Percocet is the brand name for an oral narcotic analgesic drug. Oxycodone, its principal ingredient, is a narcotic alkaloid obtained from morphine and belonging to the class of synthetic opioid pain-relieving drugs. Its other ingredient is acetaminophen, a non-opiate, antipyretic analgesic. Percocet is the least potent of all narcotic pain medicines. Oxycodone being codeine-related is addictive. It is hence termed "poor man's heroin." Percocet can also have adverse habit-forming effects, so doctors should always supervise its administration.
Pain Relief
Percocet is effective in relieving a patient from moderate to severe pain by disassociating the patient from pain. Its oxycodone content depresses the central nervous system (CNS) and occludes the brain and the CNS's responses to pain. This action is similar to that of morphine and reduces pain. Its pill form is widely prescribed for two-week periods for patients suffering from acute short duration lower back pain such as postoperative backaches. Narcotic drugs such as Percocet are unsuited for treating long-term chronic back pains as the body develops tolerance to the medicine with time, rendering it ineffective. Cancer pain is treated with oral dosages of Percocet opioid.
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spine at the neck or back region because of aging degeneration, birth defects, malignant spinal tumors or spinal accidents. Spinal stenosis exerts undue pressure on the nerves causing radiating pain in the arms, legs, back, shoulders and neck followed by numbness, weakness, poor co-ordination, and inefficient bladder and or bowel function. Doctors prescribe Percocet when over-the-counter painkillers are not effective for spinal stenosis pain alleviation.
Cervical Spondylosis Pain Palliation
Cervical spondylosis is the loss of pliability or herniation of the neck discs or stiffening of neck ligaments because of age-related wear and tear. It leads to bony outgrowths, spurs and nerve irritation. This condition aggravates with time causing osteoarthritis in the neck joints. Symptoms include neck and shoulder stiffness and pain and muscle spasms all of which hinder normal life activities. Percocet is a conventional painkiller prescribed as a non-surgical treatment for more serious cervical spondylosis.
Post Surgery
Post surgery, the patient experiences pain continuously or on and off in and around the incision area and possibly in the throat, the back, legs and arms. Pain control is vital for fast recuperation after surgery and for preventing complications of blood clots and pneumonia. Doctors prescribe narcotic opioids such as Percocet as post-surgery analgesic medication for ingestion after discharge from the hospital. Patients take such drugs every four to six hours especially before activities and at bedtime. Patients should take the medication with food or milk to avoid stomach upsets. Since they have a sedative effect, patients should not to drive and operate machines after consuming them.
Tooth Pain
Dentists often prescribe Percocet as a narcotic analgesic to suppress acute toothaches and pains resulting from a tooth extraction -- especially wisdom tooth removal, root canal filling or after a third molar surgery. Statistics provided by IMS Health -- a company that provides pharmaceutical industry sales reports -- say that dentists prescribed almost 12 percent of the total U.S. opioid drug prescription in the year 2002. Since Percocet has drug-dependence inducing properties, dentists are focusing on prescribing minimal opioids to reduce patient pain safely.
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