Can oxycodone cause heart problems

Answer 1

Here is my background....

I suffer from Anxiety and have been taking 20mg paxil and 2 mg of xanix for the past couple of years. I was house-bound for 8 years prior to being on these meds, so they have really saved my life. I now drive and work and am very functional.

However, I recently had knee surgery and was given Norco. I tolerated this very well. Didn't notice any side effects from this medication. I was taking 2 norco's 3 times a day (for a total of 6 norco a day). Some days i would take extra to get the 'high'...really love it.

Last week my dr said to cut down my Norco indake to 4 pills a day MAX due to the Tylenol that's in there. And he wrote me a prescription for Oxy - 15 milligrams. He said to mix up my Norco intake with no more than two Oxy's per day.

I took my first Oxy last night, and I have to say at first I felt an awesome high. About 2 hours later I took my xanix doce and within a few minutes my heart was racing. I couldn't tell if it was me "thinking" that I should not be mixing so many drugs or if I was truly physically experienceing a true physical response to the oxy and xanix. Within a few minutes more, I was in a full blown PANIC ATTACK -- my heart was racing so badly I was certain I was having a heart attack. I wanted to take more xanix (which I would normally do if I was having an anxiety attack), but by this time I was freaking out to take any more medications. I was crying holding my phone ready to call 911. I was soooooo scared. I finally fell asleep after 2 hours.

I woke up and took my normal Norco. Then around lunch I took one 15 mg oxy (had zero xanix so far today). I felt instant heart racing and short of breath. Like I was on speed! Again, I don't know if this was all in my head, or not.

If someone could just tell me if heart racing, panic, etc. is a normal response from Oxy that would really help me. I am truly a physco symptomatic person -- even taking Excedrin can make me feel like I'm having a panic attack....the same way the Oxy made me feel.

Isn't my Norco alsmost the same thing as Oxy? Oxy is just stronger, right? It shouldn't cause a panic attack, right? I am hoping this is all just "in my head".

Please, any help you folks can offer will greatly put my mind at ease. I trust you folks more than a doctor or pharmacist - they will just read from a pamphlett - I want advice from other users like me.

Answer 2

Known common side effects of oxycodone include:

Constipation; dizziness; drowsiness; headache; nausea; sleeplessness; vomiting; weakness. (none of which is directly heart related)

More severe possible side effects include:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); confusion; difficulty urinating; fast or slow heartbeat; seizures; severe dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting; slowed or difficult breathing; tremor; vision changes.

Bradycardia (resting heart rate of under 60 beats per minute - which, if it continues to drop can lead to cardiac arrest) has been observed in individuals who receive high doses, overdoses, or in patients not tolerant to opiates.

Individuals who take oxycodone and then also consume alcohol are at risk of severe central nervous system depression - which can include cardiac arrest.

Oxycodone can also aggravate existing cardiac problems.

Answer 3

I take oxycodone for chronic Back pain. Does this medicine lower your heart rate? Mine has been running almost consistently in the 50's. How low does it have to get before I'm in the danger zone?

Answer 4

Yes, Oxycontin stopped my son's heart 10/28/08. Please don't do it, you will break someone's heart.