Percocet Addiction, Treatment & Side Effects

Percocet addiction carries severe physical and psychological risks due to its combination of oxycodone (an opioid) and acetaminophen. The opioid component can lead to powerful physical dependency, with users experiencing increasingly severe withdrawal symptoms when attempting to stop use.

Long-term abuse of Percocet can result in respiratory depression, liver damage, gastrointestinal problems, and a significantly increased risk of overdose. As tolerance builds, users often take higher doses, which can be fatal due to respiratory failure. The acetaminophen in Percocet can cause severe liver damage even at doses that seem moderate, especially when combined with alcohol.

The mental impact of an addiction to Percocet can be equally devastating. Users often experience profound changes in behavior, becoming isolated from family and friends as obtaining and using the drug becomes their primary focus. The addiction can lead to financial difficulties as users spend increasing amounts of money to maintain their supply, often resorting to doctor shopping, forging prescriptions, or turning to illegal sources.

Many users find themselves caught in a cycle of anxiety and depression, using more Percocet to cope with these symptoms while simultaneously making them worse. The risk of developing co-occurring mental health disorders increases significantly with prolonged use, and the shame and stigma associated with addiction can prevent people from seeking the help they need.

What Are the Side Effects of Taking Percocet?

Percocet’s immediate side effects can range from mild discomfort to serious medical concerns, even when taken as prescribed. Common short-term effects include drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, constipation, and dry mouth. Many users experience a sense of euphoria followed by mental fog, making it dangerous to drive or operate machinery.

The medication can also cause itching, sweating, headaches, and mood changes. More serious immediate side effects can include severe constipation leading to bowel obstruction, respiratory depression, especially when combined with other central nervous system depressants, and confusion or impaired judgment.

Long-term use of Percocet can lead to more severe and persistent side effects, requiring prescription drug detox to treat. The acetaminophen component can cause liver damage, particularly when taken in high doses or combined with alcohol. Users may develop physical dependence, leading to withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication.

Hormonal changes can occur, potentially affecting fertility and sexual function. Some people experience chronic constipation, which can lead to hemorrhoids and other gastrointestinal problems. Sleep patterns may be disrupted, leading to insomnia or irregular sleep-wake cycles. Long-term use can affect cognitive function, leading to memory problems and difficulty concentrating.

Signs of Percocet Abuse and Addiction

You don’t have to be addicted in order to abuse Percocet. Taking it without a prescription or taking more than your doctor prescribed is considered abuse. The rise in counterfeit pills containing dangerous levels of fentanyl or other additives dramatically increases your risk of overdose and death. If you or someone around you is exhibiting signs of overdose, call 9-1-1 immediately and follow all instructions relayed by the dispatcher until help arrives. Signs to look out for include:

• Breathing problems – slow, shallow, or no breathing
• Confusion
• Difficulty staying awake
• Dilated pupils
• Dizziness
• Lips or nails turn blue
• Loss of consciousness, coma
• Low blood pressure
• Muscle tremors
• Nausea and vomiting
• Seizures
• Severe stomach cramps
• Skin feels cold and clammy
• Slow, thready pulse
• Unresponsive
• Weakness

Addiction occurs when the receptors in your brain adjust to having oxycodone, making it harder for you to reach the same level of euphoria as before. Your body is physically and chemically dependent while your mind is psychologically addicted. Writing your Percocet usage in a notebook, along with your pain levels at the time, will make it easier for you or a loved one to notice any changes in your behavior.

• Cravings
• Decreased sex drive
• Financial problems
• Frequent flu symptoms
• Losing interest in friends and family
• Poor hygiene
• Scheming how to acquire more drugs
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Taking higher or more frequent doses
• Weight loss

Percocet Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawal from any opioid is a terrifying proposition. With the right detox program, it doesn’t have to be. Medical detox assists in keeping you safe and comfortable while your body flushes the Percocet out of its systems. The experts at Muse Treatment will help you find a program that’s right for you.

Common symptoms of Percocet withdrawal include:

• Anxiety and agitation
• Diarrhea
• Difficulty concentrating
• Drug cravings
• Excessive sweating
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Inability to experience pleasure
• Insomnia
• Muscle aches
• Nausea and vomiting
• Runny nose
• Severe abdominal cramps
• Yawning

Long-Term Side Effects of Percocet Abuse

Chronically abusing Percocet may result in serious health complications. Qualified treatment facilities will perform in-depth physical, mental, and behavioral health assessments before preparing your custom treatment plan. The sooner you choose recovery, the greater your chances of avoiding any of the following:

• Decreased testosterone levels
• Immune suppression
• Kidney failure
• Liver damage – from acetaminophen poisoning
• Osteoporosis
• Severe constipation
• Urinary retention

How Much Percocet Is Safe Per Day?

Percocet dosage should only be determined by a licensed medical provider who knows the person’s specific situation. However, there is a general guideline about typical prescribed dosages:

For acute pain management, doctors typically prescribe

• 1 tablet every 6 hours as needed
• Maximum of 4 tablets per day for most formulations
• No more than 4000mg of acetaminophen total per day from all sources

Critical safety points

1. Never adjust dosage without consulting your doctor
2. Taking more than prescribed increases the risk of addiction and overdose
3. Combining with alcohol or other medications can be dangerous
4. Different Percocet formulations contain different amounts of oxycodone/acetaminophen
5. Individual factors like medical history and tolerance affect safe dosage

Warning signs you’re taking too much Percocet

• Extreme drowsiness
• Confusion
• Shallow breathing
• Severe dizziness
• Fainting
• Seizures

If you experience any of these symptoms or are concerned about your Percocet use, seek help at a prescription drug rehab facility.

What to Avoid When Taking Percocet?

When taking Percocet, it’s crucial to avoid alcohol and certain medications that can interact dangerously with the drug. Alcohol significantly increases the risk of severe liver damage due to the acetaminophen component in Percocet while also amplifying the central nervous system depression caused by the oxycodone component.

Other substances to avoid include benzodiazepines (like Xanax or Valium), muscle relaxants, other opioid medications, and sleep medications, as these combinations can lead to dangerous respiratory depression. Even certain antihistamines and over-the-counter medications should be discussed with your healthcare provider before taking them alongside Percocet.

It’s also recommended to avoid operating heavy machinery or driving while taking Percocet, as it can significantly impair judgment and reaction time. Don’t attempt to take more than prescribed or crush/break the tablets to alter their intended delivery method, as this can lead to overdose or death.

It’s important to avoid taking additional acetaminophen-containing products (like Tylenol) while on Percocet, as exceeding the daily limit of acetaminophen can cause severe liver damage. Never attempt to suddenly stop taking Percocet without medical supervision if you’ve been using it regularly, as this can lead to withdrawal symptoms. Also, avoid making important decisions or engaging in activities requiring mental alertness until you know how the medication affects you.

What Is the Strongest Percocet?

The strongest prescribed formulation of Percocet contains 10mg of oxycodone and 325 mg of acetaminophen per tablet. All formulations contain the same amount of acetaminophen (325mg), but the potency of Percocet varies based on the oxycodone content, which ranges from 2.5mg to 10mg per tablet.

Percocet’s potency stems from its combination of oxycodone and acetaminophen, with oxycodone being the primary source of its pain-relieving and potentially addictive properties. Oxycodone is a powerful synthetic opioid that works by binding to specific receptors in the brain and nervous system, effectively blocking pain signals and producing feelings of euphoria.

The medication’s potency is particularly significant because it can lead to rapid development of tolerance, where users need increasingly higher doses to achieve the same pain-relieving effects. This aspect of Percocet’s potency makes it particularly dangerous, as the margin between an effective dose and a potentially harmful one can narrow over time.

Overcome Percocet Addiction With Support From Muse Treatment

Muse Treatment in Los Angeles offers comprehensive support and evidence-based interventions that are essential for overcoming Percocet addiction safely and effectively. Treatment typically begins with medically supervised detox, where our addiction specialists can manage withdrawal symptoms through medications and monitoring. This medical oversight is crucial as Percocet withdrawal can be physically and emotionally intense.

Following detox for Percocet, our Los Angeles addiction treatment center will provide structured therapy programs to help patients understand the root causes of their addiction, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and learn strategies to prevent relapse. These programs combine individual counseling, group therapy, and family therapy to address all aspects of recovery.

Please contact Muse Treatment in Los Angeles at 800-426-1818 today to learn more about overcoming Percocet addiction safely in a healing and caring environment.

External Sources

• National Library of Medicine – Trends in prescriptions for oxycodone and other commonly used opioids in the United States, 2000–2010
• Mayo Clinic – How opioid use disorder occurs
• National Library of Medicine – Prescription OxyContin Abuse Among Patients Entering Addiction Treatment