“Percocet Abuse and Treatment: Everything You Need to Know”

Back in 2009—that’s already nearly a decade ago—the FDA recommended Percocet as one of the narcotic analgesics that must have a limited presence in the market. Their reason behind this decision was the fact that Percocet, just like other combination drugs that had acetaminophen, had high risk of abuse. The fact that they were so easily accessible (being prescription drugs) made it so much easier for recreational users to abuse them.

This was obviously a huge problem because over 400 deaths each year are related to acetaminophen misuse. Overdose and liver damage were one of the main effects—and Percocet was one of the causes.

Today we are going to talk about Percocet abuse, what it does to an individual, and how an addicted person can go back to living a sober life despite it all.

Overview

Percocet is the trade name for the combination of oxycodone and acetaminophen. The former is a powerful pain reliever that can be used to treat moderate to severe pain. The latter is also known as paracetamol, and has the ability to boost the effects of oxycodone.

This combination alone makes Percocet a very potent drug. One can imagine the effects of taking too much of it at once.

Despite the drug’s medical benefits, it is also known for being addictive, particularly in larger doses. The problem is that Percocet is naturally taken in high doses within recreational settings. This may lead to a large number of health problems including dependence, addiction, and tolerance.

Many people mistake this drug as a “safer” alternative to other illicit substances, knowing that it is sometimes prescribed by doctors. But as we will discuss later on, this is a dangerous substance when abused.

Signs of Abuse

A person who is abusing the drug will display symptoms such as drowsiness, confusion, and lightheadedness. This is due to the drug’s relaxing effects—the feel-good sensation that got them hooked in the first place.

Additionally, they may experience excessive sweating, nausea, headaches, and even vomiting.

This is a prescription drug, so simply keeping track of a person’s intake can be enough to show if they are abusing it or not. If they are running out of Percocet much earlier than they are supposed to, then they might be abusing the drug. They may even attempt to visit multiple doctors just to get the same prescription repeatedly. This is called “doctor shopping”.

Abuse Effects and Withdrawal

Percocet abusers may develop dependence, meaning they can no longer function properly without taking the drug. You’ll know that they are addicted to the drug once they are taking the drug even as they are suffering its physical and mental consequences.

Liver failure is one of the most common effects of Percocet abuse. They may also experience muscle pain, weakness, sleepiness, gastrointestinal upset, and panic attacks. In the worst cases, Percocet users die of overdose or other complications.

If an addicted individual stops taking their drug of choice, they may suffer from withdrawal. Common withdrawal symptoms include aggression, paranoia, and depression.

Addiction Treatment

Instead of forcing them to quit the drug, help them seek an addiction treatment facility near you. Supervised detox may be necessary to get Percocet out of their system safely. If they try to self-regulate, they may only suffer from withdrawal symptoms and relapse.

Detoxification will be done by medical professionals. They will gradually lower the person’s Percocet intake, while managing any health problems that may arise in the process.

When this is all over, the person can undergo behavioral therapy and other similar techniques to help them adjust to the sober lifestyle. This will keep them from relapsing. The entire rehabilitation experience may be difficult, but the reward is well worth the struggle. Help them live an addiction-free life and find a detox center near you today.

Addiction Free Solutions

Dont be problem focused. Be solution focused! At Addiction Free Solutions, we know that the solution lies within you. You have to commit to living a sober life. We help connect you with a center that can help assist you from detox and rehab to therapy. We want you to get the help that you need so you can go on and inspire others. Looking for in-patient, out-patient or sober living afterwards? We help you with that as well!