Oxycontin and diving?

[Christi]

Dr. and pharmacist types out there...can you give me some insight to this drug.

Is is a narcotic?

It was explained to me as a time release pain med with no altering side effects. True?

Contraindications for diving?

How long will it stay in the divers system after not taking it?

Thanks for any insight you can give me on this!

 

[HowardE]

Dr. and pharmacist types out there...can you give me some insight to this drug.

Is is a narcotic?

It was explained to me as a time release pain med with no altering side effects. True?

Contraindications for diving?

How long will it stay in the divers system after not taking it?

Thanks for any insight you can give me on this!

I'm not a Dr. or Pharmacist, but oxycontin is an opioid (which is defined as a synthetic narcotic) - similar to Morphine. I don't think I would dive on them.

 

[down4fun]

Oxycontin is a time released opiod. It is used for moderate to severe pain. S/E confusion, sedation, respiratory depression, hallucinations, N/V, dysphoria, euphoria, to name a few. Definitely not something I would dive on. Duration is 12 hours, but I would wait significantly longer than that before going back under. I am not a MD, or a pharmacist just a nurse, but the info is from nursing drug book.

 

[Dive-aholic]

Dr. and pharmacist types out there...can you give me some insight to this drug.

Is is a narcotic? Yes

It was explained to me as a time release pain med with no altering side effects. True? No

Contraindications for diving? Depends

How long will it stay in the divers system after not taking it? Detectable for several days/weeks. How long will it affect the diver? - It depends

Thanks for any insight you can give me on this!

A lot depends on the person and how long the person has been taking the medication. If I were taking it, I wouldn't dive. But I'm a lightweight when it comes to narcotics. I have met people that can take lots of narcotics and have a fully functional life - work, drive, etc. Some people have chronic pain issues that require them to take medications like Oxycontin. Pressure can probably increase the release rate of the medication and alter the diver's judgement. But it the diver has been taking the med for a while, the effect may be minimal.

In other words, the diver should first get a medical clearance to dive. Then, if cleared, the diver should dive very conservatively as far as depth, and slowly increase the depth.

I'm also not a doctor or pharmacist, but a nurse like down4fun

 

[TSandM]

Down4fun is right -- this is a timed-release narcotic, with definite effects on alertness and thinking, and inappropriate for diving. The half-life of oxycontin is 6.5 hours, so it would take about 36 hours to have the drug more or less eliminated from the body.

Edited because I read Divea-holic's response which was posted while I was writing . . . I would agree that tolerance occurs, and an individual's reaction to the medication can vary -- and it can also vary within the individual over time or depending on circumstances. I guess I have a low tolerance for narcotic use and activities requiring normal mental and physical functioning . . . I, personally, would not give a medical clearance to dive to someone who required oxycontin in order to do it.

 

[cmalinowski]

...S/E confusion, sedation, respiratory depression, hallucinations, N/V, dysphoria, euphoria, to name a few.

Sounds like a severe narc

I have dived a morning after taking some oxycodone (the non-time-released) a while back. I am a big boy and while the drug really didn't seem to do too much for me, there was still that foggy headed feeling. I wouldn't suggest diving on it.

That said, and if you feel that your mental faculties really aren't compromised that much, you should at least tell your dive buddy the situation.

Chris

 

[Christi]

Sounds like a severe narc

I have dived a morning after taking some oxycodone (the non-time-released) a while back. I am a big boy and while the drug really didn't seem to do too much for me, there was still that foggy headed feeling. I wouldn't suggest diving on it.

That said, and if you feel that your mental faculties really aren't compromised that much, you should at least tell your dive buddy the situation.

Chris

It's not me taking the meds.

Thank you everyone for your input!

 

[Christi]

A lot depends on the person and how long the person has been taking the medication. If I were taking it, I wouldn't dive. But I'm a lightweight when it comes to narcotics. I have met people that can take lots of narcotics and have a fully functional life - work, drive, etc. Some people have chronic pain issues that require them to take medications like Oxycontin. Pressure can probably increase the release rate of the medication and alter the diver's judgement. But it the diver has been taking the med for a while, the effect may be minimal.

In other words, the diver should first get a medical clearance to dive. Then, if cleared, the diver should dive very conservatively as far as depth, and slowly increase the depth.

I'm also not a doctor or pharmacist, but a nurse like down4fun

This is his claim, that he takes it and functions daily with no side effects...has been taking it for a year. He takes it for chronic back and ankle pain from injuries.

By the way, he is not a student, he has been certified for years...hence the dilemma.

Thanks again everyone!

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi Christi,

OxyContin is oxycodone HCl, a compound which comes in immediate and controlled-release formulations, indeed is a Schedule II narcotic. While quite effective at controlling moderate to severe pain, taken over a sufficient period it will, like all opioid analgesics (compounds chemically related to morphine), result in tolerance and dependence. Sadly, it has been subject to much abuse and the manufacturer has gone so far as to stop shipping the highest dose tablets (160mg) and to post various warnings, as have governmental agencies like the FDA and DEA.

This medication certainly can have side effects of concern to divers, including nausea, vomiting, sleepiness, dizziness, headache, weakness, anxiety, euphoria and confusion. Not only could any of these adversely safe scuba, but some could be mistaken for the signs/symptoms of DCI and vice-versa.

While not all side effects are likely to appear in every user, and often moderate with continuing time on the drug and alterations in dosing, there is no guarantee that they will dissipate altogether.

Drugs of this class are especially worrisome when used in combination with other products that effect the CNS such as alcohol, antidepressants, antihistamines, other pain relievers, tranquilizers, seizure medicines and muscle relaxants. Dangerous dizziness or drowsiness well could result by combining OxyContin with these types of drugs, as could respiratory depression, possibly fatal.

The OxyContin controlled-release formulation is intended to provide relief over a 12 hour span, although traces can be detected in the urine for 1-3 days after the last dose.

The effects of depth on OxyContin's activity per se is unknown, but it would not be unreasonable to suspect that the effects of nitrogen narcosis on mentation and behavior could be additive with those of the drug.

Noted diving medicine authority Ern Campbell, MD lists among obvious reasons why a person should not be allowed to dive disorders/medications that may lead to altered consciousness or to erratic and irresponsible behavior.

Given the above, the diver on OxyContin will want to be medically cleared to dive.

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[L.A.Dave]

Oxycontin is increadbly addictive just like crack and heroin. Junkies dissolve this in water, cook it on a spoon to defeat the time release properties, then shoot it.

That stuff is bad ju-ju.

If he has chronic back pain, he might try some anti-inflammatories like Mobic. As to clearance by a doctor, no doctor who is current on his or her malpractice insurance is going to give clearance for someone diving and taking opiates.