Drug Addiction - Percocet
Used to treat moderate to severe pain, Percocet is a narcotic pain reliever that is a combination of oxycodone and acetaminophen. It is one of the most commonly prescribed opiate painkillers and has the potential to lead to both physical and psychological dependence. Oxycodone is the opiate component of Percocet and the one that has the ability to cause addiction. Acetaminophen is a less potent pain reliever that heightens the effects of oxycodone. Percocet is a useful treatment for many in their quest for pain management but the risks for addiction to Percocet are very real. Taking the drug regularly, even for a relatively short period of time, can lead a person to develop a tolerance. This is when the body becomes used to Percocet and doesn't respond in the same way to the prescribed dose. Many people need to take more and more to achieve pain relief. Altering your dose of Percocet in this way can lead to addiction. Painkillers, like Percocet can be taken orally, but many individuals that are addicted to Percocet remove the time release and melt the drug down, so they can smoke or inject it.
Mixing Percocet with alcohol or other drugs can be a dangerous combination. The effects of a drug like alcohol combined with any painkiller can cause nausea, vomiting, fatigue, loss of coordination and irregular heartbeat. More importantly, combining painkillers with benzodiazepines can be a lethal concoction. People are usually unaware of the real effects and health risks associated with prescription drugs. We feel that because these substances are found in our medicine cabinets, they are therefore safe and cannot cause real harm. This assumption is false, and has cost many people their lives due to prescription drug overdoses.
Dangerous side effects associated with Percocet include:
- Anxiety
- Euphoria
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Nausea and abdominal pains
- Constipation and diarrhea
- Muscle pains
- Slurred speech
- Change in pitch of voice
- Respiratory problems
There are a number of symptoms associated with Percocet overdose that make the condition easy to recognize. If you are having difficulty breathing or you are experiencing abdominal cramping, nausea or vomiting, these are all signs of a Percocet overdose. There are a number of other situations in which Percocet overdose is common. First, if you are new to Percocet and have no tolerance for the drug, then it is easy to take too much or mix the opiate painkiller with other drugs or alcohol in such a way that your system gets overloaded. Second, if you have been taking Percocet for awhile but quit for any reason and then return to the drug taking as much as you did before you stopped without accounting for the change in tolerance, you can easily take too much an overdose. No matter how long or regularly you have been taking Percocet, mixing the drug with alcohol or other sedatives are a recipe for a Percocet overdose. The only way to ensure that you will not experience a Percocet overdose is to break your Percocet addiction through a drug treatment program.
The numbing effect produced by any painkiller is very psychologically addicting. Individuals that have been addicted to opiates find it difficult to live without them. That combined with the fact that Percocet withdrawal symptoms can be extremely painful, makes it difficult to kick this habit alone. A drug rehab center provides support and treatment following withdrawal and is highly recommended by experts in the field of addiction. The most common Percocet withdrawal symptoms are gastrointestinal distress, anxiety, nausea, insomnia, muscle pains, fever and sweating. Percocet withdrawal discomfort and symptoms vary depending on how long the person has been using and the amount of the drug taken at any given time. It is not unusual for those with a Percocet addiction to consume up to 40 pills daily. The symptoms one might experience during Percocet withdrawal can be extremely uncomfortable, and should take place in a drug rehab facility. Percocet addiction recovery in a supportive environment eliminates outside distractions and allows the individual to concentrate on both the emotional and physical issues directly relating to their Percocet addiction.