Percocet is a synthetic opioid used to treat moderate to severe pain. It is the brand name for the combination of Oxycodone and acetaminophen. Oxycodone is a pain relieving narcotic and Acet
Percocet is a synthetic opioid used to treat moderate to severe pain. It is the brand name for the combination of Oxycodone and acetaminophen. Oxycodone is a pain relieving narcotic and Acetaminophen is a moderate pain relieving analgesic. When combined, acetaminophen enhances Oxycodone’s painkilling effects therefore reducing the need for a stronger narcotic. Together these drugs work synergistically to bind opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord to effectively reduce pain.
Percocet is a frequently prescribed pain medication in the United States and certainly one of the most abused. As a result, the drug has acquired a number of slang names used on the street to describe the drug such as:
Percocet comes in tablet form in a range of shapes and colors that are based on the dosage strength. The primary shape for these tablets are round, oval or oblong and colors can be white, peach, pink and yellow. However, products sold illegally as Percocet may differ from these descriptions.
Percocet is rated as a narcotic analgesic combination drug. It is classified as a Schedule II Controlled substance by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Drugs in this category has a currently accepted medical use with severe restriction in the United States community and a high potential for abuse. This drug is legally administered by prescription only.
Abuse and addiction to prescribed medications like Percocet usually stay under the radar of family members and friends and even to the abuser themselves longer than illicit drug use. That is because taking a narcotic medication that was legally prescribed to treat a painful condition is not an anomaly. As a result, the signs and symptoms of abuse or addiction tend to continue unhindered until the drug abuse becomes a full blown addiction or a deadly overdose situation occurs. The most common signs of Percocet abuse includes:
Long Term use and abuse of Percocet may lead to respiratory and cardiovascular complications, kidney disease, gastrointestinal problems, liver dysfunction and mental disorders.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the number of emergency room visits due to prescription pain medication overdose increased from 100,000 to over 300,000 in a twelve month period.
Percocet was first referred to as “Meperidine” when it was formulated in Germany in 1939. Although its initial use was not that of a painkiller, the potency and efficiency of the drug in this regard soon became evident which led to it use as a painkiller. The drug was placed in ampules and administered by injection. For years, this medication was believed to be less harmful than morphine and as a result was widely prescribed to people under this false assumption. However, as addictions began to manifest in patients using the drug, it led to further research which later confirmed the drugs addictive properties.
The FDA approved the use of Percocet in the United States in 1976. However, in June of 2009, due to, the number of people who were developing addiction, liver damage and multiple overdose deaths, the administration placed additional restrictions on drugs containing narcotic analgesics and acetaminophen. Even with these restrictions Percocet continues to be widely available and the cause of rampant addiction, sickness and death.
Addiction to Percocet presents numerous withdrawal symptoms when use is halted. Withdrawal symptoms can include fever, chills, body aches and pain, hypertension, exacerbated heart rate, tremors, panic attacks, seizures and depression among others. 