OxyContin is an extended-release formulation of oxycodone hydrochloride, a potent semi-synthetic opioid agonist. It is a Schedule II controlled substance prescribed strictly for around-the-clock, continuous management of severe pain (such as advanced cancer pain) when alternative treatments are inadequate High-strength extended-release opioid formulations are exceptionally potent and must only be prescribed to patients who are strictly "opioid-tolerant What this means: A person is considered opioid-tolerant only if they have been regularly taking a moderate-to-large daily amount of an opioid for a week or longer Giving higher-strength OxyContin to someone who is not opioid-tolerant can cause fatal respiratory depression (causing the user to stop breathing entirely) OxyContin is designed as a prolonged-release tablet that slowly releases oxycodone over a 12-hour period Tablets must be swallowed entirely intact Damaging the tablet completely destroys the extended-release mechanism. This releases the medication rapidly, presenting an immediate, life-threatening overdose risk. Modern formulations are built with specific crush-resistant polymers to discourage tampering, but they must still be taken exactly as intended
