When it comes to prescription medications, one of the most important things to know is what the drug looks like. Knowing what to look for can help you avoid counterfeit drugs and be sure that you're taking the right medication.

In this post, we'll take a look at OxyContin - what it looks like and how to tell if it's real or fake. If you're prescribed this medication, make sure you know what to look for so that you can be sure your medication is safe and effective.

What Is OxyContin?

OxyContin is a brand name for the painkiller called oxycodone hydrochloride. This medication is available in the United States and is prescribed for pain relief caused by different conditions like arthritis, cancer, and injuries.

Oxycodone is a narcotic drug, which means it has the potential to be addictive and should only be taken as prescribed by a doctor.  While it was initially proven to be an effective pain medication, in recent years there has been an increase in abuse and addiction to the drug.

This has led to stricter regulation of the drug and it is now only available in controlled-release tablets. These tablets are designed to slowly release the oxycodone over a period of time, so that patients can get relief from.

Due to the more rigid controls on the drug, it can be difficult to get a prescription for opioids and other painkillers. This has led to the sale of the drug in the black market. The danger, however, is that some of these pills are actually fake Oxycontin pills. These counterfeit pills may not contain any oxycodone at all, or they may contain dangerous additives that can be harmful to your health.

So, how can you tell if the Oxy you've been given is real or fake? What do real pills look like? Let's take a look.

What Does OxyContin Look Like?

OxyContin comes in a variety of different pill sizes and colors. This medication comes in tablet form and is available in different strengths. The tablets vary in size and color according to their strength.

Below is a list of the different colors and milligram strengths of OxyContin pills:

10 mg tablets

The 10 mg tablets are white, round tablets with OP on one side and 10 on the other.

15 mg tablets

The 15 mg tablets pinkish gray, round tablets with OP on one side and 15 on the other.

20 mg tablets

The 20 mg pills are light peach/pink, round tablets with OP on one side and 20 on the other.

30 mg tablets

The 30 mg pills are light orange, round tablets with OP on one side and 30 on the other.

40 mg tablets

These are yellow, round tablets with OP on one side and 40 on the other.

60 mg tablets

The 60 mg pills are red orange, round tablets with OP on one side and 60 on the other.

80 mg tablets

The 80 mg pills are light green, round tablets with OP on one side and 80 on the other.

Note that  OxyContin pills with an older formula have the imprint “OC” instead of “OP”.

Warning: Beware of Fake Oxy

Now that we've looked at what genuine OxyContin looks like, it's very important to keep in mind that there are fake versions of this drug being sold on the street. Some people may convince you that these are generic versions but they are usually not.

The counterfeit drugs may look like the real thing, but they're actually fake pills that could be dangerous to your health. It is not uncommon for people to buy Oxy from the streets or online, only to find out that they've been given fake pills.

The alarming thing is that most of the fake Oxy being sold are manufactured with the synthetic opioid fentanyl. Fentanyl is a much more powerful opioid than oxycodone and can be very dangerous, even deadly. This can lead to accidental overdose.

The best way to avoid this is to only buy your medication from a reputable source. If you're buying Oxy online, make sure you're using a legitimate website that sells real medications. Be very careful of websites that sell prescription drugs without a prescription - these are usually fake websites selling counterfeit drugs.

Avoid buying painkillers from unknown sources, especially social media. There have been many reports of accidental overdose from people taking fake Oxy that they bought online.

If you think you've been given fake Oxy, it's important to seek medical help immediately and stop taking the medication. Don't take risks with your health, only buy your medication from a trusted source.