Percocet

Percocet is a narcotic pain reliever drug, used to treat moderate to severe pain. It is a drug combination of oxycodone (narcotic pain reliever) and acetaminophen (non-narcotic pain reliever).

Oxycodone acts on the brain to change your sensation to pain while acetaminophen enhances the effect of oxycodone.

Instructions:

Read your medication guide and follow your doctor’s prescription at all times.

• Take Percocet orally/ by mouth before or after meals per doctor’s prescription.
• Use a standard medicine cup/ spoon (not household spoon) to obtain the accurate amount for each dose if you are using the liquid preparation of this medication.
• If you are taking Percocet whenever necessary only(not on regular schedule) or during sudden bouts of pain, take it at the very onset/ beginning of pain because pain relievers are more effective when the pain is not yet severe.
• The dosage depends on your medical condition or treatment response. Do not adjust your dose without your doctor’s recommendation.
• Avoid alcohol intake and activities that require mental alertness (i.e. driving, operating machinery) because this medication can cause dizziness.
• Increase your water intake and eat foods rich in fiber to prevent constipation, which is one of the side effects of this medication.
• Continue taking Percocet on a regular schedule (at the same time of the day). Do not stop taking this medication abruptly without consulting your doctor to prevent withdrawal symptoms.

Inform your doctor immediately if your condition aggravates or does not improve.

Take your missed dose as soon as possible. However, make sure that the time interval between the missed and the next dose is not too close. Otherwise, stick with the regular schedule and leave out the missed dose. Do not double dose to cover up a missed dose. Record your missed doses and inform your doctor immediately if you missed several doses.

Interactions:

Percocet may interact with:

• Pentazocine
• Nalbuphine
• Butorphanol
• Naltrexone
• Antihistamine drugs or cough-and-cold products
• Phenobarbital or other anti- seizure medications
• Sleeping pills or anti- anxiety drugs (i.e. diazepam, alprazolam, zolpidem)
• Muscle relaxants
• Codeine or other narcotic pain relievers
• Risperidone, amitriptyline or other psychiatric medications
• Ketoconazole or other azole antifungals
• Erythromycin or other macrolide antibiotics
• Ritonavir or other treatment drugs for HIV and
• Other medications that contain acetaminophen

Some drugs may either lessen the beneficial effects or worsen the side effects of Percocet. Likewise, Percocet may make some drugs less efficient or intensify their side effects.

Make sure to inform your doctor about all other drugs you are currently taking or using (prescribed and non-prescribed medications including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products) to check for possible drug interaction with Percocet.

Never alter the doses of other medications while on Percocet neither stop nor start any medicine without the doctor’s recommendation.

Side Effects:

There are no side effects known aside from a possible allergic reaction in people who have previous or unknown hypersensitivity to the drug.

Watch out for signs of allergic reactions such as:

• Rash
• Itching
• Swelling

Warnings:

Before taking Percocet, tell your health care provider if you have/are:

• Any allergies to any substance, food or medication, particularly to Percocet
• Medical history or a present condition such as:

        o Brain disorders (i.e. head trauma, tumor, seizure)
        o Breathing disorder (i.e. asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/COPD, sleep apnea)
        o Kidney or liver disease
        o Drug or alcohol dependence
        o Mental or mood disorder (i.e. depression, confusion)
        o Diabetes
        o Phenylketonuria (PKU)
        o Stomach or intestinal disorder (i.e. obstruction, constipation, diarrhea related to infection, paralytic ileus) and
        o Trouble urinating related to prostate enlargement

• Pregnant, planning to get pregnant or currently breastfeeding a baby (Percocet can increase the chances of the unborn child to develop birth defects and withdrawal symptoms and it can pass through breast milk that may harm the nursing child. The risks and benefits of using this medication during pregnancy must be discussed well with your doctor.)