What Is Percocet?

Percocet is an opioid and narcotic analgesic combination medication. The drug contains acetaminophen (a common over-the-counter pain reliever) and oxycodone (a potent opioid), and it is intended for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. The acetaminophen in Percocet helps the oxycodone work more effectively. Percocet is only available by prescription, and it can be taken orally as a tablet or as a liquid. The initial recommended adult dosage for this medication is to take one or two of the 2.5mg/325mg tablets every six hours, and patients can safely take up to twelve of these tablets per day. Patients who have been prescribed the 10mg/325mg tablets should take one tablet every six hours, and this strength of Percocet has a maximum safe daily dosage of six tablets. In all cases, patients should ensure that they do not take more than four grams (four thousand milligrams) of acetaminophen per day. Percocet needs to be discontinued gradually to avoid withdrawal.

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How It Works

When a patient takes Percocet orally, the tablet dissolves in the digestive system, and the medication is then transported to the bloodstream and into the brain. The oxycodone in Percocet binds to the mu receptors in the brain, and this decreases a patient's sensitivity to pain. Like other opioids, Percocet does not act directly at the source of the patient's pain; it simply makes the patient less sensitive to any pain that may be coming from an injury, for example. Doctors have shown that Percocet works on both the u and kappa opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord. After the medication binds to the opioid receptors, patients may experience euphoria, and some patients have become dependent on Percocet.

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Uses For Percocet

Percocet is typically used for long-term treatment of moderate to severe pain. For example, patients with conditions such as cancer, fibromyalgia, migraines, tendonitis, and osteoarthritis may be prescribed Percocet. It could also be recommended for individuals who have lower back pain due to scoliosis, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, and bulging or herniated discs. Patients with hip fractures and bursitis might be considered for treatment with Percocet as well. Although it is generally used to relieve long-term, chronic pain, this medication is sometimes prescribed on a short-term basis for patients recovering from major operations. For example, individuals who have had major abdominal surgery could be prescribed a short course of Percocet; some post-surgical patients will be given a single dose of Percocet in the recovery room.

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Potential Side Effects

Patients who take Percocet could experience side effects such as constipation, nausea, dizziness, flushing, sweating, and drowsiness. Some patients taking this medication have reported confusion, and blurry vision, pinpoint (small) pupils, dry mouth, headache, and upset stomach are also common. More serious side effects of Percocet could include low blood pressure, slow respiration rate, seizures, and nosebleeds. Patients should let a physician know right away if they notice severe abdominal pain, mood changes, difficulty with urination, or signs of adrenal gland malfunction while using Percocet. If the patient faints or has a seizure during treatment with this medication, emergency medical attention is necessary. Patients who are extremely drowsy or difficult to wake should be taken to an emergency room as well. Since this medication can cause dependence, patients should always let their doctor know if they feel they need to take more than the recommended dosage of Percocet or if they have been taking extra tablets.

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Precautions To Remember

Percocet needs to be used with caution in patients who have impaired kidney, liver, or lung function, and experts recommend that caution is used when prescribing this medicine to elderly individuals and those with conditions that depress the function of the central nervous system. Patients who struggle with mental health conditions or alcohol dependence may be prescribed an alternative medication, and doctors will need to carefully consider the individual risks and benefits of this medicine before prescribing it to patients who have Addison's disease, hypothyroidism, urethral stricture, epilepsy, and acute abdominal conditions. Since Percocet could cause spasms of the Sphincter of Oddi, it might not be an ideal pain reliever for patients with acute pancreatitis or other diseases of the biliary tract. Individuals who take Percocet should let all of their healthcare providers know this, and they will need to inform lab technicians of this before having any blood tests performed. In some cases, Percocet could increase a patient's levels of serum amylase. Percocet is not recommended for patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and studies are needed to establish the safety of Percocet for pediatric patients.

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Potential Medication Interactions

Percocet has potential medication interactions with more than one hundred other medicines. Severe interactions could occur if Percocet is taken with other opioid analgesics or with naltrexone, and serious interactions also exist between Percocet and some types of CYP3A4 inhibitors. Due to the risk of potential interactions, patients should not take Percocet with sodium fusidate, sodium oxybate, or other medications that contain acetaminophen. Since Percocet causes respiratory depression, serious breathing issues could occur if it is taken in combination with other medicines that also depress the respiratory system. Moderate drug interactions could occur if patients take Percocet with muscle relaxants, sleeping aids, tranquilizers, benzodiazepines, phenothiazine, hydrocodone, or gabapentinoids.

Moderate interactions could also occur if Percocet is used with certain types of anticoagulants or medicines that carry a risk of hyponatremia, and Percocet should not be used with primidone, cimetidine, isoniazid, or nalbuphine. Since Percocet has the potential to interact with so many different types of medicine, patients must inform their healthcare team about all prescription, non-prescription, and natural or herbal medicines they currently take. Doctors need this information to determine if it is safe for the patient to use Percocet and if the benefits of the medication outweigh the risks of potential drug interactions. Pharmacists should also check the patient's medication list for potential drug interactions before dispensing Percocet.