Percocet Addiction
Percocet is the combination of two medicines acetaminophen (Tylenol) and oxycodone. It is commonly used for people suffering from moderate or severe pain. The Oxycodone in Percocet helps to reduce the sensation of pain that is created in the brain and Acetaminophen stops prostaglandins which cause pain. Percocet is made available in the form of tablets, capsules and liquid, which is administered to the patient every 6 hours. It is the oxycodone in Percocet that provides the tendency to form addiction. The use of Percocet should be administered with care and the doctor’s instructions should be followed dutifully.
The addiction to Percocet can be easily developed especially with prolonged use for 2-3 weeks. Percocet chemically alters the functioning of the brain’s reward systems, which induces the patient to crave for the drug. The addiction causes the person to concentrate all effort towards the intake of the drug. Additionally it affects the person’s consciousness, which harms the thinking ability, making the person unaware of the surroundings.
Like other addictions the addiction to Percocet is also characterized by continuous cravings for the drug. The use of the drug provides the users with a feeling of ‘normalcy’, which is the cause of the drug’s mood altering effects. The user’s need for the drug increases to such an extent that they utilize any method available, legal or illegal, to obtain the drug. They use any source available to satisfy their need of the drug.
The daily intake of Percocet leads to physical dependence of the drug. The sudden cessation of the drug causes the user to suffer from withdrawal symptoms. This is not due to addiction, which is more a psychological need rather than a physical need. The body establishes a dependence on the drug. To avoid this dependence, it is necessary to stop the intake under the surveillance of the physician and the dosage needs to be reduced at a gradual pace to enable the patient to cope with the change. This can be done only when the patient is no longer in need of the drug for pain.
The patients who require Percocet for pain should not over indulge in the use of this drug due to its addictive tendencies. The addiction exists when there is compulsive use of the drug along with the continuous craving for it. This is when the use of the drug turns into an addiction. The patient also has the need to use the drug for mood alterations, which has an effect on the emotional and psychological behavior. All this indicates the change of the drug, from medication to addiction.
Women, seniors and adolescents carry a greater risk of Percocet addiction. This is bearing in mind that women are more likely to be prescribed Percocet as a drug for pain relief. The statistics also show that women are also at greater risk of addiction than their male counterparts. The main reason for this is because women have the tendency to seek help and are more likely to take medication to control their emotional or physical problems.
Percocet is the combination of two medicines acetaminophen (Tylenol) and oxycodone. It is commonly used for people suffering from moderate or severe pain. The Oxycodone in Percocet helps to reduce the sensation of pain that is created in the brain and Acetaminophen stops prostaglandins which cause pain. Percocet is made available in the form of tablets, capsules and liquid, which is administered to the patient every 6 hours. It is the oxycodone in Percocet that provides the tendency to form addiction. The use of Percocet should be administered with care and the doctor’s instructions should be followed dutifully.
The addiction to Percocet can be easily developed especially with prolonged use for 2-3 weeks. Percocet chemically alters the functioning of the brain’s reward systems, which induces the patient to crave for the drug. The addiction causes the person to concentrate all effort towards the intake of the drug. Additionally it affects the person’s consciousness, which harms the thinking ability, making the person unaware of the surroundings.
Like other addictions the addiction to Percocet is also characterized by continuous cravings for the drug. The use of the drug provides the users with a feeling of ‘normalcy’, which is the cause of the drug’s mood altering effects. The user’s need for the drug increases to such an extent that they utilize any method available, legal or illegal, to obtain the drug. They use any source available to satisfy their need of the drug.
The daily intake of Percocet leads to physical dependence of the drug. The sudden cessation of the drug causes the user to suffer from withdrawal symptoms. This is not due to addiction, which is more a psychological need rather than a physical need. The body establishes a dependence on the drug. To avoid this dependence, it is necessary to stop the intake under the surveillance of the physician and the dosage needs to be reduced at a gradual pace to enable the patient to cope with the change. This can be done only when the patient is no longer in need of the drug for pain.
The patients who require Percocet for pain should not over indulge in the use of this drug due to its addictive tendencies. The addiction exists when there is compulsive use of the drug along with the continuous craving for it. This is when the use of the drug turns into an addiction. The patient also has the need to use the drug for mood alterations, which has an effect on the emotional and psychological behavior. All this indicates the change of the drug, from medication to addiction.
Women, seniors and adolescents carry a greater risk of Percocet addiction. This is bearing in mind that women are more likely to be prescribed Percocet as a drug for pain relief. The statistics also show that women are also at greater risk of addiction than their male counterparts. The main reason for this is because women have the tendency to seek help and are more likely to take medication to control their emotional or physical problems.
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Information on this page last updated on 06/10/2007