Percocet contains a
combination form of Oxycodone and acetaminophen. It helps relieve moderate to
severe pain.
Oxycodone is an opioid
(sometimes called a narcotic) pain medication. Acetaminophen is a less potent
pain reliever that increases the Oxycodone effects.
Due to addiction, abuse,
and misuse risks, even at prescribed doses, Percocet is only for use when treatment
with the non-opioid pain-relieving drugs is intolerable or unable to provide
adequate pain relief.
Take Percocet precisely
as per the doctor’s prescription. Read carefully and follow all the directions
on the prescription label and medication guides. Never take this medication in
larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. An overdose can cause
damage to your liver or lead you to death. If you feel an increased urge to
take this medicine, you must tell this your doctor.
Never share a medication
like this with someone else, especially someone with past drug abuse or
addiction. Misuse of Percocet can cause addiction, overdose, or death. Keep it
at a place where others can’t get it. It is against the lawful act to sell or
give away this medication without a proper medical license.
If you need medical
tests or surgery, tell the doctor before that you are taking Percocet.
It would help if you did
not suddenly stop taking Percocet. Follow your doctor’s instructions regarding
tapering your dose.
Store it away from heat
and moisture at room temperature. Keep track of your drug. Be aware of someone
misusing your medicine or taking it without a prescription.
Dispose of the leftover
opioid medicine. Just one improper or accidental dose can prove fatal.
You should avoid using
Percocet if you are allergic to any of its compounds, including Oxycodone or
acetaminophen, or if you have:
● Asthma (severe) or breathing problems; or
● A blockage in the stomach or intestines
To ensure Percocet
(oxycodone/acetaminophen) is safe for you, tell your medical healthcare
provider if you have ever had:
● Liver disease;
● Sleep apnea, breathing problems;
● Kidney disease;
● A drug or alcohol addiction;
● Urination problems;
● A head injury or seizures; or
● Problems with your pancreas, thyroid, or
gallbladder
If you use Percocet
during pregnancy, you could give birth to a drug-dependent baby. It can lead to
life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the newborn baby. Opioid-dependent
babies may need medical treatment for several weeks.
Consult your doctor
before suddenly stop using this medication if you become pregnant while taking
it. Your doctor may recommend you to decrease your medicine gradually.
Do not breastfeed
because Oxycodone can pass into the breast milk and cause breathing problems,
drowsiness, or death in a nursing baby. Tell the doctor who is doing your
treatment if you are breastfeeding a nursing baby before taking this medicine.
The combination
medication helps relieve moderate to severe pain. It contains Oxycodone (an
opioid pain reliever) and acetaminophen (a non-opioid pain reliever).
Oxycodone functions in
the brain to change how your body feels and responds to pain.
Acetaminophen can also
decrease your body temperature during fever and provide relief to your body.
Go for emergency medical
help if you have an allergic reaction due to the use of Percocet. Allergic
reaction signs may include trouble breathing, hives, swelling of your face,
throat, lips, or tongue.
In rare cases,
acetaminophen (paracetamol) may cause a skin reaction (severe) that can be
fatal. It can happen even if you had acetaminophen or Tylenol in the past,
which yielded no response. Stop taking it and call your doctor instantly if
there is redness on your skin or rash that spreads and leads to blistering and
peeling.
Oxycodone can slow down
or stop your breathing, and death may occur. Your attendant should give you
naloxone and get medical help urgently if you have blue-colored lips, slow
breathing with long pauses, or if you are hard to wake up.
Call your doctor
instantly if you have:
● Week pulse or slow heartbeat;
● Shallow breathing, sighing, noisy breathing,
breathing that stops during sleep;
● A light-headed feeling;
● Clammy, cold skin;
● Unusual thoughts or behavior, confusion;
● Fever, tiredness, weakness, unusual bruising or
bleeding;
● Problems with urination;
● Seizure (convulsions);
● Nausea, loss of appetite, dizziness, vomiting,
worsening weakness or tiredness;
● Signs of liver problems including nausea,
tiredness, upper stomach pain, loss of appetite, clay-colored stools, dark
urine, jaundice; or
● High serotonin levels in the body- fever,
agitation, sweating, hallucinations, fast heart rate, shivering, muscle
stiffness, loss of coordination, twitching, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea
Older adults,
malnourished or debilitated people who have chronic breathing disorders or
wasting syndrome are more likely to face severe breathing problems.
Using Percocet for a
long time may affect fertility in men or women. It is still a question whether opioid
effects on fertility are permanent or temporary.
Common side effects to
Percocet may include:
● Headache;
● Drowsiness, dizziness, tired feeling;
● Blurred vision;
● Nausea, constipation, stomach pain, vomiting;
● Feeling of extreme sadness or happiness;
● Red eyes, itching, or flushing; or
● Dry mouth
It is not a complete
list of side effects, and others may occur. Take your doctor’s medical advice
regarding side effects and their risks. Report side effects to FDA at
1-800-FDA-1088.
Among the combination of
Oxycodone (an opioid pain reliever) and acetaminophen (a non-opioid pain
reliever) in Percocet, Oxycodone functions in the brain to change how your body
feels and responds to pain.
Acetaminophen works as a
less potent pain reliever that increases the Oxycodone effects.
Avoid driving a vehicle
or operating any machinery until you know this medicine’s effect on you.
Drowsiness or dizziness can cause accidental falls or severe injuries.
Do not consume alcohal.
It can result in dangerous side effects, or death could occur.
Ask any of your medical
healthcare providers before taking another medicine that may contain
acetaminophen (sometimes called APAP). Taking particular drugs together can
lead to a fatal overdose.
