You may have heard of the prescription drugs Percocet and Vicodin, especially in the context of abuse and addiction. Both of these pills contain opiates with a serious potential for deadly addiction. While they are approved by the United States DEA for medical use, many develop dangerous addictions to them. Vicodin’s main ingredient is the opiate hydrocodone while Percocet’s main ingredient is the opiate oxycodone. Percocet is classified as a schedule II substance according to the DEA while Vicodin is also classified as a schedule II substance.

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Are Vicodin and Percocet Naturally Occurring?

While the natural source of opiates is the poppy flower, Percocet and Vicodin are manufactured in a laboratory. Oxycodone and hydrocodone are synthesized from natural sources and acetaminophen is added for pain relief and to prevent abuse. The chemical formulas for the two drugs are as follows: 

Vicodin: acetaminophen and hydrocodone bitartrate
Percocet: acetaminophen and oxycodone hydrochloride

Method of Delivery

Percocet and Vicodin are both manufactured in pill form and are taken orally.

Potency

Both Percocet and Vicodin are effective at subduing the pain. Both give moderate pain relief and sometimes severe pain relief. Unlike Percocet, Vicodin also provides the added benefit of suppressing cough symptoms. Percocet is slightly more potent as a painkiller than Vicodin. A trained medical professional can give you the details on whether or not Vicodin or Percocet is right for your condition. It’s important to understand the science behind these drugs before using them.

A comparison chart of opioid potency can be found here.

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Pricing:

Vicodin and Percocet are both very popular brand-name drugs manufactured by corporations. The generic brand is cheaper and contains the same chemicals, but the brand name is pricier for marketing reasons. The only difference between name brand and generic prescription drugs is the name, packaging, and marketing. Discussing generic prescription options with your medical professional is a good way to save money.

How much would a Percocet or Vicodin prescription cost you? As both are potent opioids with a high potential for addiction, drug companies price them rather high. A prescription for Percocet can cost you roughly $400 each month at the very minimum. A prescription for Vicodin can cost you roughly $180 each month at the very minimum. Generic brand versions of the drug cost less, but keep in mind that opiates are expensive in general.

Side Effects

The side effects of opiate use, including Percocet and Vicodin, can be separated into short-term and long-term effects. Vomiting, dizziness, sedation, nausea, drowsiness, lightheadedness, and general malaise are some of the less serious side effects of Percocet and Vicodin. As opiates are depressants that slow down a lot of your bodily functions, these minor symptoms can be avoided by rendering yourself immobile. Both Percocet and Vicodin are also highly addictive at certain doses, even when prescribed by a trained and trusted medical physician.

The more serious side effects of short-term use include:

• Stopped or slowed breathing

• Shock

• Hypotension

• Hypersensitivity reactions

• Circulatory depression (a side effect of any depressant, such as opioids)

• Apnea

The more serious side effects of long-term use include:

• Physical and psychological dependence (addiction)

• Loss of interest in sex

• Impaired sexual function

• Increased sensitivity to pain

• Feelings of euphoria and dysphoria (pleasure and pain)

• The decrease in sex hormones (such as testosterone, but not estrogen)

Opioid Abuse

Abuse of opioids like Percocet and Vicodin has created an epidemic in the United States and elsewhere. Opioid-related overdose deaths are now one of the leading causes of death in the United States. This a result of the addictive nature of opioids and also marketing/funds paid from large drug companies directly to doctors who can legally prescribe the drugs. As a result, opioids such as Percocet and Vicodin are over-prescribed, leading to widespread addiction, overdose deaths, and general harm to society.

However, this behavior can be linked to the soaring profits generated by drug companies who manufacture large amounts of opioids for the American public. Normal, hard-working Americans are falling into prescription opioid addictions at an alarming rate.

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Withdrawal Symptoms

The symptoms experienced directly after ceasing use of addictive substances like opioids are called withdrawal symptoms. While quitting a drug like Vicodin or Percocet can be quite painful and unpleasant, it is not deadly unlike. It is best for recovering addicts to undergo these withdrawal symptoms under the aid of a nurse or doctor in the context of professional Vicodin rehabilitation. A trained and educated professional knows how to mitigate withdrawal symptoms such as:

• Muscle pain

• Diarrhea

• Vomiting

• Nausea

• Restlessness

• Sweating

• Discontent

• Anxiety

• Abdominal pain

• Insomnia

Alternatives

Opiates are not the only solution for pain relief. One powerful and emerging alternative to opiates is cannabidiol, also derived from a medicinal flowering plant, marijuana. Much like hydrocodone and oxycodone, cannabidiol is derived from a natural source. Often abbreviated as CBD, cannabidiol oil can be used to treat chronic pain and is available in all 50 states of the USA. Unlike opiates, CBD oil is not deadly and does not foster a dangerous addiction. When seeking treatment for chronic pain, consider CBD oil as a viable alternative to prescription opiates. Keep in mind that while one method of treatment may work for one person, it does not apply to everyone.

If you absolutely must take Vicodin or Percocet for your pain relief, take into consideration the potential for addiction and side effects. Opiate addiction is costly in more ways than one, so it is important to stay informed on the science and economics of any drug you introduce into your body.

Want more information about how Chapters Capistrano can help? Feel free to call 949-276-2886 and one of our addiction specialists will help get the information and help you need.