What is the history of OxyContin?
A.) Oxycodone, the active ingredient in OxyContin®, is a semi-synthetic opiate derived from thebaine, an element of morphine. Oxycodone has been in medical use for moderate to severe pain for many years, under a variety of brand names. Two drawbacks of the previously available brands are; they are available only in low dosages, so some patients must take many pills a day to get relief; they are found in combination with other drugs, like acetaminophen or aspirin, which can cause dangerous side effects when taken in large quantities. OxyContin® went on the market in 1996. For patients with serious, ongoing pain, the drug is highly preferable to previous brands because it avoids their two drawbacks. OxyContin® contains no other active ingredients which can cause side effects. It comes in larger dosages with a special timed-release coating, so patients may take only two pills a day. Legal sales of OxyContin® in 1996 reportedly totaled about $40 million. By 2000, sales were greater than $1
