Can You Take Oxycodone And Sertraline Together? Safety & Risks!

Chronic pain and mental instability go hand in hand. It is often seen that people dealing with severe chronic pain are also depressed and mentally unwell. It goes without saying that physical pain can definitely affect mental health. A person who is suffering from severe pain, that too for a long period of time, grows mentally weak day by day. Being in constant pain is a horrible feeling. This is exactly where certain medications come to the rescue. Pain can be further classified into two categories: physical and mental pain. Now, there is a wide variety of medications that treat both the kinds, and in this article, we will talk about two of the most prescribed medications for each kind of pain, respectively. Oxycodone And Sertraline. How do they work? What are the Risks? And can you take oxycodone and sertraline together? But let’s talk descriptions first.

What is Oxycodone? What Is It Used For?

Oxycodone is a potent semi-synthetic opioid analgesic used to suppress severe pain. It is often used to fight acute and chronic pain. Oxycodone is kind of a final resort. Think of a heavy-duty relief when everything else fails to cut it. It is not something that you can just grab from a shelf. You will need a legit prescription from a medical professional. Doctors usually save it for when a patient is severely injured or just gone through a surgery. Or more chronic stuff like cancer-related pain where your average everyday painkillers are just not enough.

How does Oxycodone work in your body?

It latches itself to the CNS (Central Nervous System) receptors. That blocks the pain signals from reaching the brain in their full power. It also messes a little with neurotransmitters to create a feeling of relaxation or euphoria. Changing the perception and emotional response to pain in the process. Although it may vary according to the formulation and dosage, it typically takes about 10 minutes to 1 hour to start working in your body and oxycodone can last in your system for quite some time. It goes without saying that powerful substances like this always come with their own downsides. It is a Schedule II controlled substance which means it is highly addictive and prone to misuse and abuse. 

What Is Sertraline? What Is It Used For?

Sertraline is widely used as a prescribed antidepressant belonging to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. It is often used as a treatment for depressive disorder, anxiety, PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), panic disorder, PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder) and OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder). Again no picking it up casually from the shelf, only prescribed. It mostly comes in immediate – release tablets as it is mostly designed for immediate absorption. 

How does Sertraline work in your body?

Sertraline works by increasing the levels of a mood-regulating neurotransmitter in the brain known as serotonin. It blocks the reabsorption (reuptake) of serotonin into the neurons. This allows more serotonin to last longer in the synaptic gap. This results in improved mood and less anxiety. It generally takes about 1-6 weeks for the full effect of the medicine to be felt but some improvement in the symptoms can be noticed within a few days. Although Sertraline is not a controlled substance and is not considered addictive it does have some other side effects.

Side effects of Oxycodone and Sertraline

Oxycodone is a strong and potent opioid analgesic that comes with some moderate to severe side effects while Sertraline does not have addiction issues but it does come with some side effects that are worth mentioning.  These side effects include: 

Side effects of Oxycodone:

• Bad constipation
• Nausea and vomiting
• Skin itching
• Dry mouth
• Dizziness
• Breathing problems
• Drug dependence or full-blown addiction. 
• Withdrawal, if you stop suddenly

Side effects of Sertraline

• Diarrhea
• Tremors
• Nausea
• Increases sweating
• Insomnia
• Dizziness
• Sexual dysfunction like Low libido and ejaculation issues

Can You Take Oxycodone And Sertraline Together?

Can oxycodone and sertraline be taken together? Sometimes yes. If someone is dealing with chronic pain and depression at the very same time. Doctors may prescribe them together but that happens only once in a blue moon. Oxycodone and sertraline interaction can push you off the edge of the serotonin mountain and cause a life-threatening build-up of serotonin. Which we also know as serotonin syndrome.

Serotonin syndrome is quite rare but it is a life-threatening condition caused when there is an excess of serotonin in your brain. The earliest symptoms look like restlessness, anxiety, a faster heart reate and a lot of sweating.  If this continues and you take oxycodone and sertraline in a higher dosage then it can lead to confusion and muscle rigidity. In extreme cases you may also face a high fever and seizures. If you ace any of these problems then immediate medical attention is very necessary.    

Dependence & misuse risks

Dependency and addiction become quite common with Oxycodone especially when chosen as a treatment for long-lasting pain. If you are someone who is struggling with an opioid addiction, you should definitely go under opioid addiction treatment. Sertraline isn’t as addictive as oxycodone but taking them together certainly does increase the risk of dependency. This may lead to an overdose and your doctors may plan a medical detoxification treatment to remove these substances from your body. Because of that medical professionals often recommend Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) & Counseling before resorting to powerful medicines like this. .

Conclusion

Oxycodone or Sertraline are both fine treatments in their own regard. While Oxycodone is used to suppress severe physical pain, Sertraline helps in calming your mind and treating your mental health. Although oxycodone is very addictive and sertraline is not so much, taking them together might not be a wise choice. Before consuming either of these drugs you must have a medical professional’s prescription. Oxycodone addiction can be hard to quit but with a strong willpower and a little bit of help from Oxycodone addiction treatment you can make it much easier on yourself.