How does Oxycontin kill a person?

[Tiam]

My daughter's 21 year old boyfriend died this summer. He kissed her goodnight, went downstairs to smoke a cigarette and never came back up. apparently he died after going down to smoke in the patio. The autopsy report said it appeared he was dead before he hit the ground. (?) But also said that Oxycontin was a contributing factor. My main question in this thread is an informational query. Does anyone understand and know how someone who is walking and talking could just fall over dead under the influence of this drug? He didn't lay down and go to sleep. He didn't choke on his vomit, although he did vomit. The autopsy report from the M.E. was pretty cursory, and if you don't know, when you get an autopsy report this way, it is usually filtered through law enforcement, so you don't' get a chance to ask the M.E. about it. He is a public servant, but he doesn't speak to you directly. But, I know there are many people on this board with a broad expanse of knowledge and experience, and wondered if anyone had any ideas?

[sweetana3]

A quick review of the black box drug warnings for patients and doctors for oxycontin shows clearly that a rapid release happening by crushing the tablets and swallowing can depress respiration or cause seizures enough to cause death. This drug can be dangerous even without crushing or altering the drug release system.

The comment on "he was dead before he hit the ground" was more a human statement than a scientific statement.

This is a dangerous drug and perhaps the boyfriend had a contributing factor of a physical defect in heart or brain that could have been affected by the drug in a negative way. Medical examiners are not going to spend time if not a suspicious death to do a CSI type of investigation.

[redfox]

Yikes! I am so sorry. How traumatic for your daughter, my dear.

[peggy]

They may not do a CSI type investigation, but when an otherwise healthy 21 year old drops dead from no apparent reason, it's kind of lazy to do a drug screen and blame whatever drug was found. Although this drug can have side effects, as all drugs can, people take this drug everyday without dropping dead. I'm guessing his family knows more, or if they don't, they should demand more. I would. If for no other reason than to clear this young mans name. Not everyone who takes this drug is a druggie, and most don't just drop dead. As it stands now, he is a druggie who died of an overdose. My sympathies to your daughter.

[Tiam]

A quick review of the black box drug warnings for patients and doctors for oxycontin shows clearly that a rapid release happening by crushing the tablets and swallowing can depress respiration or cause seizures enough to cause death. This drug can be dangerous even without crushing or altering the drug release system.

The comment on "he was dead before he hit the ground" was more a human statement than a scientific statement.

This is a dangerous drug and perhaps the boyfriend had a contributing factor of a physical defect in heart or brain that could have been affected by the drug in a negative way. Medical examiners are not going to spend time if not a suspicious death to do a CSI type of investigation.

Actually, in this case, they made the statement "He was dead before he hit the ground" based on the lividity of his bruises. He appeared to have hit the ground and bruised his head, but his heart was not beating based on their calculations, so, I think, in this case it was a scientific one.

[Tiam]

They may not do a CSI type investigation, but when an otherwise healthy 21 year old drops dead from no apparent reason, it's kind of lazy to do a drug screen and blame whatever drug was found. Although this drug can have side effects, as all drugs can, people take this drug everyday without dropping dead. I'm guessing his family knows more, or if they don't, they should demand more. I would. If for no other reason than to clear this young mans name. Not everyone who takes this drug is a druggie, and most don't just drop dead. As it stands now, he is a druggie who died of an overdose. My sympathies to your daughter.


Interesting. I certainly don't see it as this way. I see it as a young man who took a drug that killed him. I guess I contest the word druggie. But I don't think this was kept from me. I know they are keeping this from his siblings, but I seem to have a different level of knowledge. I guess I was just wondering, how it could happen. Does respiration just stop? The heart, just stop? standing up? Or he could have been sitting and then stood up and then fallen over.
What I find autopsys do, is look for a cause of death. In this case they didn't even say this was the cause of death. They said he had these particular drugs in his symptom that contributed to his death. That was all. So, I figured there were some folks who with a good enough medical background to kind of explain the mechanics of such a death.

[ApatheticNoMore]

They may not do a CSI type investigation, but when an otherwise healthy 21 year old drops dead from no apparent reason, it's kind of lazy to do a drug screen and blame whatever drug was found. Although this drug can have side effects, as all drugs can, people take this drug everyday without dropping dead

+1. I don't think it is a particularly dangerous drug, however it is an extremely addictive drug, and deserves it's bad reputation on that basis alone. It's definitely a powerful chemical usually indicating a real addiction especially if that's the opiate you are choosing, as many start with more mild opiates before moving on to serious hard stuff like that. And like most drugs you can OD on it if you consume too much, it's not easy, but it can be done. Of course I start to wonder: how was he taking the drug? Of course the usual mechanism is orally, but people have been known to crush the pills and inject them intervenously, it's equal to or more powerful than heroine that way, and I'd imagine much more risky than orally. So if that was also going on ... And then I wonder were any other drugs also found in his system, because there very well could have been a whole cocktail of drugs going on in there (anyway it's not unusual in the slightest for drug abusers). But the exact medical mechanism, maybe some of the nurses on the board can help with that.

[Paver1951]

I think he od'd himself too.

[Float On]

A quick google search says that deaths are on the rise due to oxycontin and it is a central nervous system depressant, and overdose can cause respiratory failure and death. So yes, you could be standing and just fall down dead, especially if he crushed the pills (more instant high feeling). Anything that affects the central nervous system can cause an instant death. I had a friend who's first wife fell down dead. They linked it tn the birth control pill rx she was taking. I don't know if there are warnings on oxycontin but many RXs warn not to smoke cigarettes while on the RX. I think there is a higher risk of aneurysm which can cause an instant death. My aunt was a heavy smoker, finished dinner, lit her cigarette, said "I think I'm getting a headache" and was gone. That fast. Aneurysm went right to the brain (they didn't go into a detailed autopsy).

[Gingerella72]

Oxycontin, if taken as prescribed, won't kill you. The danger is when it is abused and more is taken than prescribed, or when used in conjunction with other drugs or alcohol. Did the report say what the amount was found in his system?

[domestic goddess]

Was this a prescribed medication that he was taking as instructed? Had he been taking it for a long time? Death by respiratory suppression doesn't usually occur instantly; it usually takes a few minutes for the heart to stop after the cessation of breathing. Did the death certificate make any mention of heart or respiratory disease? Smoking alone is a risk factor, and the oxycontin may have actually had little or nothing to do with the death; it may just be noted ss having been found in the body. Has he ever used illegal drugs? Cocaine, especially, has been associated with sudden deaths due to damage it can do to the heart. But do keep in mind that anyone can have a sudden adverse reaction to most any drug.
I'm sorry you are having to go through this, and. I am sorry for your daughter, too. There may never be a satisfactory answer to this. That is just how it sometimes is. Please try not to dwell on individual comments in an autopsy.Your daughter should not let such things color her memories of him and their relationship.

[ctg492]

I am sorry for all concerned. This is far to young to die and leave those that loved him. May everyone hold tight to the good memories.

My son has been clean 14 months tomorrow. After being spared from death from an OD, After spending a few months in a rehab/recovery home, I realized all those there were loved. They were not the scary druggies you think of in a back ally, they had a disease that stole them from themself and the ones who love them. My heart and mind will forever look sadly at drugs of any type, street or perscription.

[Tiam]

Was this a prescribed medication that he was taking as instructed? Had he been taking it for a long time? Death by respiratory suppression doesn't usually occur instantly; it usually takes a few minutes for the heart to stop after the cessation of breathing. Did the death certificate make any mention of heart or respiratory disease? Smoking alone is a risk factor, and the oxycontin may have actually had little or nothing to do with the death; it may just be noted ss having been found in the body. Has he ever used illegal drugs? Cocaine, especially, has been associated with sudden deaths due to damage it can do to the heart. But do keep in mind that anyone can have a sudden adverse reaction to most any drug.
I'm sorry you are having to go through this, and. I am sorry for your daughter, too. There may never be a satisfactory answer to this. That is just how it sometimes is. Please try not to dwell on individual comments in an autopsy.Your daughter should not let such things color her memories of him and their relationship.

That at least is helpful. Thank you. I think he just took it on the sly. He didn't seem to be doing anything else other than smoking and occasionally drinking some beer.

[jennipurrr]

Oxycontin, if taken as prescribed, won't kill you. The danger is when it is abused and more is taken than prescribed, or when used in conjunction with other drugs or alcohol. Did the report say what the amount was found in his system?

To add to this, oxycontin (or any opiate - heroin, morphine, etc) is most lethal when combined with other drugs that depress various bodily functions (nervous system, etc). Opiates themselves have some risk of shallow breathing, especially when taken more than the recommended dosage, but death usually only happens when they are combined with other substances, especially alcohol and/or benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium)...many people take those combinations for recreational use as it enhances the euphoria, but they are skating a fine line with ODing. I hope this doesn't sound crass, but when I worked in a mental health ward they would call the three drugs the trifecta for suicide as it is very easy to die from that combo without realizing it.

[ctg492]

I had no idea as most loved ones when my son took the combo of opiates and was rushed to the hospital. It was not a one time thing, more like a long time thing that brought him to the point. It was hard to look the demon in the eye, how, why, could not be, not him, must have been a one time,,,,,,,,,,the things I learned in the lectures, group meetings, readings I took to come to grips with the issue. I hope the girlfriend( your daughter) and his loved ones get counseling to understand it was not their fault. As it becomes easy for the loved one to take the blame.

[Fawn]

Opiods can be taken safely and are very effective in treating certain types of pain and shortness of breath. Usually, when opiods cause death (with or without alcohol and Xanax, Lorazepam, Valium) it is due to respiratory depression. This is something that occurs over minutes to hours of taking the drug orally (IV would be minutes) and a 21 year old heart would likely keeping beating for several minutes after respirations ceased. That they are looking at the bruises to determine that his heart had stopped before he hit, then the heart would have stopped first. This could be due to interuption of the electrical conduits in the heart, or some arthymia that was caused or exacerbated by the Oxycontin, especially if the Oxycontin was crushed or taken IV to maximize the "rush." A seizure could have effected the breathing, but then likely he would have fallen before the heart stopped.