Signs and Symptoms of Percocet Addiction

If you suspect that a friend or family member is addicted to Percocet, there are certain signs and symptoms that you can look for. That person will exhibit a constant and compulsive craving to use Percocet and may say that he or she “needs it” to feel normal. He or she is preoccupied with obtaining more of the drug and will sometimes go to desperate measures to get more. Other signs that he or she may be addicted to Percocet include:

• Doctor shopping (switching doctors frequently to obtain multiple prescriptions)
• Going through prescriptions too quickly
• Stealing, lying, or other dishonest behavior
• Unexplainable lack of money
• Unexplained mood changes, secluded behavior
• Change in social circles, neglecting good friends and finding new ones

You may also notice some physical side effects of being addicted to Percocet. These include but are not limited to:

• Constricted pupils
• Dizziness and light-headedness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Drowsiness or sedation
• Exaggerated feeling of well-being and euphoria
• Itchy skin
• Skin rash
• Slowed breathing

Having an Intervention

If your loved one is unwilling to admit that he or she has a drug addiction, you may need to have an intervention. Having an intervention means talking to the person you are concerned about, addressing the problem and asking him or her to take concrete steps towards getting help. You may choose to have an informal intervention, a one-on-one conversation where you ask questions and voice concerns. Or you may feel that it is necessary to have a formal intervention where you bring a group of people together to confront how that person’s addiction has affected everyone’s lives. Formal interventions usually occur when the person has repeatedly refused to get help.

Whether you hold a formal or informal intervention, here are some helpful tips:

• Stay calm
• Avoid labeling the person an “addict”
• Cite specific instances that occurred due to the substance abuse
• Stick to what you know firsthand, avoid hearsay
• Explain how the person’s behavior has affected you
• Be supportive and hopeful about change
• Be prepared for denial and resistance

Do not wait to have the intervention until the person has “bottomed out,” had a car crash, or developed some serious health issues. If you think your loved one is struggling with an addiction, confront them now. You should also tell your concerns to that person’s doctor.

Treatment for Percocet Addiction

When having an intervention, you may want to be prepared to give the individual some treatment options. Treatment for Percocet will vary according to the specific needs of the patient, but it will generally always begin with detox and may be followed by counseling, behavior modification, and therapy.

Percocet Intervention Help

If you would like to know more about treatment options for Percocet addiction, our counselors are available 24 hours a day to talk with you. Please call our toll free number today to receive more information about Percocet addiction, treatment, and tips for intervention. Recovery is within reach. Call today at (866) 872-6492.

Fact:
Percocet is virtually just as habit forming as morphine.

Fact:
Percocet stimulates the “reward” system of the brain, causing an individual who uses Percocet for longer than two or three weeks to have intense physical cravings for the drug.

Fact:
Many people abuse Percocet for the mental satisfaction, but for many people guilt and remorse go hand-in-hand with a psychological-based Percocet addiction.

Fact:
In most cases Percocet abuse causes the deterioration of marriages, jobs, friendships and parent-child bonds.

Fact:
In America narcotic abuse costs taxpayers billions of dollars per year in healthcare, justice systems and treatment centers costs.

Fact:
Nearly 10 to 22 percent of all automobile crashes occur because the driver was under the influence of drugs, according to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Fact:
At least half of all suspects arrested for violent crimes were under the influence of drugs when they were arrested.

Fact:
Percocet abuse is a major contributing factor to child abuse.

Fact:
The majority of people who are in drug rehab facilities reported that they were sexually or physically abused as children.

Percocet Abuse Treatment

These facts may have surprised and saddened you, but this makes them no less real. Percocet abuse is extremely dangerous and can be fatal. If you suspect that you or someone you love is abusing Percocet, please do not hesitate to call our toll free number at (866) 872-6492. We are available 24 hours per day to answer any questions you may have concerning Percocet addiction, facts, or treatment.

When a person is addicted to Percocet they use the drug daily and usually in larger amounts than prescribed by their physician. Addiction is recognized by not only a physical need for the drug but a mental need as well. People who are addicted to and abuse Percocet have strong cravings for the drug. They often feel that they need Percocet to be “normal.”

Percocet Side Effects

There are several pleasant and unpleasant side effects of Percocet abuse. These include:

• Nausea
• Euphoria
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Constipation
• Rash or itching
• Emotional mood disorders
• Dry mouth
• Liver or renal damage (if taken in large doses)
• Respiratory depression
• Light-headedness
• Sedation
• Vomiting
• Exaggerated feeling of well-being

Percocet Overdose Side Effects

There are also many effects from a Percocet overdose. These include:

• Vomiting
• Bluish skin color
• Eyes or skin with yellow tone
• Cold and clammy skin
• Deceased or irregular breathing
• Extreme drowsiness
• Low blood pressure
• Heart attack
• Coma
• Muscle weakness
• Nausea
• Bodily discomfort
• Sweating
• Slow heartbeat

Help with Percocet Abuse

Many of the side effects of abusing Percocet are extremely unpleasant and sometimes fatal. If you believe that you or someone love may be abusing Percocet, please call our toll free number day or night at (866) 872-6492.

Percocet Addiction

Percocet is a widely abused drug because it is opiate-based. Opiate-based drugs are highly addictive. If the patient does not follow the doctor’s prescription, they are at risk of abusing Percocet and forming an addiction. A Percocet addiction would be classified as an opiate addiction. An opiate addiction is a central nervous system disorder caused by regular intake of an opioid, such as Percocet. The “high” that is created by the drug may become psychologically addicting. After extended use, the natural painkillers stop working on their own because they have become dependent on the opiates.

Percocet Addiction Help

Fortunately, there are ways to overcome a Percocet addiction. Rehab facilities are there to help you break the addiction and live a drug-free life. Percocet rehab would be classified as an opiate rehab program. Patients may choose inpatient or outpatient programs. Professionals may help with the treatment process better with residential patients. With opiate rehab programs, medical detox is an option. Professionals are able to administer medicine that helps ease the withdrawal symptoms during medical detox.

Why Get Help for Percocet Addiction

There are many benefits for receiving help with Percocet addiction. When you have successfully overcome your addiction, you will:

• Regain control over your life and health.
• Reestablish your goals and dreams.
• Have healthier relationships with your family and friends.
• More likely to succeed at work.
• No longer be controlled by the constant need to take drugs.

If you or a loved one are addiction to Percocet we can help. If you would like more information on percocet detox and rehab, please call our toll free number at (866) 872-6492.

Percocet Treatment

Many rehabilitation facilities have an opiate rehab program. Opiate drugs such as Percocet are highly addictive and often affect the patient both physically and psychologically. A patient may choose several different courses of action to break the physical addiction:

• Outpatient: Outpatient programs are not as strict as inpatient programs. They do not provide 24 hour supervision. However, they are less expensive and allow the patient to remain among their family and friends during the process.
• Inpatient: Inpatient programs provide 24 hour care during the rehabilitation process. They also may provide medical detox.
• Medical detox: With opiate addiction, professionals can give certain medications to ease the detox process such as methadone. Methadone lessens the symptoms of withdrawal during detox.
• Natural detox: Most outpatients have to go through natural detox because professionals who can administer the medications do not surround them. Some may quit cold turkey and experience intense symptoms of withdrawal, but it is over quickly. Others may decide to gradually decrease the doses, but it takes longer to complete.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Many patients do not only suffer from a physical abuse of drugs, but also psychological issues. This is referred to as dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders. After breaking the physical addiction, the psychological addiction needs to be addressed as well. When choosing a rehab facility it is important to look into the ones who provide psychological therapy and treatment. Without further treatment after detox, patients are likely to relapse.

If you or a loved one are addicted to Percocet we can help. If you would like more information on Percocet detox and rehab, please call our toll free number at (866) 872-6492.

One factor, among many, contributing to Percocet teen abuse is the drug’s easy accessibility. If a teen’s or a friend of the teen’s parent or guardian has been prescribed Percocet, or any other prescription drug for that matter, many teens need not look any farther than their family medicine cabinet. This practice is often referred to as “pharming,” short for pharmaceuticals.

Most teens abuse Percocet in order to feel numb and the affects of the drug allow them to disconnect from their individual circumstances. Unfortunately, a significant number of teens abuse Percocet recreationally. They attend “pharm” parties where they abuse Percocet in order to have a good time with their friends and fit into the social norm.

Is My Teen Abusing Percocet?

As with most prescription drug abuse cases, telltale warning signs are visible to friends and family of the abuser.

Signs of Percocet abuse include:

• Extremely dilated pupils
• Facial itching
• Rapid speech
• Hyper activity
• Difficulty listening during conversation
• Mood swings
• Changes in appetite
• Inability to control emotions
• Constipation
• Oversleep or inability to fall asleep

Percocet Teen Abuse Help

For many teens, talking to their parents about their problems is virtually unheard of. So, if you are concerned that your teen is abusing Percocet, please do not hesitate to call us at our toll free number at (866) 872-6492. We are available 24 hours to answer any questions you may have about Percocet teen abuse.

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.

In regards to addiction, Percocet is used because of psychological and physical need. Addiction is characterized by a continued craving and the need to use Percocet for mood alteration. Many individuals utilizing Percocet do so because they feel it helps make them “normal.”

Percocet, which should be taken only under a physician’s supervision, is available in tablet, capsule, and liquid form and is taken every six hours by mouth. Percocet addiction can happen easily since oxycodone is known to be habit forming.

Percocet Detoxification

Percocet detox can be difficult because the drug falls into the opiate category (naturally occurring constituents of opium), causing both mental and physical addiction. Opiates travel rapidly through the bloodstream to the brain, where they stimulate opiate receptors, triggering intense feelings of pleasure and reward.

Detoxification Process

The body rids itself of all chemicals and toxins during the detoxification process. However, it is only one step in the addiction treatment process. Detox only helps with the physical addiction. Most of the time, physical addiction is accompanied by an emotional addiction as well. This is referred to as dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders. Along with a physical addiction to drugs, one might suffer from mental issues. The detox process is difficult to successfully complete alone because symptoms of withdrawal may be very difficult and painful. The desire to relapse is high during this step because the cravings are extremely intense as the drug exits the body.

Percocet Withdrawal

Initially, rehabilitation/treatment patients who are experiencing or under the influence of withdrawal from substance-related disorders require medical professionals to have an understanding of the complete medical, psychiatric and social issues surrounding the individual. Proper and thorough examinations are necessary to establish the characteristics of the addiction and its intensity, the existence of associated psychological illnesses, and the repercussions on the patient’s family, work, and friendships. The medical assessment is also important in determining the appropriate protocol in treating the patient and to identify coexisting medical and psychiatric conditions and/or Percocet-related medical conditions.

Outpatient Detox

There are advantages and disadvantages to both recovery paths. Outpatient detoxification is less expensive than inpatient. Outpatient is difficult to come out of successfully without a strong foundation of friends and family at home. The patient does not have 24-hour care like inpatients do, so it is easier to relapse when faced with the symptoms of withdrawal.

However, with a strong core to make sure the patient does not relapse, it is possible to successfully complete an outpatient detox. It may take longer because the doctor may advise coming off of the drug gradually to reduce the symptoms of withdrawal. Quitting the drug cold turkey would cause the patient to experience intense withdrawal symptoms.

Natural Detox

Those who choose the outpatient program will have to go through natural detox because there is not a professional there to administer medications that will help ease the process, such as methadone. However, some inpatients will choose to go through natural detox as well. Typically inpatients that choose natural detox will quit cold turkey. This is highly difficult because the withdrawal symptoms may be very intense. Many addicts have taken this path and completed successfully, but the risk for relapse is greater during this stage.

Advantages of Medical Percocet Detox

Advantages of inpatient detoxification or rehab are:

• The patient is in a protected setting where access to substances of abuse is restricted
• The management and monitoring of neural recovery eliminates craving, and allows a detoxification without withdrawal
• Detoxification can be accomplished more rapidly than it can in an outpatient setting
• Besides, detoxification with hospitalization prepares the patient for ongoing treatment of his or her dependence on drugs. During detoxification, patients may form therapeutic relationships with treatment staff or other patients, and may become aware of alternatives to a drug-using lifestyle. Detoxification is an opportunity to offer patients information and to motivate them for longer-term treatment.

Goals of Percocet Detox

Under these conditions, Percocet detoxification/rehabilitation has four immediate goals:

• To provide a safe withdrawal from Percocet dependence and enable the patient to become free of non-prescribed medications
• To provide a withdrawal that is humane and that protects the patient’s dignity
• To provide a recovery of higher cognitive and affective processes
• To prepare the patient for ongoing treatment of his or her new life

Percocet Help

Call us today to discuss how Percocet detox can free you from your Percocet addiction and get your life back. If you or someone you know needs help, we are here to help. Please call our toll free number at (866) 872-6492.

Percocet and Alcohol

Percocet’s main ingredient, oxycodone is combined with acetaminophen, which heightens the effects of oxycodone in a person’s system. Most importantly, the use of oxycodone medications of any form in combination with alcohol-based drinks goes completely against medical advice. These medications intensify the side effects of central nervous system and respiratory depression. Both alcohol and Percocet decrease breathing. Thus, when mixed they are extremely dangerous especially if you have breathing related difficulties already. Also, the combination of alcohol and opioid narcotics significantly increased the probability of psychological addiction to both the medication and the alcohol. The extended use of any opioid narcotic will result in some level of physiologic dependence, though the amount of dependence is different with each patient.

The acetaminophen can also become a toxin for the liver when combined with any drink of alcohol. Taking any kind of pain medication in close proximity to alcohol is a leading cause of sudden liver failure in otherwise healthy middle-age adults. They might exaggerate the sedative effect (depending on the amounts) which could lead to a dangerous loss of consciousness. Let your doctor know if you consume three or more alcoholic beverages per day or if you have ever been diagnosed with alcoholic liver disease, or cirrhosis. It is likely you will not be permitted to take medications containing acetaminophen.

Percocet and Ibuprofen

Ibuprofen is in a group of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Ibuprofen works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body. The combination of ibuprofen and oxycodone (main ingredient in Percocet) is used short-term to relieve moderate to severe pain. Ibuprofen can increase your risk of heart attack or stroke. It can also increase your risk of serious effects on the stomach or intestines. These conditions can be fatal and can occur without warning at any time while you are taking ibuprofen. Before using ibuprofen and oxycodone, tell your doctor if you have:

• Heart disease
• Congestive heart failure
• High blood pressure or a history of heart attack, stroke, or blood clot
• Asthma or other breathing disorders
• Liver or kidney disease
• A history of head injury or brain tumor
• Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
• Stomach or intestinal disorder
• History of stomach ulcer or bleeding
• Underactive thyroid
• Pancreas disorder
• Addison’s disease or other adrenal gland disorder
• Curvature of the spine
• An enlarged prostate or problems with urination
• Mental illness
• History of drug or alcohol addiction

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take ibuprofen and oxycodone.

Since oxycodone is a painkiller, it is dangerous to combine it with over-the-counter pain relievers, cold and flu remedies, allergy medications, sleep aids, and even some herbal dietary supplements. This is particularly true of the Percocet combination, since they already contain over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen. Overdose of aspirin and acetaminophen can be life-threatening.

Percocet and Other Drug Combinations

Oxycodone causes drowsiness and slows breathing, so it should not be combined with antidepressants, antihistamines (allergy ingredients), anti-anxiety drugs, prescription sleeping pills or muscle relaxants.

Emergency room visits for drug overdose often involve more than one substance. Needless to say, it is highly dangerous to mix oxycodone with any illegal drug, including marijuana, cocaine, hallucinogens such as LSD, ecstasy, or especially heroin.

If Percocet is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Percocet with the following:

• Antispasmodic drugs
• Major tranquilizers
• Other narcotic painkillers
• Sedatives such as phenobarbital
• Tranquilizers

If you are taking any of these medications, legal or otherwise, speak with your doctor or pharmacist about it. Depending on your individual circumstances, your healthcare provider may want you to either: stop taking one or more of the medications; substitute one medication for another; change how you are taking one or both of the medications; or maintain your current routine. The severity of risks varies from person to person.

Percocet Help

If you or someone you know is struggling with a Percocet addiction, please know that help is available. You can call our toll free number at (866) 872-6492 and get all your questions about addiction and treatment answered.

Quitting Percocet is unlikely to lead to life-threatening symptoms but they may feel like it. Because the symptoms can feel so uncomfortable, withdrawal can often lead to relapse so quitting “cold turkey” can be dangerous. Seizures and convulsions have been reported by abruptly withdrawing from the drug. Medical professionals will often decrease the dosage to help minimize these symptoms. Individuals should not be embarrassed to ask for help because withdrawal is not necessarily a sign of abuse.

Physical Symptoms of Percocet Withdrawal

The terribly uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms from a powerful narcotic often begin around 24 hours or so after the last dosage, although this can vary as many as 12 hours in either direction. Symptoms may or may not include:

• Excessive sweating & yawning
• Runny nose & eyes, bouts of diarrhea and vomiting
• Shivering & goose bumps
• Muscle aches & cramps
• Restlessness & insomnia
• Irritability & anxiety
• Constricted pupils
• Severe depression
• Exaggerated feeling of “well-being”
• Skin rash/ itchy skin
• Loss of appetite
• Constipation
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Powerful cravings for the opioid that persist long after the withdrawal symptoms have passed

There is only a very small likelihood that the average person taking Percocet over a prolonged period of time will develop a dependence or an addiction. However, long-term use, withdrawal or overdose can cause damage to the brain, heart, kidneys, liver and/or lungs.

Additionally, there are other effects that occur from the Percocet addiction such as:

• Ending of personal relationships
• Financial problems
• Legal difficulties
• Employment issues
• Psychological problems

Percocet Withdrawal Treatment

There are two options in dealing with Percocet addiction withdrawal: medical detox or medical maintenance. Medical detox provides you with assistance for each symptom as it arises during your detox. Medical maintenance offsets the arrival of withdrawal symptoms by providing you with a less potent, opiate-based medication that is more easily controlled and allows one to drop down the patient’s medication more slowly. The correct withdrawal treatment program for a Percocet addict will be determined on the different medical and psychological conditions the patients might have that are co-occurring.

Other traditional methods include talk therapy which deals with the psychological aspects of addiction and treatment for the often unbearable symptoms of withdrawal. The rate of Percocet detox success with traditional methods, however, has been low.

A newer and quicker method of Percocet detox is Accelerated Neuro-Regulation (ANR), a rapid drug treatment that is being used with increasing success for opiate dependency. ANR (formerly rapid detox), also known as the Waismann Methodsm, treats Percocet addiction as a physical disease that can be overcome with advanced medical techniques. ANR eliminates the cravings that often accompany traditional opiate detox treatments. The Waismann Methodsm of Percocet detox has been clinically proven to be effective for Percocet addiction. In fact, ANR clinics have reported success rates of nearly 64 percent in treating a variety of opiate addictions, including Percocet addiction.

If you or someone you know is suffering from the effects of Percocet, treatment is available. To learn more about Percocet abuse, please call our toll free number at (866) 872-6492. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer any questions you might have about Percocet treatment.