PERCOCET

Description

PERCOCET

PERCOCET. Percocet is a brand name medication that contains two different drugs: acetaminophen (paracetamol) and oxycodone. Oxycodone is an opioid – that is, a chemical compound that works similarly to opiates.

Opioids are chemicals that act on opioid receptors in the brain and block pain signals from being sent to the user’s mind, resulting in pain relief. Acetaminophen (paracetamol) is another drug which can be used as a mild analgesic (painkiller).

What is the difference between oxycodone and percocet?

Oxycodone is a chemical compound found in the opium poppy plant. This means that it can be converted into morphine, which is another opioid painkiller with several medical uses.

Perc contains oxycodone in addition to acetaminophen (paracetamol), whereas just oxycodone exists in its own pharmaceutical product called ‘Oxycontin.’ Both drugs are available over-the-counter, but only Oxycontin has been approved for sale as a prescription medication by the FDA because of its higher potency.

Is percocet stronger than oxycodone?

Yes! Perc has an ingredient added which makes it even more potent than regular oxycodone. The FDA has not yet approved the sale of Percocet as an over-the-counter medication because it can be habit-forming when used incorrectly.

Painkillers are only designed to treat short periods of severe pain, but if taken for too long or in too high a dosage, they may lead to dependency and severe withdrawal symptoms upon abrupt cessation. The reason why Percocet is stronger than oxycodone is that it contains more acetaminophen (paracetamol).

Although paracetamol does not have any analgesic effects itself, taking two doses of acetaminophen at once means that there will be twice as much ‘active ingredient’ hitting receptors in the user’s brain – hence why this formulation is called ‘double strength.’

What are the side effects of percocet?

Perc has several potential side effects, just like every other form of opioid medication. It may be habit-forming if used for too long or in too high a dose, so it should only be used to relieve short periods of severe pain. Additionally, some people experience drowsiness when taking this drug as well as dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and constipation.

What are the side effects of oxycodone?

The main side effect of oxycodone is that it may be habit-forming. This means that if taken for too long or in too high a dose, it can cause dependency and severe withdrawal symptoms upon abrupt cessation.

Other than this, the drug may result in some significant adverse reactions including nausea, vomiting, constipation, lightheadedness/dizziness when getting up suddenly from a lying position (known as orthostatic hypotension), headache, dry mouth, and drowsiness.

What should I do if I overdose on percocet?

An overdose from a dosage of Perc can cause an extreme slowing of the heart rate and low blood pressure which may lead to respiratory depression – causing the patient to stop breathing altogether.

Other symptoms include cold clammy skin, seizures, confusion, hallucinations, pinpoint pupils, loss of consciousness, and blueish tint on fingertips or lips. In severe cases where death is a possibility due to long-term opiate use or drug tolerance issues, naloxone may be effective for reversal purposes.