All about Norco

Norco, is a common painkiller which was formed by combining hydrocodone and acetaminophen. The former component is classified as an opioid narcotic painkiller. This means that hydrocodone is in various ways similar to abusive substances like morphine, oxycodone, and even to the deadly heroin. Aside from that, Norco also contains acetaminophen, an active ingredient of the popular painkiller Tylenol.

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Norco can be bought with a doctor’s prescription and is usually used to treat chronic pain or can be given after an operation. It acts similarly as other narcotics. When an individual takes Norco, the compound attaches to the opioid receptors in the brain and subsequently stimulates the brain neurotransmitters in a such a way that the dopamine will be released in large quantities. As a result of this neural process, the brain’s perception is altered, and the individual’s pain threshold is hereby increased.

Like other opioids of its kind, Norco alters an individual’s pain experience, thus, also depressing his central nervous system. As classified by the US Drug Enforcement Administration, Norco is a Schedule II drug, meaning there is a high chance of addiction and abuse and a doctor’s prescription is required to obtain this drug.

Norco is in many ways similar to Vicodin since both drugs are made up of hydrocodone and acetaminophen. However, Norco has a greater ration of hydrocodone to acetaminophen compared to Vicodin. Ideally, Norco was made only to relieve pain, however, just like how it is with other opioid drugs, Norco creates euphoric feelings and produces a deeper sense of relaxation and overall well-being, which explains why it is highly susceptible for abuse.

If taken at a higher dosage, the individual might experience such side effects as the following:

• Breathing and blood pressure problems

• Delusions

• Drowsiness

• Impaired cognition

• Mood swings and other temperament issues

• Reduced heart rate

Lastly, since Norcon has an acetaminophen component, a toxic dosage level can lead to liver damage.

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All about Percocet

Like Norco, Percocet is also a popular brand-name for a prescription painkiller. It is composed of acetaminophen and the opioid oxycodone. Unlike some popular yet addictive opioid drugs, like morphine and heroin which are naturally developed from the opium poppy, oxycodone is produced in a laboratory.

In 1997, Endo Pharmaceuticals bought Percocet from The DuPont Merck Pharmaceutical Company. Most doctors use Percocet as a painkiller but since the users can get addicted to the drug, the same can only be bought and taken with a doctor’s prescription. Like Norco and other opioids, once taken, Percocet attaches to the opioid receptors in our brain, thereby, launching the brain’s dopamine to release a flood of euphoria and happiness. Since this drug is so powerful, those who take it with a legitimate and true doctor’s prescription would, later on, suffer from addiction to Percocet. Opioids which are similar in kind and composition to Percocet are toxic and dangerous because of the adverse effects of overdose and dependence. Some of its adverse effects, according to DrugAbuse.gov, include slowed breathing, decreased heart rate, and drowsiness.

Uses of Percocet

Being a painkiller, Percocet is prescribed by doctors to individuals suffering from slight to slightly severe pain. If you read the drug label of Percocet, you will see that it is advisable to only use Percocet if the pain is really severe and if other treatment options are not effective.

According to Endo Pharmaceuticals, this drug is not advisable for patients or individuals who have the following medical and physical conditions:

•Asthma

•Hypercarbia, or unusually raised levels of carbon dioxide

•Paralytic ileus and dysfunctional intestine as a result of intestinal muscle paralysis

•Respirational depression

•Sensitivity and low tolerance to acetaminophen

•Sensitivity and low tolerance to oxycodone

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Norco vs. Percocet

Based on the discussions above, it can be said that Percocet is very similar to Norco in various ways. Their main difference is the fact that Percocet relieves pain and offers therapeutic effects from oxycodone, in lieu of hydrocodone.

Percocet is considered stronger and more potent than Norco because the opioid oxycodone but Norco addiction is just as prevalent as Percocet addiction. .

Their similarities include the fact that both drugs are prescribed for the sudden onset of pain, and both also remedy pain up to 4 to 6 hours after intake. Also, these two drugs provide effective treatment for pain because of the mixture of its non-opioid and opioid components, thus taking care of all different types simultaneously.

Both of these drugs are susceptible for abuse and are also regulated by the government, hence, can only be bought and taken with a legitimate doctor’s prescription. If taken beyond the prescribed and normal dosage, there is a very high risk for dependence and addiction. Side effects include dizziness, nausea, and in worst cases, slowing down of the central nervous system.

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