What is Percocet? With so many medicines available today, you should always know what you’re taking and that you’re taking it correctly. Many medications are highly addictive, even though your doctor may have prescribed them to treat chronic pain or other conditions. Percocet is a painkiller that can be habit-forming. Someone who is struggling with a Percocet addiction should reach out to an opioid addiction rehab program.
Not all painkillers are the same. For example, physicians don’t typically prescribe aspirin or acetaminophen for someone in severe pain. In addition, doctors won’t give morphine to someone with a mild ankle sprain or headache. However, all opioid painkillers have a risk for abuse.
In fact, Percocet addiction is a growing problem in the United States. In 2015, there were more than 2,500 deaths from oxycodone overdoses. This number has continued to rise in recent years.
Need to know more about Percocet addiction treatment? Call us today at .
What Is Percocet?
Percocet is a more powerful painkiller than aspirin or acetaminophen. However, it isn’t on the same level as Morphine either, a painkiller generally reserved for addressing the most severe pain. Percocet falls in the moderate-to-severe level of pain relief, which may also explain some of its popularity.
Percocet is so effective because it is a combination of two drugs: oxycodone and acetaminophen. Because it is made up in part by the drug oxycodone, an opioid pain medication, Percocet is classified as a narcotic. Acetaminophen enhances the oxycodone’s properties by inhibiting pain receptors.
All opioids have a potential for abuse. These substances cause a feeling of euphoria in addition to relieving pain, and some individuals can begin to use them to feel these euphoric effects. Over time, the body and brain build a tolerance to opioids, and they will no longer have the same effects. When this happens, an individual might use more and more of the substance in order to function throughout the day without experiencing cravings.
For those who simply cannot stop using Percocet on their own, a painkiller rehab program can help.
The Importance of Using Percocet Properly
Knowing how to use Percocet is important—not only for the effectiveness of the medication but also for our health and safety as well. Percocet is a prime example of how important proper usage can be and how dangerous it can be if you fail to do so. While it can be a beneficial medicine, it can also be a slippery slope if misused.
Percocet is powerful enough to be used in a wide range of situations and safe enough not to warrant great concern—until it is misused. Because of its opioid base, the potential for reliance and addictive behavior warrants attention. Because of its potency, its misuse can also be physically damaging to our bodies, leading to side effects such as seizures, along with emotional and mental problems.
Signs of Percocet Addiction
The most common signs of Percocet addiction include:
- Taking more Percocet than prescribed or taking it more often than prescribed.
- Taking Percocet for reasons other than pain relief, such as to get high or to cope with anxiety or depression.
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when stopping or reducing Percocet use, such as flu-like symptoms, insomnia, anxiety, and depression.
- Neglecting responsibilities at home, work, or school due to Percocet use.
- Engaging in risky behaviors while under the influence of Percocet, such as driving while intoxicated or engaging in unsafe sexual activities.
If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction to Percocet, please seek professional help.
Getting Help for Percocet Addiction
Addiction can develop in many different ways, from intentional and deliberate misuse to an innocent habit of taking too many or not following usage directions. Many painkillers, in fact, can easily create a reliance that can lead to an addiction. It is human nature to want pain relief, and it is easy to take one too many.
Because of its potency, that has also made Percocet a popular drug for street dealers. When your pain relief medication can be bought cheaper on the streets, it sets up a formula for disaster that often results in addiction. Finding help, if you find yourself or someone you care about heading for disaster, is easier than you might think.
At San Antonio Recovery Center, we know how to help you beat your addiction and get you back onto the road of life without relying on painkillers. Learn how our San Antonio drug rehab center can help you overcome addiction for good. Contact us today at , or contact us online.
