OxyContin is a brand-name, extended-release form of oxycodone, a semi-synthetic opioid.1 It is prescribed for constant, around-the-clock pain, and it releases the oxycodone slowly over about 12 hours.
The same feature that makes OxyContin useful for long-lasting pain, a large dose held in a single tablet, is also what made the original version a target for misuse. OxyContin became closely tied to the start of the opioid epidemic, and it was reformulated in 2010 to make it harder to tamper with.3 Like all oxycodone products, it carries a high risk of dependence and addiction.2
Key Points
- OxyContin is an extended-release form of oxycodone, designed to treat around-the-clock pain over 12 hours.
- It contains the same opioid as immediate-release oxycodone and Percocet, but with no added ingredients.
- OxyContin tablets are meant to be swallowed whole; crushing or chewing one can release a dangerous dose at once.
- The original version was reformulated in 2010 to make it harder to crush, snort, or inject.
- OxyContin is closely associated with the first wave of the U.S. opioid epidemic.
- Like all opioids, it carries a high risk of addiction, and an overdose is a medical emergency.
In This Article:
- What is OxyContin?
- OxyContin vs. oxycodone
- Extended-release and the 2010 reformulation
- OxyContin and the opioid epidemic
- OxyContin abuse risks and dependence
- OxyContin side effects
- OxyContin overdose and naloxone
- How long does OxyContin stay in your system?
- OxyContin withdrawal
- OxyContin addiction and treatment
- OxyContin FAQs
What Is OxyContin?
OxyContin is a brand-name, extended-release opioid painkiller. Its active ingredient is oxycodone, and it is designed to release that oxycodone slowly over about 12 hours so it can treat constant pain with fewer doses.2
The oxycodone in OxyContin is the same opioid found in immediate-release oxycodone and in Percocet. What sets OxyContin apart is the extended-release design, which is why the tablets are meant to be swallowed whole rather than split, crushed, or chewed. For a full picture of how oxycodone works across all of its products, see our main guide to oxycodone.
OxyContin comes as extended-release tablets in strengths of 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 60, and 80 milligrams. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration classifies it as a Schedule II controlled substance, and on the street it is often called “OC” or “oxy.”1
OxyContin vs. Oxycodone
OxyContin is one form of oxycodone, so the two are closely related. The main difference is the release: OxyContin is extended-release with no added ingredients, while generic oxycodone and Percocet are usually immediate-release, and Percocet also contains acetaminophen.
For a full side-by-side comparison of oxycodone and all of its products, including OxyContin, Percocet, and Roxicodone, see the comparison table in our oxycodone guide.
Extended-Release and the 2010 Reformulation
OxyContin’s extended-release design is also what made the original version a target for misuse. Crushing, chewing, or dissolving a tablet defeats the time-release mechanism and delivers a large dose of oxycodone all at once, which can be dangerous or fatal.2
The original OxyContin came to market in the mid-1990s. After people recognized that breaking the tablets released the full dose quickly, it was widely crushed and then snorted or injected. In 2010, the manufacturer, Purdue Pharma, introduced a reformulated version built to resist crushing and dissolving, and the original product was withdrawn from sale.3
1996
OxyContin came to market, near the start of what the CDC calls the first wave of the opioid epidemic.
2010
Purdue reformulated OxyContin to make it harder to crush, snort, or inject.
The reformulation reduced tampering with OxyContin, but it did not end opioid misuse. Some people who had been misusing the original product moved to other opioids, including heroin, a shift that helped drive the second wave of the epidemic.3
OxyContin and the Opioid Epidemic
OxyContin is closely tied to the beginning of the U.S. opioid epidemic. The CDC describes a first wave of overdose deaths that began with rising opioid prescribing in the 1990s.4
OxyContin arrived as the medical field was shifting toward treating chronic pain with opioids, and it was marketed as carrying a low risk of addiction, a claim that did not hold up. Prescribing climbed, and so did overdose deaths involving prescription opioids.4
255 million Prescriptions
U.S. opioid prescriptions dispensed in 2012, the peak of the prescribing surge at the center of the epidemic’s first wave.8
17,029 Deaths
Overdose deaths involving prescription opioids in 2017, their peak; the toll has since fallen as illicitly made fentanyl became the main driver.9
The CDC outlines the epidemic in three waves: prescription opioids beginning in the 1990s, heroin beginning around 2010, and synthetic opioids such as illicitly made fentanyl beginning around 2013. Between 1999 and 2023, roughly 806,000 people in the United States died from an opioid overdose.4 Today, prescription opioids like OxyContin make up a smaller share of overdose deaths than fentanyl, but they still carry real risk.
OxyContin Abuse Risks and Dependence
Because each OxyContin tablet holds a large dose of oxycodone, it is attractive to people seeking a strong opioid effect. At higher or misused doses, the oxycodone produces a short-lived euphoria, which drives repeated use.2
With regular use, the body adapts. A person develops tolerance, needing more of the drug for the same effect, and physical dependence, meaning withdrawal sets in if they stop. Dependence can occur even when OxyContin is taken exactly as prescribed, and over time it can develop into addiction, a pattern of compulsive use despite harm.2
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OxyContin Side Effects
OxyContin can cause side effects common to opioids. Most are manageable, but some signal a serious problem. Common side effects include:
- Drowsiness, dizziness, or lightheadedness
- Constipation, nausea, or vomiting
- Dry mouth
- Itching or sweating
- Headache or trouble concentrating
The most dangerous side effect is slowed or shallow breathing, which can be life-threatening. This risk is highest in the first 24 to 72 hours of treatment, after a dose increase, and when OxyContin is combined with alcohol or other sedatives.2
OxyContin Overdose and Naloxone
An OxyContin overdose is a medical emergency. The most dangerous sign is slowed or stopped breathing, and it can be reversed with naloxone (sold as Narcan) if someone acts quickly. If you suspect an overdose, call 911 right away.5
Warning signs include very small, pinpoint pupils, a person who cannot be woken, slow or stopped breathing, gurgling or choking sounds, a limp body, and blue or gray lips, fingertips, or skin. While waiting for help, give naloxone if it is available and try to keep the person breathing.
Because OxyContin is extended-release, an overdose can come on gradually and last a long time as the drug keeps releasing. Naloxone may wear off before the opioid does, so more than one dose can be needed, and the person should be watched closely until emergency help arrives.
How Long Does OxyContin Stay in Your System?
Because OxyContin is extended-release, the oxycodone in it is active in the body longer than immediate-release oxycodone or Percocet. As a general guide, oxycodone is detectable in urine for about one to four days, in saliva for one to two days, in blood for up to about a day, and in hair for up to about 90 days.
How Long Does OxyContin Stay in Your System?
How long OxyContin stays in your system depends on the dose, how long and how often it has been used, and individual factors like age, body composition, hydration, and kidney and liver health. Because OxyContin releases its oxycodone slowly over about 12 hours, it tends to stay detectable a little longer than immediate-release oxycodone or Percocet.2
The window also depends on the type of drug test. The figures below are approximate estimates, measured from the last dose:10
| Test | Approximate detection window | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blood | Up to about 24 hours | The shortest window; used to confirm very recent use |
| Saliva | About 1 to 2 days | Detectable within minutes of a dose |
| Urine | About 1 to 4 days | The most common test; the window can be longer with heavy or long-term use |
| Hair | Up to about 90 days | Reflects longer-term use and takes 1 to 2 weeks to show up |
These ranges are general estimates, not guarantees, and individual results vary. For a full breakdown of detection times across oxycodone, OxyContin, Percocet, and Roxicodone, and by each test type, see our detailed guide.
Detection times vary with dose, how long a person has used it, and individual factors like metabolism and liver and kidney health.
OxyContin Withdrawal
Once the body is dependent on OxyContin, cutting back or stopping can bring on withdrawal. The symptoms are rarely life-threatening on their own, but they are intensely uncomfortable and are a common reason people return to use.2
Common symptoms include muscle aches, abdominal cramps, nausea, diarrhea, sweating, chills, a runny nose, watery eyes, anxiety, trouble sleeping, and strong cravings. Because OxyContin is long-acting, symptoms may start a little later than they would with immediate-release opioids, usually within the first day, peaking over the next few days and easing over about a week.
Some people also experience post-acute withdrawal, a longer phase in which symptoms like low mood, poor sleep, and cravings can linger for weeks or months. Medical detox and ongoing treatment make this period safer and more manageable.
OxyContin Addiction and Treatment
OxyContin addiction is a treatable medical condition, not a failure of willpower. Because it involves an opioid, treatment uses the same evidence-based approaches as other forms of opioid use disorder: medical detox, FDA-approved medications, therapy, and ongoing support.7
Inpatient Treatment provides 24-hour care in a medically supervised setting: hospitals or residential rehabs. Drug education and individual and group counseling are usually included. Peer recovery sessions, which often include the 12 Steps, may be incorporated into the programming as well.
Outpatient Treatment provides treatment during the day with no overnight stays. Outpatient treatment programs include partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs. Partial hospitalization, or day treatment programs, offer approximately 20 hours of treatment per week. Intensive outpatient programs usually offer about nine hours of treatment a week. Group and individual counseling sessions are provided, as is 12 Step programming.
Detox with medically supervised medication treatment may be used during inpatient or outpatient treatment. It may also be offered as a separate program at a specialized clinic. Some of these, such as methadone clinics, provide scheduled medication dosing options. Dosing hours may be available daily or several days a week.
OxyContin FAQs
Is OxyContin still prescribed?
Yes. The reformulated, abuse-deterrent version of OxyContin is still available and prescribed for around-the-clock pain, and it remains a Schedule II controlled substance.3
Is OxyContin the same as oxycodone?
OxyContin is a brand-name, extended-release form of oxycodone. So it contains oxycodone, but it is one specific product rather than the drug as a whole. You can read more in our guide to oxycodone.
Is OxyContin stronger than Percocet?
They contain the same opioid, oxycodone. The difference is that OxyContin is extended-release and comes in higher single doses, while Percocet is immediate-release and also contains acetaminophen. A high-dose OxyContin tablet holds more oxycodone than a Percocet tablet, but it is meant to release it slowly.
Can you crush or cut OxyContin?
No. OxyContin is meant to be swallowed whole. Crushing, chewing, or breaking a tablet releases the full dose of oxycodone at once, which can cause a dangerous or fatal overdose.2
Is OxyContin an opioid or a narcotic?
The oxycodone in OxyContin is a semi-synthetic opioid, and “narcotic” is a legal and everyday term for the same class of drugs.1
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References
- United States Drug Enforcement Administration. Oxycodone Drug Fact Sheet. DEA; 2025. https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2025-01/Oxycodone-Drug-Fact-Sheet_0.pdf. Accessed June 2026.
- MedlinePlus. Oxycodone. U.S. National Library of Medicine; 2026. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682132.html. Accessed June 2026.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Determination That the OxyContin (Oxycodone Hydrochloride) Drug Products Were Withdrawn From Sale for Reasons of Safety or Effectiveness. Federal Register; 2013. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2013/04/18/2013-09092/. Accessed June 2026.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Understanding the Opioid Overdose Epidemic. CDC; 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/about/understanding-the-opioid-overdose-epidemic.html. Accessed June 2026.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Overdose Prevention. CDC; 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/about/index.html. Accessed June 2026.
- MedlinePlus. Hydrocodone and Oxycodone Overdose. U.S. National Library of Medicine; 2024. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007285.htm. Accessed June 2026.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Treatment Options for Substance Use Disorder. SAMHSA; 2025. https://www.samhsa.gov/substance-use/treatment/options. Accessed June 2026.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. Opioid Dispensing Rate Maps. CDC; 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/data-research/facts-stats/opioid-dispensing-rate-maps.html. Accessed June 2026.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. Drug Overdose Deaths: Facts and Figures. NIDA; 2025. https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates. Accessed June 2026.
