Percocet Overdose

Percocet is a prescription painkiller that contains a combination of two powerful drugs, oxycodone and acetaminophen. Oxycodone is an addictive opioid analgesic that is prescribed for pain relief, and acetaminophen is an analgesic and fever reducer that is routinely used to lower fever and alleviate headaches and minor aches. Together, the two combine chemically making each one more powerful that it would be alone. To the uninitiated, even a moderate dose of Percocet can cause a lethal overdose. For those who have been taking it for any length of time, mixing Percocet with other drugs or alcohol or taking more than the prescribed amount can result in an overdose as well.

If you are worried that you or someone you care about may overdose while using Percocet, Meditox can help you avoid this outcome by treating your Percocet addiction with a personalized Suboxone detox and outpatient treatment.

What are the Signs of a Percocet Overdose?

Because Percocet is a duel pain reliever, it is imperative that you watch out for signs relating to an overdose of either oxycodone or acetaminophen. An overdose of oxycodone can result in breathing problems that may become life-threatening. Other symptoms may include:

Stupor
Coma
Skeletal muscle flaccidity
Cold and clammy skin
Hypertension
Cardiac arrest
Drowsiness
Shallow breathing
Pinpoint pupils

Over time, excessive use of acetaminophen may lead to irreversible liver damage. Signals of an acetaminophen overdose include:

Nausea
Vomiting
Jaundice
Fainting
Hypertension
Dark urine
Loss of appetite
Abdominal pain

A Percocet overdose can be irreparable, ending in coma or death. Meditox has a treatment program that can help you stop using Percocet immediately without experiencing the withdrawal symptoms one usually associates with a "cold turkey" Percocet detox.

What Do I Do in the Event of a Percocet Overdose?

If you believe that a Percocet overdose has taken place, call 911 for immediate assistance. To assist the operator in dispatching the appropriate emergency medical services, you will need to determine the victim's age, weight and health status. Tell the operator that the person has overdosed on Percocet. If you know how much was taken and when, be sure to let the operator know. When it is time to go to the hospital, take the bottle if you can find it.

Do not induce vomiting unless instructed to do so by 911 or poison control.

Contacting the National Poison Control Center is another option if you are unable to ascertain whether or not an overdose is in effect. You can reach poison control at 1-800-222-1222. Their national hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

How is a Percocet Overdose Treated?

Emergency medical care will be a necessity in the event of a Percocet overdose. If the patient is having difficulty breathing or is not breathing at all, providing normal respiratory exchange will be the primary concern. A ventilator will mechanically move breathable air into and out of the lungs. The opioid antagonist naloxone hydrochloride is also routinely given in an opiate overdose as a corrective measure against respiratory depression.

If it is suspected that there are remains of Percocet unabsorbed in the body, a gastric lavage will be conducted. This is the process of cleaning out the contents of the stomach. Activated charcoal or a laxative may follow. Oxygen, intravenous fluids and vasopressors are also customarily used to assist medical staff in caring for the patient.

How Do I Avoid a Percocet Overdose?

Avoiding a Percocet overdose can be relatively simple: never abuse Percocet tablets by chewing them or crushing and ingesting them nasally and avoid over the counter medications that contain acetaminophen. Be sure to read all over-the-counter vitamin and herbal supplement labels carefully to be certain that nothing will interact adversely with Percocet. If you are ever in doubt, refrain from taking anything until you speak to your doctor or pharmacist. Mixing alcohol with either oxycodone or acetaminophen increases your risks of liver damage and overdose so abstain from alcohol when taking Percocet.

Avoid a Percocet Overdose Through Percocet Addiction Treatment at Meditox

With our Percocet addiction treatment at Meditox, you no longer need to worry about a Percocet overdose. We offer a discreet opiate addiction treatment program using Suboxone and Subutex, two drugs that are FDA-approved for treating addiction to opioid-based drugs like Percocet. Subutex and Suboxone are chosen by the qualified doctors at Meditox because of their active ingredient, buprenorphine hydrochloride, which has been shown to decrease detox time and diminish painful withdrawal symptoms.

If you would like to avoid a Percocet overdose and break your addiction to Percocet, call Meditox today and make a appointment.

If you feel that Meditox might be the right solution for you or your loved one, please call us for a toll-free and private consultation:

Additional Resources

RxList.com: Percocet Overdose
WebMD.com: Percocet Overdose

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