Percocet (oxycodone/APAP) is a popular narcotic pain medication. It is a mixture of oxycodone and acetaminophen (a drug commonly purchased over the counter in medicines like Tylenol) which putts it alongside other opioid pain relievers like OxyContin. Percocet is approved for the treatment of moderate to moderately severe pain while oxycodone may also be used to treat neuropathic pain. Percocet is commonly used to treat short-term pain due to a surgery, dental procedure or injury. Percocet is also sometimes used to treat migraines, chronic pain or other types of recurring or long-term conditions that cause pain.

Other Percocet Uses

On occasion, a healthcare provider may recommend Percocet for something other than pain relief. Other ailments such as insomnia and coughing can also be treated with off-label forms of Percocet. Although Percocet may be effective for these conditions, most healthcare professionals will not prescribe the narcotic for such uses as there are more appropriate medications available to treat coughing or insomnia.

Oxycodone Successfully Treats Shingles

A new study finds oxycodone, often known as OxyContin, successfully reduces the sometimes excruciating pain of shingles.

Shingles, an often stress-related condition resulting from the same virus that causes chicken pox, causes pain, blisters, rash and flu-like symptoms that antiviral medications usually help alleviate within a month. However, the patient has a greater chance of the pain lasting months or even years after the other symptoms have subsided if the pain component is not effectively treated during the course of the illness.

The long-term pain comes from the varicella zoster virus damaging nerves during the infection period. The condition, called postherpetic neuralgia, affects up to a quarter of shingles patients and can cause shooting or burning pain, an electric shock feeling in the body or skin highly sensitive to touch.

In a study of 87 people with moderate to severe shingles pain, those given oxycodone were at least twice as likely to have their pain reduced by a minimum of 30 percent compared with those taking a placebo. However, constipation — a common side effect of oxycodone — forced nearly a third of the study participants on that medication to drop out of the trial.

Percocet Addiction Help

If you or someone you know is struggling with a Percocet addiction, we can help. Please call our toll free number at (866) 872-6492. We are available 24 hours a day to answer your questions on percocet addiction and treatment. All calls are private and confidential.