Percocet Uses & Misuse

Percocet, a brand name for oxycodone, is an opioid painkiller that has legitimate medical uses, but it also carries the dangers that are typical of opioids. This means it has a high potential for misuse, which can lead to an opioid use disorder (OUD). Because of this, Percocet should be used with care and only as prescribed.

What Is Percocet?

Percocet is one of the more common brand-names for the drug oxycodone, an opioid. [1] It is used to relieve moderate to severe pain, ideally for a short period of time. 

Like many opioids, this drug has legitimate uses in medicine, but it also has significant misuse potential. It is common for OUD to result from continued long term use of prescription painkillers.

In order to keep patients safe and avoid contributing to America’s ongoing opioid epidemic, doctors are careful when prescribing Percocet or any other opioid. Patients should also practice care, only taking the medication as prescribed and alerting their healthcare provider to any issues related to the medication as soon as possible. 

Side Effects of Percocet

Some of the most common side effects associated with Percocet and other oxycodone medications include the following:[1]

• Constipation
• Lethargy/sedation
• Dry mouth
• Flushing/itching
• Headaches
• Mood changes

Taking any opioid for a long time is likely to cause dependence, which occurs when the body acclimates to the presence of a drug and is essentially “rewired” to crave the drug when it is absent from the body. This will cause a person to undergo withdrawal if they stop taking opioids. 

Withdrawal comes with symptoms that are often described as “flu-like”. While physical dependence is technically different from an opioid use disorder, many/most people who have an opioid use disorder are also have a physical dependence on those drugs.[2] Dependence can make it much more likely that a person may engage in drug misuse and develop an OUD, as it can drive a person to use drugs simply in order to avoid the unpleasant experience of withdrawal. 

As is true of any medication, you should talk to a doctor right away if you experience effects from your medication that seem serious or significantly affect your quality of life. You should immediately contact a doctor if you start to feel strong drug cravings or the urge to use more of your medication than prescribed.

Precautions to Take When Using Percocet

It’s important to take the proper precautions when taking opioids. First, understand how to take your medication as prescribed. Ask your prescriber any questions you have about the medication and thoroughly read any documentation you’re given and any labels on your medications. Never take the medication in a way that is different than instructed. Don’t take more than prescribed or use them in a different way than was prescribed. For example, don’t crush and snort pills that are meant to be taken orally. 

If your medication isn’t providing enough pain relief, talk to your doctor. Do not modify the way you’re taking your medicine on your own. 

You also should be very careful when mixing Percocet or other opioids with any other drug, including over-the-counter and prescription medications. 

Make sure you keep opioid medications locked away or in a safe place out of reach of children or other members of the household. 

Notable Percocet Interactions

Percocet is an opioid. Opioids can be dangerous if mixed with certain other drugs.[3] 

Opioids can depress a person’s respiration. This risk increases if opioids are mixed with other medications or drugs that also reduce respiratory drive, including benzodiazepines, anti-histamines, muscle relaxers, certain antipsychotics, or alcohol. 

Two of the most common drugs that cause problems related to opioid interactions are alcohol and benzodiazepines. Both these drugs can significantly increase the risk of a life-threatening drug overdose if taken with opioids like Percocet. If you’re prescribed benzodiazepines by a doctor while on opioids, make sure you check with them before taking both medications together. 

Similarly, taking other opioids with Percocet is also dangerous. The effects of opioids stack, so mixing any two together can be especially dangerous. [3]

Percocet Overdose

Oxycodone has the potential to cause a life-threatening overdose, especially if taken with other drugs that cause respiratory depression. The most serious symptom associated with opioid overdose is severe respiratory depression, where a person’s breathing becomes very weak and can lead to death. 

The following signal a potential overdose and warrant immediately calling 911:

• Severe sleepiness or unresponsiveness
• Reduced, weakened, or stopped breathing
• Coming in and out of consciousness
• Flaccid muscles
• Pale or blue skin, especially around the lips and fingertips
• Unconsciousness that a person cannot be awoken from

If available, the drug naloxone should be immediately administered to a person thought to be overdosing on opioids.[4] Naloxone is an opioid antagonist, which means it will reverse the effects of opioids and can allow a person to breathe more regularly. Even if this appears to safely reverse an overdose, professional medical attention should still be called, as the overdose could return after the naloxone wears off. 

Percocet Withdrawal Symptoms

Opioid withdrawal, as noted earlier, is often described as “flu-like.” Technically, withdrawal comes in three distinct phases: acute, subacute, and chronic. 

When discussing withdrawal as a general term, most sources are specifically referring to acute withdrawal, within the first hours to days of discontinuing opioid use. This is the initial stage of withdrawal that generally has the most intense symptoms that then fade over the first few days. 

Acute opioid withdrawal is associated with the following symptoms:

• Hot and cold flashes
• Nausea/Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Sweating
• Tearing
• Insomnia
• Goosebumps
• Anxiety or irritability 
• Muscle pains
• Cravings for opioids

These symptoms will fade over time, followed by a period of at least several weeks where a person will still feel generally unwell but is likely to be better able to function in their day-to-day life. They will also continue to have potentially severe drug cravings, which is why ongoing treatment for opioid use disorder is important, even after acute withdrawal, in order to maximize one’s chance of recovery.

Signs of Percocet Misuse

Drug misuse refers to any drug use that isn’t in accordance with the prescribing instructions. An example of drug misuse is a person taking more Percocet – either more frequently or at higher doses – than prescribed. Some people might feel this kind of misuse is fine because they aren’t misusing the drug to get high. They’re misusing it to try to treat pain. But this is still dangerous and shouldn’t be done without getting a medical professional to modify the prescription. 

Some potential signs of drug misuse include the following:[5]

• Risk-taking behavior that is out of character, including driving while impaired 
• Neglecting important obligations
• Legal trouble, especially relating to disorderly conduct or driving under the influence
• Lower performance or attendance at school or work
• Avoiding questions about substance use 
• Hanging out with different groups of friends
• A major change in interests and hobbies
• Mood swings, including high levels of anxiety
• Bloodshot eyes or dilated pupils
• Slurred speech
• Balance issues
• Isolation from others

Side Effects of Percocet Misuse

Once a person starts misusing Percocet or similar opioids, they can begin to have a variety of issues. Opioid misuse can easily lead to an opioid use disorder and can cause a spiral of issues such as legal trouble, strain on personal relationships, or difficulty meeting obligations at school or work. 

Often, people start misusing opioids because they want to manage their pain, only to find they have lost control over their use. They then cannot stop using opioids on their own even if they start to experience serious health or life consequences. This is a sign that professional help is needed.

The long-term use of opioids, even if used as prescribed, can cause a number of health issues, including these:[6]

• Gastrointestinal problems, especially chronic constipation
• Breathing problems
• Cardiovascular issues
• Chronic issues relating to faintness and sedation
• Mood and personality changes 
• Hormonal imbalances
• Risk of developing an opioid use disorder 
• Risk of opioid overdose

Treatment Options for OUD

If you cannot stop taking Percocet or any other opioid, you may need professional treatment. Medical professionals can help you form a treatment plan to start recovering from OUD and regaining control over your life and health.

Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT) is considered the gold standard in treatment for Percocet use disorder. Since the withdrawal process from opioids is notoriously difficult, the use of medication can make this process manageable particularly in the acute phase of withdrawal. Drugs such as methadone and Suboxone have been shown through rigorous research to prevent withdrawal, reduce drug cravings, and promote better outcomes for patients in recovery.[7] 

There is no cure for addiction, but these medications can help you to manage your OUD for months, years, or even the rest of your life. Many people continue on Suboxone for the long term.

Whether MATs are used or not, addiction treatment should also involve some form of psychotherapy. In sessions with a therapist, you’ll explore the root causes behind your substance misuse. You’ll begin to build skills that help you to navigate triggers, so you can cope with these without returning to opioid use. 

You’ll also build a support network of people you can turn to and activities you can do when you are tempted to use opioids. While you may continue to have some level of cravings for Percocet throughout your life, these will lessen with time. Treatment can be lifesaving.