How Long Do Percocet Withdrawal Symptoms Last?

Percocet is a prescription medication that causes Percocet withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit. Although this medication is used for intensive pain, it does get abused for a recreational high. Anyone who forms a Percocet addiction will have to undergo detox to achieve sobriety. Since withdrawal can be debilitating, it’s natural to wonder how long it will take. Here is what you need to know about Percocet withdrawal and the best way to go about it.

What Is Percocet?  

Percocet is the brand name for a prescription opioid medication. It is composed of a fixed dose of oxycodone and paracetamol. To elaborate, oxycodone is a semi-synthetic opioid that is used to treat moderate to severe pain. At roughly 2 times stronger than morphine and 1.5 times stronger than hydrocodone, it is a potent medication. In fact, oxycodone is prescribed not as a first line of defense but used after others have been ineffective. The other active ingredient, paracetamol, is also called acetaminophen, which is found in Tylenol. Combined, oxycodone and paracetamol are an effective duo for pain. You can be prescribed Percocet for acute or chronic pain that hasn’t responded to other treatments. For example, conditions that require Percocet can include post-surgery pain, cancer pain, and severe chronic pain.

A doctor’s prescription is the only legal way to get any kind of opioid, including oxycodone. This is because opioids are closely monitored by the Drug Enforcement Administration in the U.S. Yet, people find ways to abuse Percocet through black market sales.

Is Percocet Addictive?

Yes, without a doubt, Percocet is a habit-forming medication due to the presence of oxycodone. In just a short time, using Percocet outside of a prescription, you can develop a severe addiction. Why? It works on the brain to create desirable effects. The main physical and psychological effects of Percocet are sedation, relaxation, and a pleasurable feeling of euphoria. Percocet’s effects typically last about five hours, after which the low can feel especially low if you’ve manipulated the drug to get a high. If you struggle with an addiction to oxycodone, stopping on your own will be a great challenge. Thus, the most reliable way to become sober is through professional detoxification and drug rehab.

How Does Percocet Affect the Brain?    

Oxycodone and other opioids directly target opioid receptors in your brain. By binding to these receptors, opioids are able to control neurochemicals that are responsible for creating a pleasure response. For example, “happy hormones” like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine are part of your body’s reward system. When you take an opioid medication like Percocet, it alters these chemicals to keep them active. As a result, you feel the “high.” And because the feelings are so enjoyable, you naturally want to keep experiencing them again. But regular, unmonitored drug use will quickly lead to tolerance, so you have to increase your dose. Then, your risk and timeline for developing an oxycodone addiction increase as well.

How Long Do Percocet Withdrawal Symptoms Last?

Exactly how long your Percocet withdrawal symptoms will last after you stop taking the drug varies by person. Essentially, there are many factors that influence the timeline for Percocet withdrawal. These include your genetics, mental health, how long you’ve been taking oxycodone, how much, and the state of your dependency. However, there is a general drug withdrawal process that most people seem to work through. The early stage of detoxification, when withdrawal symptoms first set in, is called acute withdrawal. It doesn’t take long for your body to go into chaos mode when you begin to wean off any drug. Almost immediately, you will experience early symptoms, which often feel like the flu. Acute withdrawal’s timespan varies as well, anywhere from a few days to two weeks.

Some people also experience delayed withdrawal symptoms that appear later, after the initial detox phase. This is called protracted withdrawal. In this case, you might notice withdrawal symptoms returning months or even years after sobriety. The same is true with Percocet addiction. There’s no way to know what your detox will look like, but rest assured, we can help you with whatever situation arises.

Symptoms of Percocet Withdrawal

As mentioned, withdrawal symptoms are basically inevitable when you go to detox from a drug addiction. As you start to remove the toxins from your body by not taking your next dose, your system starts to respond. Because you have formed a physical and psychological dependence on drugs, stopping won’t be easy. You can expect to experience any of the following oxycodone withdrawal symptoms:

• Sweating
• Red eyes
• Nausea
• Runny sinuses
• Aches and pains
• Muscle tension
• Digestive issues
• Low blood pressure
• Rapid heart rate
• Anxiety
• Depression

There are health risks involved with the abuse or misuse of oxycodone medications. You are in danger of the following issues if you follow unhealthy habits around Percocet use:

• Liver Failure
• Respiratory depression
• Kidney Damage
• Coma
• Death

Percocet Withdrawal Timeline

When you have to detox from oxycodone, it helps to be aware of what to expect, including the timeline. In general, withdrawal typically ranges between 4 and 14 days, so you could undergo detox for a full two weeks. The exact amount of time it takes will depend entirely on you. For instance, detox won’t be exactly the same for you as for someone else. At Vogue Recovery, you can find as much comfort in the detox process as is possible. Simply put, our medical detox timeline lasts as long as you need it to. During this time, you will be monitored around the clock by our staff of licensed substance abuse professionals. They can administer medication, nutrients, vitamins, and fluids that your system is lacking. Overall, medical detox helps make detox more comfortable, and in some cases, can speed up the process.