More than ever before, people are asking “how long does Percocet stay in your system?” This is due to the increasing abuse of prescription drugs, their wide availability, and the common misconception that they are safer to abuse than illegal substances. Prescription opioids like Percocet are as addictive as illicit medicines and have the potential to cause an overdose. If you’re addicted to Percocet, you may wonder how long it will remain in your system whether it is to pass a drug test or, hopefully, to anticipate when is best to seek treatment. Continue reading to learn about Percocet and the many factors that determine how long it stays in your system.
What is Percocet?
Oxycodone and acetaminophen are combined to make Percocet, a prescription painkiller. Percocet can be obtained in a variety of strengths, and it is a controlled substance. The most common forms of Percocet contain between 2.5 and 10 milligrams of oxycodone hydrochloride and 325 to 650 milligrams of acetaminophen.
According to scientists, Percocet functions by altering the brain’s perception of pain through the action of two primary substances: oxycodone, an opioid similar to morphine, and acetaminophen (Tylenol), which is thought to inhibit pain-related chemicals in the body, although the exact mechanisms are not well understood.
What is Percocet Used For?
Patients are prescribed Percocet to relieve severe pain that cannot be controlled with other pain medications. The acetaminophen component of Percocet reduces pain and fever in patients. It does not become addictive when taken for a long time. However, acetaminophen may lead to serious damage to the liver when taken in large amounts, particularly when combined with alcohol. The oxycodone component is a narcotic analgesic (painkiller) that works by suppressing pain signals in the central nervous system (CNS).
How Does Percocet Work?
Percocet, like other opioid drugs, attaches to pain receptors in different parts of the body and blocks pain signals from being transmitted. Percocet is widely known for its analgesic properties, but it also causes some individuals to feel relaxed and drowsy. Individuals typically feel Percocet’s pain-relieving effects 20 to 30 minutes after taking the drug.
Side Effects of Percocet
Individuals who require Percocet may benefit from its therapeutic effects if taken as directed. However, because this drug can provide an addictive high when misused, it is also an addictive substance for those seeking to get high. Side effects of this prescription drug include:
- Confusion
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Itching
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Nausea
People may become tolerant to the drug’s effects if they continue to take it, causing their bodies to stop producing endorphins naturally. In other words, people must take more of the medication to achieve the same results. Dependence, in which people must continue to take the drug to avoid withdrawal symptoms, may result from taking more of it. Large doses or misuse of Percocet can cause the following side effects:
- Confusion
- Agitation
- Depression
- Mood swings
- Skin flushing
- Excessive sweating
- Issues with coordination
- Inability to concentrate
- Slowed breathing
- Decreased heart rate
How Long Does Percocet Stay in Your System?
The half-life of a drug is the time required for 50 percent of the initial dose to be metabolized and excreted. It takes multiple half-lives to eliminate the drug from your system. You can avoid an overdose if you understand the half-life of Percocet.
The time it takes for Percocet to be eliminated from your blood varies depending on your liver function. Percocet can remain in your blood for up to 19 hours after ingestion, resulting in an average elimination time of 3.5 hours. In urine tests, Percocet can typically be detected for 24 to 48 hours after the initial dose, starting two hours after ingestion.
The immediate-release form of oxycodone has an average half-life of 3.2 hours. Oxymorphone, a byproduct of oxycodone, is metabolized by the liver into noroxymorphone prior to being expelled through urine. For many patients, Percocet is out of their blood in under 24 hours, but it may be detected in saliva and urine for up to 4 days and in hair for much longer periods.
The following tests may be administered to determine the presence of Percocet in your system. They are detailed below:
Urine Test
It is possible to detect the oxycodone component of Percocet, as well as its metabolite noroxycodone, in a urine sample for up to 3 days. Because they are easy to collect and have a long testing window, urine samples are commonly used to detect oxycodone
Saliva Test
Saliva tests may be used to determine whether someone has taken Percocet. The presence of opioids can be detected in saliva for up to 2 days. Because roadside testing is convenient, police departments may utilize saliva tests.
Hair Test
A 90-day window of detection can be established by testing a one-inch sample of hair for oxycodone and its metabolites.
Blood Test
Oxycodone can be detected in the blood and plasma for up to 30 hours, with an elimination half-life of between 3 and 6 hours. Because of this, oxycodone and its metabolite noroxycodone are present in the blood for up to 15 to 30 hours. If a person is unconscious or unable to provide a urine sample, blood samples can be used.
Is Percocet Addictive?
Yes, Percocet is highly addictive. It’s not surprising that so many are suffering from Percocet addiction, given the dramatic rise in the number of prescriptions written for it. Since the year 2000, opioid-related deaths have risen by 300%, and more women are addicted to and overdosing on painkillers than men. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, painkiller abuse, which includes Percocet, has increased 400% among women and two-hundred and seventy percent among men. These numbers are too high to ignore, which is why those struggling with Percocet and other substance abuse should seek treatment immediately.
Dangers of Percocet Addiction
Due to its addictive nature and the ease with which it is abused, Percocet is one of the most widely abused prescription drugs. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), over 2 million Americans struggled with a substance abuse problem related to prescription painkillers in 2012. Since Percocet is addictive and may be abused, its maker, Endo Pharmaceuticals, recommends that it be used only by patients who are tolerant to other opioids or those who have not gotten pain relief from other treatments.
Abusing Percocet can result in a feeling of well-being, elation, and enjoyment because of its effects on the brain’s pleasure and reward centers. Although Percocet is considered to be safer than illicit drugs, it acts in the body in the same manner as heroin and other illegal opioids. When people take higher doses of Percocet to experience the same effects as lower doses, they quickly become tolerant to the drug. Physical dependence occurs rapidly with continued use, resulting in full-blown addiction.
Although Percocet can cause side effects in certain situations, the risks of serious health problems are multiplied when the drug is abused. As with most substance abuse, the consequences get worse with prolonged, high-dose use. Furthermore, drug abuse is more hazardous when it is combined with other substances. Side effects of long-term Percocet abuse include:
- Brain dysfunction
- Liver damage
- Muscle weakness
- Kidney damage
- Hallucinations
- Respiratory depression
The route by which oxycodone and acetaminophen are metabolized leads to liver and kidney damage. If the drug is crushed and snorted or administered intravenously, it is absorbed through the GI tract and distributed throughout the body and brain, where it binds to opioid receptors that control pain response. These drugs are filtered through the liver and excreted through the kidneys, which are damaged as a result of long-term abuse. The organs are frequently irreversibly damaged as a result of permanent and irreversible damage.
Those who snort or inject Percocet are not spared the health consequences. They add more problems such as damage to their mucous membranes and nasal passages from snorting the drug, skin ulcers, collapsed veins, scarring from needles, and an increased risk of catching diseases such as HIV or hepatitis.
Signs of Percocet Withdrawal
The oxycodone in Percocet is an opioid, resulting in unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking it. Withdrawal symptoms from opioids, whether they be Percocet or another drug, may resemble the symptoms of the flu. When you give up Percocet, you may experience severe nausea and vomiting, which some individuals compare to the most severe case of the flu. Although Percocet doesn’t cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms, it is difficult to withdraw from without relapsing because of the unpleasant symptoms and cravings. Even though it is not common for opioid withdrawal to result in life-threatening issues, medical treatment may assist you in withdrawing from opioids without relapsing and experiencing severe symptoms.
Percocet withdrawal symptoms include:
- Discomfort
- Runny nose
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Sweating
- Diarrhea
- Restlessness
- Depression
- Muscle aches
- Bone pain
- Cravings
Treatment for Percocet Addiction
If you’ve developed a more severe opioid use disorder, you may need more intensive addiction treatment options. Medical detoxification might begin the treatment process, especially if you are likely to experience severe withdrawal symptoms or if you have a medical condition that must be treated or monitored during withdrawal.
Someone with high-level medical or psychological needs may go through an inpatient or residential treatment program. Residential programs may be beneficial for people with stable medical and psychological health if they have a poor living environment or a high risk of relapse.
You may then participate in an outpatient treatment program if you can live independently safely and without a significant risk of relapse or other complications. You may choose an outpatient program with fewer than nine hours, more than nine hours, or more than 20 hours of treatment services per week, depending on your needs.
Get Started on the Road to Recovery with Asheville Detox
Medical detox is the safest way to enter recovery, and we at Asheville Detox invest a lot of time and effort in offering you excellent care. Our professionals provide comprehensive care throughout the entire medical detox procedure to those who come to us for help. We begin where you are and offer you medical detox services that are both safe and comfortable.
The medical detox program at Asheville Detox Center helps those struggling with Percocet addiction withdraw in a medically supervised environment, which minimizes the risk of adverse side effects. Withdrawal side effects are monitored by medical professionals in a clinical environment, which is why clients may feel safe and comfortable while detoxing.
To learn more about our many services and programs, contact the professionals at Asheville Detox today. Percocet addiction is dangerous and potentially life-threatening if left untreated. Do not put off getting help any longer. We are here for you.
