Percocet

Percocet is a medication used to relieve moderate to severe pain. It is a brand name for the mix of active ingredients like oxycodone, analgesic (a narcotic pain medication), and acetaminophen (a non-narcotic pain medication). This combination works better to relieve pains than when either of the components is used singly.

Oxycodone acts on the central nervous system, smoothening the muscle tissues and slowing down the entire nervous system. This narcotic has a calming effect, besides working as a pain reliever. Acetaminophen, on the other hand, relieves both pain and fever.

Oxycodone, an opioid analgesic medication synthesized from thebaine, was first developed in Germany in the year 1916. It was among the new semi-synthetic opioids which had several advantages over the traditional opiates and opioids like morphine, codeine, and diacetylmorphine (heroin). Oxycodone is categorized as a Schedule III controlled substance in the United States, in both its states as a single agent and as a part of the combination with paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin. It is therefore sold as a pain medication in combination with supplemental analgesics like acetaminophen under the commercial name of Percocet.

Doses of Percocet depend on the severity of the pain and the patient’s response to the drug. 1 or 2 tablets of this drug every 6 hours is the usual dose for an adult. It may however be necessary to increase the dosage in cases of severe pain, or when a patient has become tolerant to the analgesic effects of opioids. For constant pain, the opioid analgesic is administered at regular intervals throughout the day. However, care must be taken to ascertain that the total daily dose of acetaminophen not go above 4 grams.

Depending on the strength, Percocet tablets are available in different shapes are colors. The tablets can be oval or round, and come in shades of pink, blue, peach, and yellow. Capsules are also available. These capsules or tablets should be ideally stored in a tight, light-resistant container, within a temperature range of 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F).

Percocet should not be used by people allergic to acetaminophen or oxycodone. Also, those suffering from asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, breathing disorders, stomach, intestinal, or pancreas disorder, liver or kidney disease, epilepsy or other seizure disorder, or low blood pressure. This drug can also prove harmful for persons with a history of head injury or brain tumor, underactive thyroid, enlarged prostate, urination problems, spine curvature, mental illness, Addison’s disease or other adrenal gland disorder, or any kind of drug or alcohol addiction. Presence of these conditions generally requires a readjustment of the dose, or a total abstinence from it.

Percocet has also proved to be harmful when used on pregnant women. It could cause respiratory problems in a newborn. The drug can also pass on to breast milk and thereby harm a nursing baby.

Oxycodone has been established as a “habit-forming” drug, and people with a previous history of drug addiction may be particularly susceptible to it. For patients exposed to this drug for more than a few weeks, a gradual decline in the doses may be necessary in order to prevent withdrawal symptoms.

There are certain side effects of Percocet that have been reported over the years. These include allergic reactions like swelling on the face, lips, tongue, or throat, difficulty in breathing, slowing of the heart beat rate, momentary or partial loss of mental awareness, convulsions, dark urine, yellowing of the eyes or skin, and feelings of light-headedness. Mild nausea, drowsiness, constipation, blurred vision and a dry mouth are also considered to be among the side effects of this drug.

Some commonly used medications may have an adverse effect on the health of the individual if Percocet is administered simultaneously. Among these are glycopyrrolate, mepenzolate, atropine, methscopolamine, dimenhydrinate or scopolamine. Certain bladder or urinary medications like darifenacin, and oxybutynin, bronchodilator like ipratropium or tiotropium, bowel medications such as dicyclomine, propantheline or hyoscyamine may also have harmful effects when used in conjunction with this drug. It is therefore advisable to consult a medical practitioner before starting to use this particular medicine.

According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, the abuse of a particular painkiller is defined as its non-medical use, while addiction is defined by the effects of a drug on the body once its use is stopped. In the case of Percocet, an addiction to it may develop over a long duration of regular use. This addiction may be aggravated by certain genetic issues which result in one person being more prone to addiction than another. Addiction can be determined by the presence of withdrawal syndromes in the case of a single missed dose.

Addiction to this particular drug result in a feeling of grogginess and a growing emotional detachment, inability to show up on time, or maintain basic commitments. Relationships can take a backseat as a result of this addiction. The liver and lung functions slow down due to prolonged use of this drug.

This drug abuse can be identified if a person exhibits symptoms like a craving for more pills and larger doses, or buying the drug on the street. Some people even go to the extent of consulting different doctors for valid prescriptions of this drug, as any one doctor will never prescribe an overdose of it.

An overdose of this drug can generally be detected through signs like coma, stupor, skeletal muscle flaccidity, hypertension, shallow breathing or severe nausea and vomiting. Such an overdose is often irreparable, and can even prove to be fatal. In case of an overdose, immediate medical assistance is required. If the patient is suffering from breathing problems, normal respiratory exchange, or a ventilator should be immediately arranged for. If there are possibilities of unabsorbed drug in the body, gastric lavage may be necessary. Oxygen, intravenous fluids, and vasopressors come in handy during the treatment of a person suffering an overdose of this drug.

Withdrawal symptoms of this drug can be noticed in patients using it on a continuous basis for more than 5 to 7 days. If the drug intake is suddenly stopped, the patient might experience severe withdrawal symptoms that begin around 6 to 8 hours after the administration of the last dose. These symptoms primarily include feelings of anxiety and nausea, fever, a running nose, tearing eyes, ache and pains in the body, stomach trouble, and difficulty in sleeping. This happens because this drug is a powerful narcotic analgesic, and hence the dosage should be gradually reduced, rather than being stopped abruptly.

It must, however, be mentioned that the consequences of a long-term addiction can be easily treated with Meditox. This addiction is basically a medical affliction, and outpatient treatment programmes provide a replacement prescription that is particularly helpful in kicking the habit without any severe withdrawal symptoms. The Meditox method was specifically adapted for motivated and high-functioning people who require individual guidance and attention in order to free themselves of this chemical affliction. This method helps a person to get his/ her life back on track.

Under the Meditox method, a substitute prescription is provided for buprenorphine. This is generally Subutex and Suboxone, combined with a personalized treatment plan. It takes just about 6 weeks for a person to recover completely from addiction to this particular drug. A lot of people are reported to have been cured of this addiction after having had it for more than 10 years.