If you’ve had recurring severe pain and nothing has helped to soothe it, your doctor may prescribe you Percocet in an effort to help. Percocet is the brand name for an opioid drug that combines acetaminophen and oxycodone.
Percocet can make you feel relaxed and euphoric while decreasing the pain signals in your brain. If you regularly take Percocet while trying to reduce your pain, your body will start to feel less of the positive effects. This means you’re building up tolerance. You’re also becoming dependent on it. If your body doesn’t get the Percocet that it’s used to, it will try to fight back against the withdrawal, leading to some challenging symptoms.
In this blog post, we’ll share signs of Percocet withdrawal that you should be on the lookout for. Then we’ll dive into what to do if you recognize the signs, as well as how Groups can guide you through the withdrawal process.
8 Percocet withdrawal symptoms and signs to be aware of
The oxycodone in Percocet is immediate release. That means that a person’s body can take between eight and 12 hours after the last dose to start experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Symptoms can potentially peak around 72 hours. The symptoms come from withdrawing from the oxycodone in the medication. Acetaminophen is the other medicine in Percocet. It doesn’t cause dependence, even if taken over a long period of time. However, long-term acetaminophen use can damage a person’s liver.
Percocet withdrawal can happen if you suddenly stop taking it after a long period of using it. It can also happen if you’ve significantly decreased how much you’re taking too quickly. While it may seem like stopping or reducing the dose is a good way to start recovering from opioid use disorder, your body can have a severe reaction.
Here are eight common signs and symptoms of Percocet withdrawal:
- Feeling anxious or nervous
- Trouble falling or staying asleep
- Rapid heartbeat
- Nausea or vomiting
- Stomach cramps
- Diarrhea
- Body aches
- Intense cravings for opioids
The symptoms are often described as uncomfortable. Withdrawal isn’t lethal, unless the symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea lead to extreme dehydration. This risk can be reduced with the proper treatment and medical supervision throughout the process.
There are a few reasons why some people may have more severe Percocet withdrawal than others. It can depend on the dosage and how long you’ve been taking it. The frequency can also be a factor, as well as any substances you’re taking at the same time.
What to do if you’re experiencing Percocet withdrawal symptoms
If you’ve already started to have withdrawal symptoms without talking to a doctor first, seek medical assistance. You want to make sure the effects don’t worsen and that your vitals are being watched. You may need immediate medical help if you experience breathing issues or a shallow heartbeat or become unconscious.
Instead of withdrawing on your own, talk to your provider beforehand. Your health care provider can help you safely taper off Percocet. Proper tapering allows your body to slowly ease up on its Percocet dependence without putting it into complete shock, which can cause severe withdrawal symptoms.
A health care provider can also provide you with treatment to help you through the challenges of withdrawal. For example, they may prescribe you Suboxone, which is a medication that works to decrease withdrawal symptoms and opioid cravings. It can also reduce the risk of opioid misuse and block the effects of Percocet.
Groups can help you through Percocet withdrawal symptoms
If you’re experiencing an addiction to Percocet and you decide that it’s time to work toward recovery, you don’t have to just grin and bear the symptoms of withdrawal. Taking medication can help you through those symptoms without using again. You can start your journey toward the life you want. At Groups, guiding you through withdrawal is the first step.
When you start at Groups, we’ll provide you with fast access to Suboxone. This medication can reduce your withdrawal symptoms, including cravings. It can also help to improve the effects of the Percocet on your physical and mental health by reducing further harm and enabling you to focus on recovery and healthier lifestyle practices.
Suboxone works by partially binding to opioid receptors in the brain that cause the effects. If you activate those receptors just enough, you can push away the withdrawal and cravings without getting high.
Along with Suboxone, your care team can work through the challenges of withdrawal with group support meetings as well as custom life-goal assistance. Our treatment helps you through your opioid use disorder from every angle. We’ll help you with not only the physical challenges that come from withdrawal, but also the mental and emotional challenges. We’ll help you develop the tools and motivation now that can help you for years to come.
Give our Recovery Support Specialists a call today for more information or to begin your recovery. If Groups doesn’t offer treatment in your state, you can locate other treatment options here.
