Percocet is a commonly prescribed painkiller that combines oxycodone, a powerful opioid, and acetaminophen, a mild pain reliever. While it can be highly effective for managing pain, it is also a controlled substance with a high potential for misuse and addiction. If you or someone you know is using Percocet, whether medically or recreationally, understanding how long it stays in the system, its potential risks, and how it interacts with the body is critical.
In this blog, we will take a look at what Percocet is, what it treats, and how it shows up on various tests, and we will answer the question of how long Percocet stays in your system.
How Long is Percocet in Your System?
Once you take Percocet, it is immediately absorbed into the bloodstream and metabolized by the liver. From there, the exact length of time that it can stay in your system, and be detectable can vary based on factors such as dosage, your metabolism, and how often you take the drug.
Percocet is most easily detected in urine. Since one of the active ingredients in Percocet is oxycodone, Percocet can typically be detected in urine anywhere from 3-4 days after the last dose was taken.
It’s important to note though that this window can vary based on a variety of factors such as:
- Hydration – The more hydrated you are, the faster you are likely to flush the Percocet out of your system
- Dosage – The higher the dosage, the longer it says in your system
- Frequency of use – If you take Percocet regularly, and for an extended period of time, it will take longer to fully flush it out of your system.
Blood, on the other hand, tends to have a much shorter detection window compared to urine. Unlike urine, Percocet is typically only detectable in blood for the first 24 hours after the last dose.
That, combined with the fact that blood testing is more invasive and often more expensive, is why blood testing is not as commonly used as urine testing when screening for Percocet.
While urine and blood are the more common ways to detect and screen for drugs, they are not the only ones. Percocet can also be detected through saliva and hair follicles.
For saliva, Percocet can be detected from anywhere from 1-4 days while in hair, the drug may be detectable for up to 90 days, making hair testing the most useful for assessing long-term use.
What is Percocet?
Percocet is a prescription painkiller that is designed to manage moderate to severe pain. It is typically prescribed either after surgery, or when an over-the-counter or milder painkiller won’t work.
Percocet is made up of two main active ingredients: oxycodone and acetaminophen.
Oxycodone, as you may know, is an opioid that blocks the pain receptors in the brain. As an opioid, it is also the reason why Percocet comes with a high risk of dependency and addiction.
Acetaminophen is the active ingredient in the over-the-counter painkiller Tylenol. In Percocet, acetaminophen is used to enhance oxycodone’s pain-relieving properties, as well as reduce fever.
What Does Percocet Treat?
Percocet can be used to treat a handful of ailments including:
- Post-surgical pain
- Chronic conditions such as arthritis and cancer-related pain
- Pain from dental procedures
- Severe injuries such as fractures
When prescribed medically, doctors often try to prescribe the smallest dose possible for the shortest time possible due to its addictive nature.
Will Percocet Show Up As An Opioid on a Test?
Percocet will absolutely show up on an opioid drug test. After all, Percocet has two active ingredients, one of which is an opioid.
Semi-synthetic opioids, which oxycodone is one of, are just one of the many different types of opioids that will show up on a drug test. Other opioids that are detectable as well include:
- Morphine
- Codeine
- Methadone
- Fentanyl
- Heroin
- Hydrocodone
- Tramadol
Is Percocet Addictive?
Since Percocet contains oxycodone, the short answer here is yes, Percocet can be highly addictive.
As an opioid, Percocet reacts to the brain’s reward system, producing a sense of euphoria to go along with pain relief. The “high” that Percocet often produces can be intoxicating, leading to the brain wanting more and more of that feeling. As the brain craves more of that feeling, users may find themselves needing to take more and more of the substance in order to achieve that feeling. This, in turn, can lead to abuse, dependency, and eventually addiction.
Signs of Addiction
If you or someone you know has been prescribed Percocet, it is important to know the signs to look for that may indicate the development of Percocet dependency or even addiction. After all, early detection is the best way to treat any sort of dependency or addiction issues.
Here are some of the things to be on the lookout for that may indicate a Percocet problem:
- Constantly craving the drug
- Experiencing withdrawal systems when not taking the drug
- Taking more than prescribed
- Obtaining Percocet illegally
- Doctor shopping in order to get more prescriptions than needed
- Neglecting responsibilities
- Getting into financial trouble as a result of buying the drug
- Being unable to stop taking the drug despite the negative consequences
- Changes in sleep patterns, eating habits, or personal hygiene
Get Help with Percocet Addiction Treatment at Crestview Recovery
Percocet is a powerful pain reliever but comes with significant risks, including addiction and dependency. It stays in the system for varying lengths of time depending on the type of drug test and individual factors like metabolism and usage patterns.
If you or someone you know is struggling with Percocet dependency or addiction, whether it be the result of recreation or prescription use, we want to help.
At Crestview Recovery, we offer a number of addiction and mental health treatment programs, including treatment for opioid and Percocet addiction. Our comprehensive treatment programs allow us to help every step of the way.
- Residential Treatment – Receive round-the-clock care in our residential rehab for addiction.
- Therapy – Evidence-based therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), group counseling, and holistic treatments like yoga and meditation can help address the underlying causes of Percocet addiction
- Aftercare – Develop a personalized plan to maintain sobriety, including support groups and continued therapy
For more information on our treatment programs, or to get started on the road to recovery, contact us today.
