Percocet addiction and addictions of any kind are hard to overcome, especially on your own. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, contact a professional rehabilitation facility to get more information about safe medical detox for recovery.
What is Percocet?
Percocet is a drug we often don’t hear much about, but it can be extremely dangerous to use. It is a prescribed painkiller that is a combination of oxycodone and acetaminophen. The combination of these two drugs creates Percocet, a powerful opioid derived from the same source of morphine and other extremely powerful drugs.
How does it Work?
Percocet, like many other opioids, operates by attaching to opioid receptors in the brain. When it is attached to these receptors, areas all over the body are affected (mainly the brain, spinal cord, and gastrointestinal tract). The drug works by attaching to these receptors and reducing the pain signals sent to the brain. That’s why drugs like this are mainly used for patients who are recovering, post-surgery.
Percocet Tolerance
When Percocet relieves chronic pain, it can feel euphoric for a user. The feeling of relief can become intoxicating and even addictive at times. If doses of Percocet are not monitored, a user can quickly become addicted because of the way the drug affects the brain’s reward system. If a person continually uses this substance, they can start to develop a tolerance. The longer you use this substance, the higher the dose you’ll need to get the desired effects. This is a slippery slope addiction or even overdose.
What is Percocet Abuse?
Percocet abuse is a huge problem in the world of medicine. Because this drug is so powerful, it can be extremely addictive. Someone who is suffering from chronic pain or pain from a former injury may become dependent on the numbing euphoria they get when they use Percocets. The feeling of relief that a user gets from this drug is powerful, it’s no wonder so many users have a problem breaking their dependence on it. It can be hard to pinpoint who is suffering from Percocet addiction because most of the side-effects that users suffer from are personal, an outsider may not notice them.
Is Percocet Dangerous?
Percocet is mainly used to relieve chronic pain or pain from surgery. This drug is not meant to be used long-term because it is habit-forming in nature. This drug can be extremely dangerous to use if addiction runs in your family or you are currently struggling with a substance use disorder. It can be extremely dangerous to use if the user has recently used alcohol, sedatives, or any kind of narcotic medications. Taking more of this drug than the prescribed amount can result in fatal consequences. Continual use can result in breathing being slowed or stopped, as well as many other health issues. It can also result in addiction, overdose, or even death (as we previously mentioned).
Should I Stop Taking It?
Following a doctor’s directions when it comes to Percocet use is safe, but when you start stepping outside of their directions, that’s when it becomes dangerous. When you start to see changes in your health when you are on or off the drug, that’s when Percocet use becomes an issue. First, let’s talk about the side-effects a person can experience while taking the drug:
- Nausea
- Chronic Pain in Upper Stomach
- Dark Urine
- Skin Redness/Rash/Blistering Skin
- Uncontrollable Itching
- Lack of Appetite
- Discoloration in Stool
- Jaundice (Skin and/or Eyes Turn Yellow)
- Insomnia or Lack of Sleep
- Drowsiness
Continued use can result in more fatal side-effects like overdose or death from overdose. If a person has developed a tolerance to Percocet, it will be hard to ween off. Users are advised to taper off regular use of Percocet rather than cutting it out cold turkey since withdrawal from this drug can be extremely dangerous. Withdrawal symptoms are all too common with this drug, you can expect to see side-effects such as:
- Confusion/Delirium
- Extreme Mood Swings
- Perpetual Sweating
- Slowed Breathing
- Depression/Anxiety
- Difficulty Sleeping or Sleeping More Than Ever Before
- Low Blood Pressure
- Lack of Coordination
Who Abuses Percocet?
The people you may often see abusing Percocet are the people who have been prescribed it before. Since Percocet is not an “over the counter” drug, it can only be prescribed by a doctor. This means it is harder to get ahold of without a doctor’s prescription.
As we previously mentioned, people who often abuse Percocet are those who have previously been prescribed the drug. These people are usually patients of doctors who have prescriptions of Percocet for pain relief. Because this drug is highly addictive, users can often form a habit of using the drug outside of the prescribed doses from doctors. If a patient runs out of the drug, they may result to stealing it from friends, family, or loved ones. They may even lie to doctors saying they lost their old prescriptions and need more.
Quitting is Possible
Percocet is an extremely powerful drug and it can take control of a person’s life if doses are not monitored. The best way to fight against Percocet addiction is to go through medical detox. This process can help a person get through those first days of withdrawal while under medical supervision to allow for a more comfortable experience. Withdrawal, as we previously mentioned, it not a fun thing to deal with. With the help of medical detox, a person can have a more comfortable experience in a substance-free environment, ridding themselves of any temptations to use again. There are plenty of resources and facilities out there to help you fight against an addiction like this, contact your local rehabilitation center today to get the help you (or someone you know) needs.