Following a surgery, dental procedure, or injury, your healthcare provider may prescribe the narcotic medication Percocet
® (
oxycodone/APAP) to help relieve pain. People with
migraines or chronic pain may also benefit from this drug. Pain killers (such as Percocet) that belong to the narcotic drug class can cause physical and psychological dependence, so it is important to use this medicine with caution.
Percocet is either taken "as needed" or on a scheduled basis. "As needed" means you will only take a dose if you are experiencing pain (if you are not in pain, you will skip the dose), while "scheduled use" means you should take it on schedule, even if you are not in pain. Most healthcare providers prescribe Percocet on an "as needed" basis, rather than a scheduled basis.
Percocet contains two different medications:
oxycodone hydrochloride (a semi-synthetic narcotic) and
acetaminophen (a pain reliever and fever reducer commonly found in over-the-counter products). Adding acetaminophen to
oxycodone makes both medications more effective at relieving pain and may limit the abuse potential of oxycodone, as the maximum dose of Percocet is typically limited by the acetaminophen content.
(Click Percocet for more information about how Percocet works, to learn about the abuse potential of this drug, and to find out what side effects may occur.)
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