Diving and oxycontin

[MichgnTechDiver]

My friend recently hurt his back while on the job. He pinched a nerve and is in constant pain. The doctor gave him oxycontin due to the fact that its the strongest painkiller available and lasts 12 hours.
Anyways, when my friend received the medication the doctor asked him if he did any sports, and he said diving, which is one of the only things he can do. The dotor began to tell him that he "MIGHT NOT" be able to dive while on oxycontin, because as with all opiates it slows down your respiration and "could" cause problems. i say it would help him use less air I know the doctor usually knows best about these things, but he admitted that he doesnt know much about diving, and kept using the words "might not" "probably" and "i dont know".

Any thoughts? I dont wanna lose my diving partner, but also dont want him to be in danger underwater.

 

[BillP]

Howdy MichgnTechDiver:

OxyContin (oxycodone) is a narcotic pain medicine. I would recommend to my patients that they not dive when taking any narcotic. I would also recommend that they not dive if they were impaired by a pain that was bad enough that it required a narcotic pain medicine.

You can read the OxyContin package insert in a PDF file on the FDA website at:

http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/2001/20553s022lbl.pdf

HTH,

Bill

The above information is intended for discussion purposes only and is not meant as specific medical advice for any individual.

 

[Laurence Stein DDS]

MichgnTechDiver,

Yikes, diving on oxycodone! This stuff is rather potent. I warn patients not to drive, handle money, operate machinery, etc. Oxycontin is time release oxycodone. It has a high abuse potential and if you were to bite on the tablet, you would get a huge dose of the drug. Enough to kill some people.

I completely agree with BillP...don't dive

While your friend may have developed a tolerance to the medication, it is still a central nervous system depressant, and a respiratory depressant.

Respiratory depression is not the same as lowered air consumption. Lowered consumption would assume increased respiratory efficiency and a physiologic ability to consume less air without consequences. There would be normal exchange of all gases--just more efficient.

Respiratory depression is LESS efficient. There could be the reduced exchange of gases, a build up of CO2, failure to exchange O2 and N2 properly. This would increase the danger to the diver.

Would you want to buddy with a person who may not be able to make decisions as well?

Oxycodone can also cause nausea and is not a good idea while underwater. It also causes dry mouth, loss of GI motility, and possible urinary retention--by acting on the smooth muscle.

Personally, it think it's a no brainer....take the drug=no diving.

Perhaps, you can point out to your friend that he might not need the medication for a dive because the water may help support him. Take an anti-inflammatory instead. Unfortunately, he would have to stop the drug quite some time BEFORE the planned dive.

Larry Stein

 

[Jersey]

Wait -- hurt back, pinched nerve & oxy?

I vote give the diving a rest.

Rehab the back, get off the oxy, then reevaluate diving.

 

[wazza]

Dr. Bill , Dr. Larry

Actually I cant add anything for what u just said and I do agree with u 100%,
But my question don’t u think that the medication will effect the nitrogen elimination
From the tissues as well and he need more time after he finishes from his medication so his body will be 100 % clean from it, before going diving again .

 

[GTADiver]

would he be able to tell if pain was DCS or from the pinched nerve if he had an unusual dive profile.....

 

[wazza]

sign and symptoms or the pain coming of the DCS if it was type 1 or type 2 ………………………….is deferent form the one coming for the nerve………………………….

 

[Laurence Stein DDS]

Er, Wazza, no disrespect intended...but...what does nitrogen elimination have to do with the price of tea in China?

If this guy dives on OxyContin, he could easily die, so who really cares if this affects nitrogen elimination?

I don't think there is much "Good Science" out there concerning N2 elimination following diving and the use of OxyContin.

Seriously, I know you have asked this question in good faith but I think that the nitrogen question is a non-sequeter. The real issue is: It is contra-indicated to use this medication and dive? Only his autopsy will show for sure.--And I don't believe they will check N2 blood levels. But, if he lives, perhaps he should take more time at the safety stop--Just in case!

It was noted before that this diver should stop this medication well in advance of the dive. This is to avoid any and all potential side effects and consequences of using this medication.

Thanks for being a good sport.

Larry Stein

 

[wazza]

Thanks Doc for your lovely answer but I was
Thinking of is medication in general, not the Oxycontin
in specific, any medication.
If we are taking some serious
medication can we dive.?
Or let me put it this way what kind of medication
We can take and dive at the same time , and what
Are the ones u think we should not dive while talking it ?
Thanks in advanced …

 

[Laurence Stein DDS]

Wazza,

I think I understand now.

There probably isn't room enough to list all the medications that people shouldn't dive while taking.

The most obvious ones would be anything that alters mood, perception or judgement. There are many others that have the potential to be dangerous if used under the physically demanding conditions of diving.

There are a whole host of medications that are given for conditions which in and of themselves should eliminate the person from diving. For example, if you are taking insulin, why on earth are you diving with diabetes?

Many of the medications that would seem to rule out diving are not tested for that sport but a reasonable person would realize that the CONDITION that they are being prescribed for is reason enough not to dive. In addition, the know side effects of many drugs, while not tested for diving makes us believe that they are not safe under dive conditions.

I've got this really thick book here called the Physician's Desk Reference. I think that it is safe to say that many or most of these medications have listed side effects that precludes diving and many of the others are given for conditions that preclude diving. The list would be long indeed.

Again, thanks for being a good sport.

Larry Stein