| Percocet, Tylox & Percodans are the different | | | | oxycodone on a regular basis that would be fatal |
| trade names of Oxycodone products. | | | | in a person never exposed to oxycodone or |
| Oxycodone is a 14-hydroxydihydrocodeinone, | | | | another opioid. Most individuals who abuse |
| semi-synthetic opioid analgesic that occurs as a | | | | oxycodone seek to gain the euphoric effects, |
| white, odorless, crystalline powder having a saline, | | | | mitigate pain, and avoid withdrawal symptoms |
| bitter taste. It is a potentially addictive opioid | | | | associated with oxycodone or heroin abstinence. |
| analgesic medication synthesized from thebaine. | | | | Percocet, a narcotic analgesic, is used to treat |
| Oxycodone Prescription: | | | | moderate to moderately severe pain. It consists |
| It was first introduced to the US market in May | | | | of two drugs—acetaminophen & oxycodone. |
| 1939 and is the active ingredient in a number of | | | | Acetaminophen is used to reduce both pain and |
| pain medications commonly prescribed for the | | | | fever. Oxycodone, a narcotic analgesic, is used for |
| relief of moderate to heavy pain. Oxycodone is | | | | its calming effect and for pain. Serious adverse |
| prescribed for moderate to high pain relief | | | | reactions that may be associated with Percocet |
| associated with injuries, bursitis, dislocation, | | | | tablet use include respiratory depression, apnea, |
| fractures, neuralgia, arthritis, and lower back pain. | | | | respiratory arrest, circulatory depression, and |
| It is also used postoperatively and for pain relief | | | | hypertension |
| after childbirth. It is a commonly used medication | | | | Percodan is a potent compound painkiller used to |
| for treatment of pain in cancer patients. | | | | treat moderately severe to severe acute pain. |
| Oxycodone Abuse: | | | | Percodan consists of aspirin & oxycodone, a |
| Oxycodone has a high abuse potential as it is a | | | | potent opioid agonist. At one time one of the |
| central nervous system (CNS) depressant. In the | | | | most widely prescribed painkillers, Percodan has |
| United States, oxycodone is a controlled | | | | largely been replaced by alternative oxycodone |
| substance both as a single agent and in | | | | compounds containing acetaminophen (Tylenol) |
| combination with products containing | | | | instead of aspirin, such as Percocet. |
| acetaminophen (Percocet, Tylox), ibuprofen or | | | | Federal Regulations: |
| aspirin (Percodan). Oxycodone’s action | | | | Like other opioid medications, Tylox, Percodan, |
| appears to work through stimulating the opioid | | | | Percocet tablets are subject to the Federal |
| receptors found in the central nervous system | | | | Controlled Substances Act. After chronic use, |
| that activate responses ranging from analgesia to | | | | Tylox, Percodan, Percocet tablets should not be |
| respiratory depression to euphoria. | | | | discontinued abruptly when it is thought that the |
| Oxycodone abusers ingest the drug in a variety | | | | patient has become physically dependent on |
| of ways. They often chew the tablets or crush | | | | oxycodone. |
| the tablets and snort the powder. As oxycodone | | | | Oxycodone Testing: |
| is water soluble, crushed tablets can be dissolved | | | | Urine testing for oxycodone may be performed |
| in water and the solution injected. | | | | to determine its illicit use and for medical reasons |
| Effects of Oxycodone Abuse: | | | | such as evaluation of patients with altered states |
| Side effects of Oxycodone include constipation, | | | | of consciousness or monitoring efficacy of drug |
| dryness of the mouth, confusion, sedation, | | | | rehabilitation efforts. Based on pharmacokinetic |
| light-headedness, respiratory depression, nausea, | | | | data, the approximate detection duration for a |
| vomiting, headache, & sweating etc while | | | | single dose of oxycodone is roughly estimated to |
| symptoms of overdose include slow breathing, | | | | be one to two days following drug exposure. |
| seizures, dizziness, weakness, loss of | | | | Oxycodone, like other opioids, has been diverted |
| consciousness, coma, confusion, cold or clammy | | | | for non- medical use. Careful record-keeping of |
| skin & small pupils to name a few. | | | | prescribing information, including quantity, |
| People who take the drug repeatedly can develop | | | | frequency, and renewal requests is strongly |
| a tolerance or resistance to the drug's effects. | | | | advised. |
| Thus, a cancer patient can take a dose of | | | | |