Percocet Misuse: Withdrawal, Symptoms and Getting Help

Percocet is a combination of oxycodone and acetaminophen, two pain relievers that act on separate pain receptors in the brain. The combination is designed to relieve moderate to severe pain after an injury or surgery, and it is not intended to be used for chronic pain conditions unless there is breakthrough pain. This page will explain what a Percocet addiction is, what to expect during Percocet withdrawal, and how to get help with a Percocet detox.

What Is a Percocet Addiction?

Because Percocet contains an opioid drug—oxycodone—several people in the US have become addicted to this substance. Although many people who struggle with opioid addiction eventually move to more potent drugs like OxyContin, heroin, or morphine, the wide availability of Percocet has been the gateway for many into opioid misuse.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes approximately 2.7 million Americans report struggling with opioid use disorder. It is likely that one in four people who receive an opioid prescription long-term, like Percocet, struggle with opioid use disorder.

Overcoming an addiction to opioids like Percocet is not life-threatening, although withdrawal symptoms may be extremely uncomfortable. It is important to work with a doctor to safely detox from these drugs. This may involve a replacement medication like buprenorphine, developing a tapering schedule, or easing pain and nausea with over-the-counter medication.

What Helps With Percocet Withdrawal?

The oxycodone present in Percocet binds to the opioid receptors in the brain, like other opioids including heroin. These receptors respond to pain signals in the body. Using an opioid drug reduces pain sensations. However, it also interacts with the brain’s reward system, releasing dopamine, serotonin, and other neurotransmitters that elevate mood.

When a person stops taking opioids suddenly, especially after using them for months or years, the brain does not release the same level of neurotransmitters without the presence of the drug; this leads to withdrawal.

Withdrawal symptoms begin a few hours after the last dose of the opioid is metabolized out of the body. This varies depending on the half-life of the drug in question. Percocet comes in both a regular and extended-release version. The half-life for the standard formula is 3.2 hours, while the extended-release version has a half-life of 4.5 hours.

A person’s body is considered rid of the drug after five half-life cycles. However, withdrawal symptoms begin after the drug has been metabolized out of the brain. So, for Percocet, symptoms will begin within 5-8 hours after the last dose.

3 Stages of Opioid Withdrawal

Opioid withdrawal has three basic stages: early, peak, and late. Symptoms will be slightly different during each stage.

Early Withdrawal

For most short-acting opioids, this is within the first 8-16 hours after the final dose. Symptoms will be primarily physical, although cravings, anxiety, insomnia, and restlessness may be present too. Most symptoms mimic a cold or the flu and include:

• Watery eyes.
• Runny nose.
• Sweating.
• Aches and pains.
• Dilated pupils.
• Involuntary twitching.
• Goosebumps.
• Chills or shivers.

Peak Withdrawal 

Withdrawal symptoms will increase in intensity for the first 36 hours of withdrawal and hit their peak within 2-3 days. Symptoms will include increased severity of aches and pains as well as flu-like symptoms.

The person may report abdominal cramping and diarrhea. Opioids cause constipation and loss of appetite, so as the drug goes away, the body’s digestive system will respond. The individual may also feel nauseous and is likely to vomit.

Psychological symptoms will become more intense too. These include:

• Anxiety.
• Insomnia.
• Restlessness.
• Irritability.
• Cravings.
• Worry.

The person’s heartbeat and breathing rate may also slightly increase since opioids depress both of these functions. This may feel like anxiety.

Late Withdrawal 

With less potent opioids like Percocet, withdrawal symptoms should resolve within a week to 10 days. Physical symptoms will clear up, and the brain will begin producing more neurotransmitters, so mood should improve too.

The person may still feel fatigued, sluggish, or slightly sick, but these symptoms will continue to dissipate. Long-term psychological issues with addiction may be ongoing and can include:

• Cravings.
• Anxiety about the drug.
• Compulsion to ingest the drug.

This is why entering a rehabilitation program after detox is so important; behavioral therapy is likely necessary to support lasting recovery.

How to Get Help With Percocet Detox

While withdrawal symptoms from Percocet and most other opioids are not life-threatening, they can be very uncomfortable. The discomfort may cause a person to relapse if they are trying to detox alone. It is important to work with a medical professional to understand the detox process and get help managing the symptoms.

The physician may start with the Clinical Opioid Withdrawal Scale (COWS). This scale helps medical professionals understand the severity of addiction and withdrawal symptoms, which helps them plan and manage treatment. Mild symptoms will receive different medical attention than severe withdrawal symptoms.

People who experience mild withdrawal symptoms may have over-the-counter pain medications recommended, which can ease aches and pains. They may get anti-nausea medication, which could be prescription-grade, to treat peak withdrawal symptoms. The doctor will continue to monitor their patient’s withdrawal symptoms and adjust treatment as necessary.

Those who have struggled for a long time with opioid misuse will require a different approach. Their physician may help them gradually reduce how much Percocet they take over weeks. People who take Percocet as prescribed may also develop enough of a physical dependence on the drug, without experiencing addiction, that they need a gradual taper or they will experience withdrawal symptoms.

In certain cases, a doctor who is licensed to prescribe buprenorphine may provide the individual with this drug to replace Percocet. Buprenorphine is a long-acting partial opioid agonist that binds to opioid receptor cells and reduces withdrawal symptoms. Once the person begins taking buprenorphine, their doctor will gradually reduce that medication until the person is no longer physically dependent on any opioid.

If a person uses buprenorphine—typically either with brand names Subutex or Suboxone—their detox process may take more time. Taking the time to effectively manage symptoms and avoid relapse into substance use is extremely important even if it takes more than two weeks.

Rapid Detox Is Dangerous

Some people who have struggled with opioid addiction have undergone rapid detox, also called ultra-rapid detox. This process involves checking into a hospital, going under anesthesia to “fall asleep,” and then having an opioid blocker like naloxone pumped into the body.

The process is supposed to flush opioids out of the body within a day or two while the individual is unconscious. Allegedly, the process prevents the person from experiencing withdrawal; they wake up without any physical dependence on opioids and without withdrawal symptoms.

Rapid detox sounds too good to be true—and it is. Many studies have shown that it does not work. People who undergo rapid detox may not have opioids in their body anymore, but they are just as likely to experience withdrawal symptoms since their brain has not adjusted to the neurotransmitter release yet.

Being under general anesthesia for that long is also extremely dangerous. Relapse rates are high among people who try to get through withdrawal that quickly.

While medication-assisted treatment (MAT) may appear to take a frustratingly long time, it works to wean the person off physical dependence on large doses of opioids like Percocet. Working with a doctor’s oversight during detox, whether it involves replacement medications or not, helps to manage symptoms so they do not become too uncomfortable.

If you or someone you care about is struggling with opioid use disorder, treatment is available. At Recovery First—a drug rehab near Miami—evidence-based therapies are employed to support lasting recovery. To find out more, simply call .

Admissions navigators are available 24/7 to answer your questions about treatment, rehab admissions, and paying for rehab. If you’d prefer to get started online, you can instantly . Please reach out today and get the help you deserve.