My 54 year old brother has been using 80mg oxicontin, for a chronic back problem he had since his 20's. Before he would rough it out, now for the last 10 years he has been using or "abusing" the oxicontin. Long story short; he was showing strange symptoms, in his speach patterns -alot of umm umm -yes means no, and no means yes; wondering at night looking for "cig butts" rolling up small pieces of magazine or news paper or any paper and smoking it with or without the saved tobaco. Finally I broke away from my life; started noticing all of this. Took him for test upon test; dr. upon dr.;- all came up up with the same conclusion -early onset dementia. He has gotten worse and worse ( everything you could imagine) finally I comitted or 302'd him for his own good, to a hospital; since then (sept. 2011) he has become worse rapidly he is now in a nursing home, and every month I notice something else shutting down on him -cant swallow properly;incontinent always;will not talk, not sure whats going to happen next. I was a nurses aide for 10 years and this stage he is in scares me.
have faith that things will get better... hang in there!