Percocet Addiction & Treatment

What is Percocet?

Percocet is a prescription painkiller. It contains a combination of ingredients that include oxycodone and acetaminophen. Percocet can provide substantial relief for moderate to severe pain. However, because Percocet is an opioid painkiller, it also carries a serious potential for abuse. For this reason, most medical professionals strive to prescribe it only for short-term use such as after surgeries. Occasionally, they may prescribe it to someone with severe chronic pain. Even so, its addictive properties have triggered substance abuse problems for many.

Percocet is known by other brand names, including Narvox, Endocet, Perloxx, Magnacet, Tylox, Xolox, Primalev, Xartemix XR, Roxicet, and Roxilox. Users take Percocet in tablet form and sometimes liquid form. Some may abuse Percocet by snorting it. Although Percocet is useful for treating pain, when it’s abused, it can be extremely dangerous, causing serious physical effects, overdose, and even death.

Percocet Effects

When taken as directed by physicians, Percocet can alleviate pain. Generally, a dose will provide pain relief for three to five hours. Percocet, particularly when abused, can also cause a euphoric effect like other opioids. Users feel relaxed and experience a pleasurable high. However, this drug can also cause unpleasant side effects that include:

• Dizziness
• Fatigue / drowsiness
• Anxiety
• Headache
• Memory loss
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting

In spite of the negative effects of Percocet use, many people continue to abuse this drug to achieve the high it produces or because they’ve become addicted and can’t seem to stop using it.

Signs of Percocet Abuse and Addiction

Like other forms of substance use disorders, a Percocet addiction is governed by powerful feelings of compulsion. Intensive cravings compel users to keep abusing the drug to satisfy their physical and psychological dependencies.

A person experiencing an opioid addiction often exhibits various signs and symptoms of the problem. The most common sign of a Percocet addiction is the onset of withdrawal symptoms when the individual doesn’t use the drug for a period of time. Other signs that a person may be addicted to Percocet include:

• Attempting to steal Percocet from other users
• Doctor shopping in order to obtain the drug from other physicians
• Faking prescriptions
• Attempting to reduce their use or to stop their use but being unable to
• Withdrawing from their social circle
• Failing to perform well at work or school
• Using Percocet in any way that deviates from a doctor’s prescription
• Taking the drug recreationally

Taking Percocet with other drugs or substances is also a serious form of abuse that can have deadly consequences. Often, a person who is under the influence of powerful drugs like opioids may also engage in risk-taking behaviors such as driving under the influence or having unprotected sex.

Percocet Withdrawal Symptoms

A person who undergoes Percocet detox can expect to experience some Percocet withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms occur during alcohol detox, heroin detox, and even methadone detox. However, medical detox offers a safe environment. During DayBreak detox programs, clients are carefully weaned from the substance they’re addicted to and medical providers offer medications to reduce the unpleasant symptoms of withdrawal. The most common Percocet withdrawal symptoms are achiness, chills, nausea, vomiting, headache, insomnia, and intense cravings for the drug.

Long-Term Side Effects of Percocet Abuse

Percocet is a powerful opioid that can have long-term effects when abused. These effects can include the development of a mental health condition or co-occurring disorders such as Percocet addiction and depression or anxiety. Other effects include eye problems, organ damage, and sexual dysfunction.

Percocet Addiction Treatment

A Percocet addiction can be managed with high-quality addiction treatment at DayBreak. We can provide Percocet detox as well as individual therapy, group therapy, and aftercare planning. We feature multiple levels of care and addiction treatment programs that include residential therapy, individualized detox program, outpatient treatment, and aftercare planning. Contact us to learn about our enrollment process and get the help you need to manage your Percocet addiction.