by Rebecca Saint

Created on: May 05, 2011   Last Updated: May 14, 2012

Percocet is a prescription opiate used as a pain killer. It is made of a combination of oxycodone and acetaminophen and its use is carefully managed by the F.D.A. due to its physical and psychologically addictive nature. Patients who are prescribed percocet, oxycodone and other opiates to manage pain often suffer withdrawal when their prescriptions come to an end.

Overcoming any addiction is extremely challenging. The first step is to recognize when an addiction may be present. Symptoms may include, but are not limited to:

- Fever and cold/flu like symptoms
- Physical aches or pains
- Anxiety
- Hallucinations
- Headaches
- Mood swings
- Loss of appetite
- Insomnia
- Tremors
- Respiratory difficulty

Many who are prescribed opiate drugs such as Percocet are unaware of the potential addictions they face and do not realize that they have become addicted until it is time to stop medicating. Some treatment ideas to consider when overcoming Percocet withdrawal are listed to help you during this challenging time.

- Detox

There are thousands of rehabilitation centers located all across the world. Many have doctors and care givers who specialize in helping people addicted to specific substances. If you find yourself unable to cope with day to day life while coming off Percocet, you may consider spending some time in Detox. Physicians may prescribe other, less addictive drugs to assist with the withdrawal symptoms, may guide you through cleansing the substance from your system, or may give you a safe and secure atmosphere to sweat it out.

- Methadone

There is a lot of controversy surrounding the use of methadone, but it can be extremely helpful to those who are addicted to opiate drugs. They key to a successful withdrawal using Methadone as an aid is to be sure you are only taking the medication as prescribed, which may mean you have to suffer through short periods experiencing full withdrawal symptoms.

- Alternative prescription medication

Some people who do not experience terrible withdrawal symptoms may choose to begin weaning themselves off of Percocet by replacing their dosage with acetaminophen and codeine (Tylenol 3). These method is often recommended for those who are not experiencing severe symptoms but do require assistance curbing the addiction.

- Recognize the symptoms for what they are and prepare to deal with them

For those who are strong willed, they may choose to attempt to curb their addiction without assistance. If this is your choice, it is important to know what you may experience and prepare yourself accordingly. Herbal teas, anti-nausea medication such as Gravol, and other over the counter products may assist you with this challenge.

When it is time to begin the process of weaning from opiate drugs such as Percocet, mental preparedness is key. Knowing what to expect will help you recognize what the symptoms are the onset occurs. There are many resources available to help those suffering from addiction to prescription substances, so it is never necessary to feel like you are battling your addiction alone.

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