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Targin is a long-term narcotic pain relief drug that combines oxycodone and naloxone. If you know much about opioids, that might initially seem like a strange combination. Oxycodone partially controls pain through the narcotic high that comes with taking the drug, but naloxone is an emergency control medication that helps people in the middle of an opioid crisis and overdose.
Combining the two might seem strange at first, but it makes a lot of sense in the context of long-term pain control.
That’s because prescribing naloxone in combination with opioids can reduce the long-term risk of overdose. Reducing risk may be especially helpful in populations more vulnerable to the negative side effects of taking opioids, including chemical dependence and addiction, like elderly patients and long-term chronic pain patients.
Targin is the Canadian brand name of this drug. Targin is also known as Targiniq ER in the United States.
Even though naloxone effectively removes opioids in your system, immediately removing the high, Targin is still vulnerable to abuse by addicts. Some people may become addicted to the normal prescribed use of the medication. In contrast, other people may use the drug recreationally, hoping that the added naloxone reduces their risk of overdose or addiction.
The problem is that, like all opioid medications, some serious consequences come from Targin use, and the longer you use Targin, and the more you use, the worse those consequences and complications can become.
Keep reading if you want to learn more about the side effects of Targin use, withdrawal symptoms and timeline, and some of the warning signs that can help you tell if you or a loved one have become addicted to Targin or other opioid medications.
Targin Side-Effects
Opioid medications have many benefits for people in severe pain but also have serious side effects. Side effects from Targin and other opioid medications are much more common if you’re taking the drug recreationally. In addition, side effects are likely to worsen over time, regardless of whether you’ve developed an addiction or dependence on the drug.
It’s important for people using Targin to understand the side effects even when using Targin responsibly.
Remember that worsening side effects can also signify chemical dependence on the drug, where your body begins to rely on the drug to function normally.
In cases where people start using Targin recreationally or regular use results in addiction, side effects may be stronger and less predictable.
The more Targin you take, especially if you go beyond your recommended dose of the medication, the more likely you are to have side effects and the more intense your side effects are likely to become.
Some people have no side effects from Targin, especially when it’s used responsibly and with a doctor’s supervision. However, your reactions may change because your body can change over time, as can your tolerance to the medication.
Don’t count on having the same side effects as the last time you took Targin.
Now that you know a little more about what to expect from side effects, let’s go over the side effects themselves:
- Nausea
- Depression
- Agitation
- Cough
- Confusion
- Fast heartbeat
- Dizziness
- Sudden fainting
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Shivering
- Sweating
- Vomiting
- Twitching
- Trembling
- Restlessness
- Poor coordination
- Overactive reflexes
- Puffiness or swelling in the face
Those are all relatively common and have mostly mild side effects. The incidence, or how common these reactions are, isn’t well known for Targin.
In addition to those side effects, there are also rarer but much more serious side effects that may require medical intervention:
- Seizures
- Pale skin and blue lips
- Cold, clammy skin (may also be a sign of overdose)
Lastly, there are also side effects of an overdose that all users should be aware of before they start using Targin:
- Dilated pupils
- Change in consciousness
- Chest pain (may start as tightness)
- Cold, clammy skin
- Difficulty breathing
- Fast, noisy breathing
- Coughing with pink sputum (may only be occasional)
- Severe sleepiness
- Loss of consciousness, especially if you cannot wake them
- Swelling in the legs and ankles
- Decreased awareness and responsiveness
If you have any signs of overdose, it’s important to immediately reach out to a doctor for advice, call 911, or go directly to the ER. If symptoms are severe or getting worse, always call 911 first.
Remember, even if an ER is relatively close to your location, an ambulance may still be faster, and first responders may be able to offer life-saving care on the way to the hospital. This kind of care may be more important for people with chest pain, difficulty breathing, or who have lost consciousness.
What Are The Withdrawal Symptoms & Timeline For A Targin Detox
Targin, despite having naloxone in the mix, still comes with a risk of chemical dependence and withdrawal, even from responsible use. In addition, people who use Targin recreationally are more likely to have withdrawal symptoms, especially if they have used Targin or other opioids for a long time.
The increased likelihood of withdrawal after recreational use is partly because your body isn’t using the drug to deal with pain like it would if you were a pain patient.
However, even if you take Targin for pain, you will likely develop a chemical dependence over time.
That said, if you are taking Targin with medical supervision, they may be able to offer additional care and medications that can ease the symptoms of withdrawal and make them more tolerable and less noticeable.
You may need to go through withdrawal when changing medications.
Withdrawal from opioid medications can be difficult, so it’s a good idea to have friends and family around to support you or to seek medically assisted withdrawal.
Even if you have been using Targin recreationally, you may be able to access medically assisted withdrawal at addiction and mental health treatment centers.
Remember, medical care providers are there to help you take care of your physical and mental health, not to report your drug use to the police. Therefore, it’s best to be open with all your care providers about your medication use, especially if you know you have an addiction and want to detox.
Because Targin is still a relatively new formulation and drug tests are still being done to determine when and how Targin is best used, we don’t have much information about withdrawal from the drug.
However, we do have a lot of information about withdrawal symptoms and timelines for one part of the drug, oxycodone, and that’s the part that you’re likely to need to withdraw from.
If you’ve been taking Targin for two weeks or less, you may not have withdrawal symptoms, or your symptoms may be very mild because your body is less likely to have developed a dependence at that point.
How Long Does Targin Withdrawal Last?
It’s hard to know exactly how your withdrawal symptoms will last because everyone is a little different. However, the longer you have been addicted to Targin or any other opioid medication, the longer and more severe withdrawal is likely.
However, if you started with Targin use for chronic pain, you may have reduced symptoms because of your body using more of the drug and therefore getting used to having less of it in your system at once.
What To Expect During Targin Withdrawal
Targin withdrawal is usually mildest during the first 24-48 hours after your last dose. Symptoms will typically begin between 6-30 hours after your last dose, depending on the dosage, your tolerance, and how quickly your body metabolizes the drug.
Early symptoms include:
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Muscle pain
- Body aches
- Fatigue
- Inability to sleep
By 72 hours after your last dose, you will likely be in the most severe withdrawal phase. In addition to the symptoms from the early phase of withdrawal, you’re also likely to experience:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Chills
- Stomachache
- Diarrhea
Severe symptoms can last for as little as a few hours or as long as a week. In most cases, symptoms should taper off after a week, but you may have lingering muscle aches, depression, or anxiety for several weeks, up to several months after your last dose.
When going through withdrawal, it’s important to have people around you who can help keep you well hydrated, ensure you’re getting food, and call for medical help if your symptoms become more severe.
It’s also important to make sure you’re getting lots of electrolytes, especially if you’re vomiting or have diarrhea, especially if you have either symptom while you’re also too nauseous to eat. Juice, Gatorade, and other electrolyte drinks are good options during withdrawal, and you should try salty crackers and other mild foods to keep something in your stomach.
Warning Signs Someone Is Addicted To Targin
Knowing how to spot the signs of addiction is important anytime you or someone close to you are taking opioids. With a long-term opioid pain medication like Targin, it’s even more important because you may develop an addiction even with normal use.
Some common signs that you or someone you love is addicted to Targin include:
- Seeming distracted most of the time
- Worrying about how much Targin you have left – especially without a clear reason to worry and without having run out in the past.
- Side effects seem to worsen suddenly, or you or your loved one don’t seem concerned by worsening side effects.
- You feel like you need to take Targin before social engagements
- You feel like you’re your best self when you take Targin
- Your loved one seems to be taking more Targin than usual
- Targin doesn’t seem to last as long, or you feel like you need to take more to get the same results
Other symptoms of addiction may be less common, including feeling like you might be addicted to Targin. It’s important to pay attention to any signs that you might be addicted and to talk to your doctor if you have concerns. There may be other medications you can try or other therapies that could help treat your pain with a lower risk of addiction.
Treatment Options For An Addiction To Targin
If you or a loved one is addicted to Targin, getting help as soon as possible is important. At the same time, you also need to remember that getting over an addiction is a choice the addicted person has to make. You can’t force them to do it if they aren’t ready to commit to treatment.
When you are ready to overcome your addiction to Targin, it’s important to remember that you don’t have to do it alone. There are a lot of treatment options out there. You can talk to your doctor for more information about your local resources.
If you’re serious about overcoming addiction, you might consider a treatment center specializing in helping people overcome addiction and rebuild healthier and happier lives.
One of the best reasons to go to a treatment center is that they can help you manage withdrawal symptoms, and medical supervision can help you avoid the worst dangers of withdrawal from opioids.
Treatment centers can also help you identify the triggers for your addiction and learn healthy coping mechanisms that make it easier to avoid relapsing.
If you’re interested in seeing what programs are available, contact Ocean Recovery. We’re happy to answer your questions or start the intake process to help you get back on your feet and back to your life.
Sources:
Ocean Recovery has sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations for our references. We avoid using tertiary references as our sources. You can learn more about how we source our references by reading our Editorial Policy.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. Naloxone DrugFacts. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Published January 2022. Accessed August 13, 2022. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/naloxone
- Mayo Clinic. Oxycodone And Naloxone (Oral Route) Description and Brand Names – Mayo Clinic. Published June 1, 2022. Accessed August 13, 2022. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/oxycodone-and-naloxone-oral-route/description/drg-20112977
- Mayo Clinic. Oxycodone And Naloxone (Oral Route) Side Effects – Mayo Clinic. Published June 1, 2022. Accessed August 13, 2022. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/oxycodone-and-naloxone-oral-route/side-effects/drg-20112977
- Mayo Clinic Staff. Partner with your doctor to stop using opioid medications. Mayo Clinic. Published May 20, 2021. Accessed August 13, 2022. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prescription-drug-abuse/in-depth/tapering-off-opioids-when-and-how/art-20386036
- 5. Cherney K. Coping with Opiate Withdrawal. Healthline. Published June 24, 2014. Accessed August 13, 2022. https://www.healthline.com/health/coping-opiate-withdrawal
