy \* > **yeah, DoctorJ is right.** Anone else reading this as John Hillerman exclaiming, “Doctor Johnson is right!”? ---
**Author:** ![township](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f475e1/32.png) [@township](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/township)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-what-it-gets-on-the-street-oxycontin-sucks/199026/30 "2003-09-04T19:26:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by neutron star \* > [B > > They’re still doing it. I have a friend who went to see a doctor just this week. The doctor said “Some people just need to stay on this stuff (Xanax) their whole lives. Maybe you’re one of them.” And he wrote him another prescription. > > I have some anxiety. My doctor prescribed me Buspar, which seems to work great, but isn’t closely related to benzodiazepenes and supposedly isn’t addictive. Sure does mellow me the hell out, though… \*\* Doctors (many) prescribe based on what the drug rep (read salesman) tells them. Buspar is used in treatment centers, among other places because of it’s non-mood altering effects and the fact that it is non-addictive. I would guess that you are not actually mellowing out but rather are “feeling” the absence of anxiety. Like the old joke - Why are you hitting your head on the wall? cause it feels so good when I stop. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-what-it-gets-on-the-street-oxycontin-sucks/199026/31 "2003-09-04T19:31:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by township \* > \*\*Doctors (many) prescribe based on what the drug rep (read salesman) tells them. \*\* Xanax and Valium have been available in generic forms for years. Reps have nothing to gain from pushing them. Your “absence of anxiety pills” vs. “chill pills” comment does seem to make sense, though. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-what-it-gets-on-the-street-oxycontin-sucks/199026/32 "2003-09-04T19:32:44Z")
Oops. I just realized you may have been referring to Buspar when you were talking about the drug reps. Actually, that’s generic now, too, but I don’t think it was all that long ago that it was made that way. ---
**Author:** ![township](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f475e1/32.png) [@township](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/township)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-what-it-gets-on-the-street-oxycontin-sucks/199026/33 "2003-09-04T19:46:38Z")
Valium is not a “Benzo” although it is addictive. I was talking about the “benzos” with the drug rep comment. Not buspar. Buspar is an excellent drug IMO. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-what-it-gets-on-the-street-oxycontin-sucks/199026/34 "2003-09-04T20:09:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by township \* > \*\*Valium is not a “Benzo” although it is addictive. > \*\* Eh? From [RxList.com](http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/diazepam.htm): > [@](#): > > Diazepam is a benzodiazepine derivative identified chemically as 7-chloro-1,3-dihydro-1-methyl-5-phenyl-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one. Also, how do the drug reps benefit from pushing drugs that are readily available in generic forms? ---
**Author:** ![yBeayf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e274bd/32.png) [@yBeayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yBeayf)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-what-it-gets-on-the-street-oxycontin-sucks/199026/35 "2003-09-04T20:12:24Z")
Count me in as another person who opiates seem to have no affect on, and would like to know more about why this is so. When I had my tonsils out (as an adult) a few years ago, they gave me vicodin for pain, and the only thing that crap ever did for me was give me heartburn. I think chewing willow bark would have been more effective. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-what-it-gets-on-the-street-oxycontin-sucks/199026/36 "2003-09-04T20:38:55Z")
Yikes. Opiate drugs are scary for me because a) they are the ONLY thing to help my years long struggle with back pain and b) they feel, like Quadgop said, like a ‘hug from god’. When I was prescribed Vicodin for a few months, my back was feeling much better with one or two doses a day. And I also noticed that I was clear headed, peaceful, happy, rested (without being dopey) and intensely creative. Then of course, I took too much of it and fucked myself in terms of pain relief. My doctor is hesitant to give me more, and I am only taking Darvocet which only helps about half as much as the Vicodin. I’m embarrassed to even talk to my doctor about it. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-what-it-gets-on-the-street-oxycontin-sucks/199026/37 "2003-09-04T20:56:07Z")
[anecdotal warning to **jar**] Back in the bad old days before abortives, when virtually the only thing they had to give out for migraines were opiates, I took Darvon (which worked only slightly better than aspirin). One day, during a particularly bad bout I found myself passed out on the front yard not breathing all that well. I was taking it in halves and must have accidentally overdosed, though I could _not_ have taken more than 3 pills altogether. This was back in the 70s and I haven’t touched the stuff since. Honestly, it scares the shit out of me. [/hysterical Darvon cautionary tale] ---
**Author:** ![Peach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/67e7ee/32.png) [@Peach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peach)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-what-it-gets-on-the-street-oxycontin-sucks/199026/38 "2003-09-04T21:25:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by neutron star \* > \*\*Also increasing that death sensation. From what I’ve read, most opiate overdoses aren’t technically overdoses at all, but rather fatal interactions between opiates and alcohol. Of course, it was a while back that I read this, so someone please correct me if I’m wrong. > \*\* your right, i couldn’t write it because i’m all pisssed off that my cousin died just last week for that very reason. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-what-it-gets-on-the-street-oxycontin-sucks/199026/39 "2003-09-04T21:50:53Z")
I believe the anecdotal warnings, and I know that I have a tendency to become addicted or dependent on things, but I’ve done very well with my pain meds for the past three our four months (one dose a day at most, usually before work) , and I’m confident I could handle a Vicodin script, but I’m afraid to even confront my doc about it. ---
**Author:** ![Peach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/67e7ee/32.png) [@Peach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peach)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-what-it-gets-on-the-street-oxycontin-sucks/199026/40 "2003-09-04T22:29:20Z")
PEOPLE!!! DON’T be afraid to talk to your doctor!! the most important thing is to tell the truth! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-what-it-gets-on-the-street-oxycontin-sucks/199026.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-what-it-gets-on-the-street-oxycontin-sucks/199026.md?page=3)