More than 16 million individuals across the globe are addicted to drugs like Percocet. That number is about three million in the United States.
These grim numbers, as well as rising overdose rates, have continued to surge upwards since the 1990s. This has prompted a public health response to the opioid epidemic.
Is Percocet addictive? Yes, but it can be difficult to predict how susceptible any given individual might be. Many factors contribute to the severity and how likely addiction is to occur in the first place.
The good news is that, once you understand what these are, you can have a better grasp of the potential dangers of Percocet use. This article covers these variables and lays out the symptoms of addiction. Keep reading to find out more.
What Is Percocet?
Percocet is a medication that combines two different painkillers: oxycodone and acetaminophen. The former is an opioid used to treat severe pain. Acetaminophen is a non-opioid pain reliever that can also help reduce fever.
Percocet is most often prescribed when weaker pain medications are not enough to control pain. Typical situations include following surgery or for severe diseases like cancer. It can be particularly useful for ailments that induce severe pain and fever.
Percocet is also often used to treat chronic pain. The potential for it to become habit-forming makes it a less-than-ideal option in many situations.
Prescription Percocet is often taken by mouth–as a pill, or in liquid form. Illicit use of the drug might involve other methods of consumption.
These include crushing the pills into a powder and snorting them. Users sometimes mix the powder with water and inject it. Some people heat the drug on aluminum foil and inhale the fumes.
What Are the Side Effects of Percocet?
Besides the potential for addiction, there are other side effects of Percocet use. These are more common with prolonged use or exceeding the prescribed dosage of the drug.
Common side effects include headache, itching, skin rashes, and loss of appetite. Some people experience fatigue, nausea, vomiting, sore throat, and chills. Acetaminophen also has the potential to cause liver damage, especially if overused.
Overdose from Percocet is another potential hazard, especially among illicit drug users. Signs of overdose include a change in consciousness; bluish skin; cold or clammy skin; slowed breathing; and low blood pressure. Any of these symptoms mean the need for emergency medical attention.
Is Percocet Addictive?
The short answer to the question “Is Percocet addictive” is “Yes, the medication does have a high potential to become habit-forming.” That is due to the effects of the oxycodone in the medication.
It impacts opioid receptors in the brain that control pain. Opioid receptors are the “reward pathways” of the nervous system. When the drugs act on them, this causes the release of dopamine, which creates a feeling of euphoria or “high.”
This dynamic can cause to addiction since the brain wants to recreate the rush of good feelings triggered by the drug. There are other happenings at play though.
With continued use of Percocet, the brain adapts to the presence of the opioid. This makes it more difficult to derive pleasure from everyday activities. Also, the body can develop a tolerance to the drug, which means the person needs larger doses to achieve the same effects.
In short, exceeding the prescribed dosage or prolonged use of the drug increases the chances of Percocet dependency. The combination of these two factors can compound that danger even further, as well as those related to overdose.
Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms play a major role in addiction recovery from abuse of Percoet or other opioids. The main withdrawal effect is cravings for Percocet. Other symptoms include cold or hot flashes; anxiety or irritability; tremors; and profuse sweating.
Some people experience gastrointestinal issues during Percocet withdrawal. These include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diminished appetite, and diarrhea.
Withdrawal symptoms are likely to be more intense with prolonged use of Percocet or following heavy use. This means that the longer or more severe the addiction, the harsher withdrawal symptoms are likely to be.
Signs of Percocet Addiction
If you are concerned about Percocet addiction for yourself or a loved one, there are some common signs to look for. These include behavioral, physical, cognitive, and psychosocial symptoms.
Social withdrawal is one of the main behavioral symptoms. Others include the inability to stop or reduce the amount of medication used, even when dangerous symptoms arise. The propensity for taking increasingly larger doses of Percocet is another warning sign.
Common physical symptoms include weight changes and fatigue. The person may exhibit slurred speech or coordination issues. Sleep disturbances, slowed heart rate, and breathing issues are also common signs of abuse or addiction.
Cognitive signs of abuse include the inability to concentrate, as well as problems with memory or decision-making. Psychosocial manifestations of opioid addiction include anger, aggression, mood swings, and agitation. These are more noticeable when they manifest in reaction to everyday circumstances.
How to Treat Percocet Addiction?
There are many effective ways of treating Percocet addiction. These include detox as well as in- and out-patient rehabilitation facilities. Success in recovery involves addressing both the physical and psychological signs of addiction.
In more serious cases of addiction, going “cold turkey” is not advisable, and can even be dangerous. In some cases, medications can be extremely helpful in managing cravings and other withdrawal symptoms. Some of these can be habit-forming themselves, so property dosing and administration are important.
Find Percocet Addiction Treatment Near You
Now that you have an answer to “Is Percocet addictive?” you will have more awareness of the potential dangers taking this drug can entail. If you are dealing with Percocet or other addiction issues, help is available to you.
At Recovery Delivered, our goal is to address the two main barriers to recovery: access to care and not having time to devote to the effort. We provide evidence-based addiction treatment, including medication-assisted treatment (MAT), through online Suboxone. Reach out to us today to learn more about how to treat Percocet addiction.
