Percocet History and How it's Being Used Today.

Percocet is a pain reliever that is commonly prescribed for short term pain by doctors. According to the Drug Enforcement Agency; it's a schedule 2 narcotic, which means it is regulated. This particular drug has been around for a while and is commonly used throughout the country even today. There are a lot of reasons why it's prescribed and it comes available in many different forms.

History of Percocet in the Medical Industry

Percocet was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1976. It's now been produced by Endo Pharmaceuticals since 2006 in various dosages. It comes in combinations with acetaminophen as well. The tablets range in color and shape based on the mg and ingredients. The main colors the tablets come in are: pink, white, peach and yellow. There are shapes ranging from oval to oblong as well.

In June of 2009, the FDA decided that Percocet as well as any other prescription that contained acetaminophen with narcotic analgesics had to be limited in sales due to related deaths. There were allegedly more than 400 deaths related to this prescription due to liver damage as well as overdose. In Canada there was even a study done by the Canadian Medical Association Journal that found an increase in Percocet related deaths due to overdose.

How Percocet is Used Today

Prescriptions for Percocet are very common today; it's actually one of the most prescribed drugs in the country. This wide availability is a big reason why it's so abused by teenagers as well as adults. It's extremely effective for relieving many different types of pain, but it's also very addictive. Individuals who have an addiction to this often don't realize it until they are feeling the withdrawal symptoms. Even someone who is taking Percocet as directed could feel withdrawal due to not having it in their body and feeling the same effects. This is when it's extremely important to go and see a physician.

Side Effects

Some of the most common side effects individuals experience while taking this drug are: seizures, nausea, fainting, shallow breathing, problems with urination, dizziness, blurred vision and dry mouth. The side effects vary based on the individual and their medical history. Some people find that they react perfectly fine to Percocet while others don't feel good at all. Taking other drugs is also extremely dangerous and a doctor should know all prescriptions their patient is using.

Percocet Addiction

Since Percocet was released it's been abused by individuals who become addicted to it. Some people take more pills than they should, some people don't have prescriptions and others actually crush them up to snort them. Some symptoms people can look for when identifying an addiction to Percocet include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting, anxiety
• Fatigue
• Muscle pain
• Irritation

People who have an addiction will feel the need for it physically, but also emotionally. Anyone who feels more than just pain relief and an actual high when they take this will need to get help. This is when the addiction becomes serious and can be life threatening for some. Going through withdrawal alone is generally not recommended, especially for those that are seriously addicted. Sometimes the withdrawal can be unbearable and even cause a number of health issues that require medical attention.

Withdrawal Symptoms

The withdrawal symptoms can be severe, but they can be made better for anyone who goes into drug rehab programs. These do last for a long time, but they are life changing. These centers have doctors, nurses, support groups, therapists and many other treatment options available. These are designed to give each patient the help they need based on what their addiction is. Some of the withdrawal symptoms patients will feel include:

• Muscle aches
• Watery eyes
• Anxiety
• Yawning
• Depression
• Diarrhea
• Tremors
• Increased heart rate
• High blood pressure

When under supervision by a medical professional, users addicted to this drug will be able to take other medications to help relieve these symptoms. Many have to be taken for prolonged periods of time in order to fully get the Percocet out of the body. Each person is different, so treatment dosages and methods will vary. Medical rehab is always the best choice when it comes to getting help and can result in kicking this prescription drug habit for good.