Oxycodone is an opioid analgesic synthesized
from the opium derivative thebaine. It was developed
in 1916 in Germany by Freund and Speyer of the
University of Frankfurt, as one of several new
semi-synthetic opioids. It was seen as having
several benefits over the older traditional opiates
and opioids; morphine, diacetylmorphine (heroin)
and codeine.
A few years earlier the German pharmaceutical
company Bayer had stopped the mass production of
heroin due to concerns about dependence. It was
hoped that a thebaine-derived drug would retain the
analgesic effects of morphine and heroin with less
dependence. To some extent this was achieved, as
oxycodone does not have the same immediate effect as
heroin or morphine nor does it last as long.
Along with, diazepam (Valium),
Alprazolam (Xanax), Temazepam, and the opioid
hydrocodone
(found in Vicodin), Oxycodone was found to have
played a part in the death of Australian Actor Heath
Ledger on January 22nd 2008. It is quite common in
rural areas of the USA and as a result has been
dubbed 'Hillbilly Heroin'.
