Percocet is a mixture of oxycodone and acetaminophen (a drug commonly purchased over the counter in things like Tylenol) which puts it alongside other opioid pain relievers like OxyContin. Oxycodone is a synthetic opioid which translates as a manmade version of morphine and heroin also known as OxyContin. It is this chemical that supplies the physical addiction to this drug. Acetaminophen helps to heighten the effects of oxycodone. Addiction occurs when the body becomes accustomed to the drug. It is most commonly taken in tablet form and is common for a Percocet addict to take anywhere from 20 to 40 pills a day. It is a powerful prescription drug, the leading opiate prescribed painkiller, used to treat chronic pain but consequently has produced negative effects such as dependency, abuse and addiction. Therefore, it is quickly becoming one of the most addictive prescription medications.
Percocet Psychological Addiction
The pain relief and detached feelings one gets when on Percocet are what cause the psychological addiction. Your pain receptors simply get used to the presence of it and begin to expect it more and more. “Blocking” the pain creates a sense of euphoria that many users try to recreate each time they take the drug by increasing the dosage and frequency of use. Eventually, unbeknownst to the user, a tolerance to the drug has been created preventing them from experiencing the euphoric feeling they crave thus resulting in addiction. It is a Schedule II Controlled Substance in the U.S. which means it is regulated by the federal government. Opiate painkillers are classified on a schedule from one to five based on factors including their potential for abuse and addiction and accepted medical uses.
However useful Percocet is in helping to manage pain, taking the drug regularly, even for a relatively short period of time, can lead a person to develop a tolerance. This is when the body becomes used to a drug and doesn’t respond in the same way to the prescribed dose. Many people need to take more and more to achieve pain relief. Altering your dose of Percocet in this way can lead to addiction. If more of the drug doesn’t come, then symptoms like nausea, vomiting, irritability and cramps occur as the person goes through withdrawal.
Tolerance into Percocet Addiction
Because of the drug’s excellent pain-relieving abilities, it’s widely prescribed but is best prescribed for a very short period of time and for a very specific pain. The oxycodone in the Percocet unfortunately almost guarantees that anyone taking the drug regularly and for a long period of time will become addicted. When the drug is purchased without a prescription and the dosage isn’t monitored, it’s that much easier to develop a Percocet addiction.
A person with a Percocet addiction will experience symptoms within two to four hours of missing a regular dose. Many people who take Percocet don’t even know that they’re addicted until they stop taking the drug. Then the intense withdrawal symptoms prompt them to take more of the drug, both for pain relief and to stop other symptoms, and they choose to simply remain on the drug, purchasing it illegally if they had a prescription before, to prevent a recurrence of withdrawal symptoms. Most Percocet addicts develop such a dependency on it that they need it to feel normal. It is not only addictive, but affects consciousness as well, often times giving the user and especially the addict a sense of loss of surroundings.
Who is at Risk for Addiction?
Percocet addiction is known to affect women more than men. This stems in large part to the fact that women are more likely to seek medical attention for emotional or psychological problems. It is often times ingested for non-medical uses the most (according to national statistics) in the age groups 12 to 17 and 18 to 25 therefore making adolescents more prone to be at risk for addiction to the drug also. The US National Drug Intelligence Center’s 2006 Drug Threat Assessment reported that “commercial disbursements of commonly abused pharmaceuticals such as oxycodone” nearly doubled between 2000 and 2004 and that their abuse rate is second only to marijuana. Seniors are also a demographic at risk for addiction because they normally already take more medication than the rest of the population.
If you or someone you know is struggling with a Percocet addiction, we can help. Please call the toll free number at (866) 872-6492. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer your questions on Percocet treatment and rehab.
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