How Addictive is Percocet: Am I Addicted to Percocet?

Many people have questions about opioids like Percocet. The frequently wonder how addictive is Percocet, and am I addicted to Percocet?

The short answer as to whether or not Percocet is addictive is yes, it absolutely is. So how addictive is Percocet? To be brief, very. We’ll explore what Percocet is, why it’s addictive and how addictive it is.

How Addictive is Percocet: Am I Addicted to Percocet?
Percocet is a prescription drug that’s used to treat moderate to severe pain, and it includes both the opioid oxycodone, as well as acetaminophen. This allows this powerful drug to be very effective in how it tackles pain because it does so in different ways thanks to the combination of an opioid and acetaminophen. It is often prescribed for situations involving acute pain, following surgery or an operation in many cases.

Percocet is a controlled substance in the U.S., which means you must have a prescription for it to use it, and there are strict guidelines and regulations as to how it can be prescribed.

While it is meant to be taken only as prescribed, unfortunately, it has become one of the most abused drugs in the U.S., and it’s part of the widespread opioid epidemic currently impacting the country. The reason is largely because of how opioids like Percocet, and also drugs like heroin, affect the brain of the user. It’s very easy to become addicted to these drugs, and we’ll explain why.

Even when you’re prescribed Percocet, there is still the potential for addiction.

So, how addictive is Percocet really?

It would be impossible to provide a specific answer because everyone’s body and brain are unique, but to provide a generality to how addictive is Percocet, it’s very addictive for most people.

When you take Percocet or any opioid, it has a profound effect on your brain chemistry. When you take it within about thirty minutes or so, it reaches your brain and binds to your opioid receptors. When that happens, your brain triggers a flood of endorphins that are responsible for making you feel good or even euphoric. Your body releases endorphins without the use of opioids as well, but not nearly as much as what happens with the introduction of opioids. You feel not only euphoria and pleasure, but also relaxation and a general sense of well-being because opioids like Percocet play a role in your brain’s reward center.

Even after taking Percocet only once, your brain may start to think it needs to seek more of the drug, to keep replicating the positive experience the high created. This is how addiction is born. While it’s your choice to initially take the Percocet, your brain can almost immediately start to push you into getting more of the drug.

Understanding how Percocet and other opioids work is very important because it shows not just how addictive Percocet is, but how quickly an addiction can occur.

Over time as you continue using Percocet, your body becomes used to the flood of dopamine. Your system no longer sees it as an out-of-the-ordinary experience, and it becomes your brain’s new normal. This means you’re dependent on Percocet. Your body sees the presence of the drug as normal, and not taking it would send your system into shock, which is what happens during withdrawal. When this happens, you’re not only psychologically addicted to Percocet in that your brain is pushing you to continue using it through cravings, but your body is physically dependent on its presence.

Once you have a tolerance to Percocet, you won’t even experience the euphoric high anymore, but you still continue to need to take the drug. Your brain starts to have difficulty responding to things you would typically find pleasurable in normal situations, and you may also have a reduced pain threshold without the drug, meaning you’re extra sensitive to pain.

So, also important when considering how addictive is Percocet is what happens when you take it as prescribed.

Doctors are cognizant of the potential for abuse with Percocet and also the chances of an addiction developing, so they start patients on the lowest possible dosages of the drug, and they also may provide patients with strict instructions as to how it should be taken. If you take Percocet exactly as directed, you’re reducing your chances of becoming addicted. If you start to take it more often than prescribed or take larger doses, however, then you are upping your chances of being addicted to Percocet. Also, if you’re taking it just to achieve certain feelings, you are abusing it.

To sum up how addictive is Percocet: very. You can reduce your risk of becoming addicted to Percocet by following your doctor’s instructions exactly, but there is still a risk of not only addiction but also tolerance and physical dependence.

How Addictive is Percocet: Am I Addicted to Percocet?
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