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Percocet is a controlled substance due to its highly addictive properties as an opioid. The potential for abuse and misuse of this drug is well-documented and recognized within the medical community. In 2021, experts estimated that 1% of Americans misused prescription opioids, and 5.6 million had an opioid use disorder. According to the CDC, over 75% of the nearly 107,000 drug overdose deaths in 2021 involved an opioid like Percocet.
While there are cases of individuals becoming addicted to Percocet after just one prescription, this is rare. The likelihood of developing an opioid use disorder increases with the duration of Percocet use.
Percocet is a commonly prescribed opioid medication for moderate to severe pain. It combines two drugs: oxycodone and acetaminophen. Oxycodone is a semi-synthetic opioid that binds to natural opioid receptors in the brain, blocking pain signals. Acetaminophen, commonly known as Tylenol, reduces the pain-causing substance prostaglandin. Despite its effectiveness in treating pain, Percocet has a high potential for abuse.
This combination medication is used to alleviate various types of pain, including acute pain from surgery, fractures, or dental procedures, and chronic pain from long-term injuries or cancer. While beneficial for pain relief, Percocet’s potential for addiction and misuse makes it a controlled substance.
Percocet is available in immediate-release tablet form, with doses ranging from 2.5 mg to 10 mg of oxycodone and 325 mg to 650 mg of acetaminophen. Dosages are tailored to the individual’s condition, age, and weight, starting with the lowest effective dose to manage pain. The medication typically begins working within 15 to 30 minutes and lasts up to six hours.
There is no maximum oxycodone dose established by regulators, but the maximum daily dose of acetaminophen should not exceed four grams to avoid toxicity.
Percocet is available in several forms:
Generic versions of Percocet are also available in various strengths and forms, including a liquid formulation.
Percocet has several side effects, with constipation being the most common. Prescribers usually recommend a stool softener, and if necessary, a laxative. Other side effects include:
Signs of Percocet addiction include:
The duration Percocet stays in your system depends on usage patterns. The half-life in the blood is approximately 3–5 hours, meaning it takes 15 to 25 hours to be eliminated after one dose. Chronic use can extend detection times. Generally, Percocet can be detected in:
Prolonged use can lead to tolerance and physical dependence, where the body relies on the drug to function normally. Suddenly stopping Percocet can trigger withdrawal, which can be painful and potentially dangerous. Symptoms may begin 8–24 hours after the last dose and include:
Help is available for those struggling with Percocet addiction. Hyperion Recovery offers services that can help. The first step is medical detox to safely remove the substance from the body, supervised by licensed medical professionals and potentially involving medication-assisted treatment to ease withdrawal symptoms.
Treatment options include inpatient programs, partial hospitalization programs (PHP), and outpatient programs. Inpatient programs offer continuous medical monitoring and structured therapy. PHP provides similar care with more unstructured time, while outpatient programs offer therapy and support while allowing the individual to live at home.
If you or someone you know is struggling with Percocet addiction, reach out to Hyperion Recovery to begin the journey to recovery.
