Percocet is a prescription medication that contains the narcotic pain reliever oxycodone and the non-narcotic pain reliever acetaminophen. It is used to relieve moderate to severe pain. Some individuals, however, use it for the Percocet high. Normally, doctors use this drug for moderate or severe pain.

Percocet is a Schedule II controlled substance, meaning it has a high potential for abuse and can lead to severe addiction. It is important to take Percocet exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

Once someone takes Percocet, the effects normally last for about four to six hours. But overusing drugs will lead to addiction and may require professional treatment for Percocet addiction recovery.

What is a Percocet high?

While Percocet contains both oxycodone and acetaminophen, oxycodone is the drug that creates the Percocet high feeling. Oxycodone is an opiate agonist that reduces the function of pain sensors and causes feelings of euphoria. Acetaminophen does not contribute to the Percocet high, but it is a fever reducer and pain reliever which means that excessive use can cause liver damage and liver failure.

Many people have described a Percocet high as feeling light, happy, and at ease. Percocet can also cause feelings of euphoria, drowsiness, and decreased pain levels. The effects that a Percocet high produces can be hazardous, especially when operating machinery or driving. The brain’s pain perception becomes reduced when Percocet is used and, simultaneously, the brain’s ability to sense pleasure is stimulated. These two factors form the euphoric feelings that can occur during Percocet usage.

 

What Does a Percocet High Feel Like?

Percocet highs can feel very pleasant. Some people describe the feeling as being “happy” and “relaxed.” Percocet can also make you feel euphoric and sleepy. It is important to be aware that these effects can be dangerous, especially if you are driving or operating heavy machinery.

Most people feel sleepiness and reduced pain when using Percocet. In some individuals, this high produces a pleasant euphoria. Individuals report feeling warm and fuzzy after taking Percocet.

Percocet use limits the brain’s pain perception. At the same time, it stimulates parts of the brain responsible for sensing pleasure. When these two effects come together, the result can be a powerful sense of euphoria.

People abusing Percocet may take more than the prescribed dose in order to achieve this feeling. They may also crush the pills and inhale them, which delivers the drug faster and increases its effect. This can be extremely dangerous, as it raises the risk of overdose.

The main ingredients in drug are oxycodone and acetaminophen. Oxycodone is the ingredient responsible for the Percocet high. This drug is an opiate that reduces pain, but it also causes a euphoric high. Acetaminophen, on the other hand, works to reduce fevers and pain. While acetaminophen does not cause a high, it is damaging to the liver. Consuming excessive amounts of acetaminophen can cause liver failure.

 

How Much Percocet Do You Need to Get High?

Percocet high can occur in a dosage as low as 40 mg of oxycodone when a person has not built a tolerance to the drug.

The main concern regarding Percocet overdose is the level of acetaminophen present. Percocet pills are capped at 325mg and doctors discourage taking more than 3000mg per day. Any dose of acetaminophen over that can result in liver damage due to the drug being a hepatotoxic compound. At 7000mg a day, acetaminophen is considered deadly.

When reading the dosages of a Percocet prescription it’s important to differentiate the two numbers on the label. The first number is associated with the amount of oxycodone present and the second is the dose of acetaminophen.

• Percocet 2.5/325: This is the weakest dose of Percocet and is what most doctors will start with to help avoid side effects like respiratory depression. This dosage is also used to gradually reduce Percocet dosage after dependence has developed, and to limit withdrawal symptoms.
• Percocet 7.5/325: This Percocet dosage has an additional amount of oxycodone compared to the lowest strength, but the acetaminophen is the same. This can be used for the treatment of moderate pain.
• Percocet 7.5/500: The difference in this Percocet dosage from the previous isn’t in the amount of oxycodone but in the amount of acetaminophen.
• Percocet 10/325: This Percocet dosage is one of two options with the highest amount of oxycodone is meant to be used in patients who have a high, severe level of pain.
• Percocet 10/650: This is the strongest Percocet dosage available. It has the maximum amount of oxycodone and acetaminophen and should be tapered when someone is ending use.
• Percocet 5/325

In terms of general Percocet dosage guidelines, when adults are being treated, they should start with the lowest possible dose and take only one to two tablets every six hours as needed. The total dose of acetaminophen, which can cause liver damage, should not be more than four grams in a 24-hour period.

With the rest of the dosages, one tablet only should be taken every six hours as needed. With Percocet 5 mg/325 mg, the maximum daily dose is 12 tablets. With 7.5/325, the maximum dose is eight tablets and with the strongest Percocet dosages, the maximum is six tablets per day.

It’s important when taking the drug prescribed for pain that you follow the specified dosages to prevent a higher risk of developing dependence and ultimately abusing the drug. It can also lead to adverse reactions.

How Long Does a Percocet High Last?

The problem with Percocet is that its effects fade quickly. For a healthy person following their doctor’s instructions, Percocet is highly effective. It starts working within 15-20 minutes after oral ingestion. The effects of oxycodone reach their peak point in 30-60 minutes and last for up to 6 hours. However, for addicts, once the drug reaches its peak point, they’re likely to take more pills to maintain that all-time high.

After your body becomes dependent, you’re likely to need more pills to experience the same type of high. Plus, odds are you need more drugs because you feel or believe your high lasts shorter.

What Does Percocet Do?

Percocet is prescribed for short-term relief of moderate to severe pain that is not typically chronic in nature (i.e., post-surgical pain, pain from a sustained injury, etc.). Like heroin and morphine, Percocet affects the brain and the central nervous system, changing the way the brain perceives pain.

Percocet acts at opioid receptors throughout the body to initiate a cascade of chemical events that, ultimately:

• Modify pain perception.
• Elicit a dopamine response in key regions of the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in the brain’s reward system circuitry—instrumental in delivering feelings of pleasure and motivation, as well as reinforcing behaviors that initiated the dopamine release, to begin with.

When taken in large doses, Percocet can cause a “high” similar to heroin that is characterized by:

• Euphoria.
• Feelings of claim and relaxation.
• Heightened pleasure.

Percocet and other prescription drugs are often mistakenly viewed as a safer way of getting high than using illicit street drugs, like heroin and cocaine. People may think that since a doctor is prescribing the medication it must be safe and effective for their needs. Unfortunately, however, Percocet abuse can lead to the same dangerous problems of dependence and addiction as the illicit street drugs that share their origin.

Signs And Symptoms Of Getting High On Percocet

Taking too large of a dose that your body can’t handle turns a Percocet high into an overdose. Common symptoms of overdose include:

• Bluish, cold, or clammy skin
• Coma
• Heart attack
• Skin and eyes turned a yellow tone
• Slow heartbeat
• Decreased or irregular breathing

When drug dependency and addiction occur, the body gets accustomed to the drug. The body adapts to function with Percocet abuse. Your body now needs the medication in order to function properly.

Stopping use abruptly causes Percocet withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms tend to be uncomfortable and exacerbated by preexisting medical conditions. Percocet withdrawal symptoms include:

• Anxiety
• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Bone and joint aches
• Insomnia

 

Why Is Percocet So Addictive?

Most people who become addicted to the Percocet high never intended to use a substance illegally. Typically, a doctor prescribes Percocet for pain, and a patient intends to use the medicine as prescribed. To understand why Percocet is so addictive, it’s key to understand the role that opioids play in pain relief.

The brain naturally produces opioids when the body is in pain. These opioids are not very strong, and they don’t produce a high. They work to help the body and brain handle pain. When an outside opioid, such as Percocet, enters the body, natural chemistry begins to change. The body no longer produces its own opioids. When the Percocet high fades, the body craves more opioids. Some users report that they feel a constant state of pain when they don’t have Percocet.

How long does Percocet stay in your system?

Like other opioids, Percocet has a half-life of about 5 hours. This means a half dose of Percocet would take about four hours to leave your system. However, for someone who takes Percocet to get high, it might take over 20 hours to eliminate all Percocet from the system. But, if you’re a chronic user, odds are you have more Percocet in your system than your organs can handle. In this case, it might take longer for all traces of Percocet to leave your system.

In a urine test, the drug can be detected 48 hours after the last dose. It can be found in the blood for about a day. However, in hair, oxycodone can be seen in hair follicles for up to 30 days. But, this hair test is not as reliable as urine or blood tests. 

When someone stops taking Percocet, they can experience a wide range of side effects, including heart failure and mental health adversities. Of course, these effects can vary from person to person.

How do people get high on Percocet?

Like other prescription drugs, people usually start getting high on Percocet by exceeding the recommended dose. This can be either taking more pills at once or taking pills more frequently. Previously, people would tamper with pills to snort or inject them. 

People might try to get high on Percocet by mixing it with other substances. Common substances mixed with Percocet that could be dangerous include, Alcohol, Other opioids, Benzodiazepines, Benadryl, Stimulants, or Acetaminophen.