Introduction
Percocet is a combination of acetaminophen and oxycodone taken as a pain reliever. In general, oxycodone (opioid) remains in urine for 4 days, saliva for 2 days, and hair for up to 90 days. It can take up to 1 day for a dose of Percocet to leave your blood, but it can still show up on a drug test.
The length of time Percocet stays in your system may vary depending on your age, weight, kidney or liver function, dosage, drug interactions, or other factors.
Percocet contains two drugs: acetaminophen and immediate-release oxycodone. Acetaminophen is the active ingredient in Tylenol, while oxycodone is an opioid pain reliever.
Oxycodone is the opioid found in Percocet that may be part of your test.
If your doctor has prescribed Percocet and you have a medical reason to use this medication for pain, tell the staff at the drug testing site before taking the test. Consult your doctor who will advise you to gradually stop the medication over a period of time.
If you undergo a urine drug screen, oxycodone may be one of the drugs tested, but it is not a standard part of all urine drug tests.
Oxycodone IS required in pre-employment urine drug tests by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) and the US Department of Defense.
Oxycodone can also be tested in other types of samples:
- Blood
- Saliva
- Reveal
- Hair
What is the half-life of Percocet?
Eliminating a drug from your body is related to its ‘half-life’.
The average half-life of immediate-release oxycodone is about 3.2 hours, so most people should clear the entire dose from their blood in a day, but this can vary.
Acetaminophen has a half-life of about 1.25-3 hours, so a single dose of acetaminophen should leave your bloodstream in a day or less.
The half-life of a drug is the time it takes for the blood concentration of a drug to drop to half of its original value. It takes 5 and a half lives for the drug to be completely eliminated from your body, but it can still show up on a drug test.
The half-life and elimination of a drug can vary from person to person depending on age, weight, genetics, kidney or liver function, drug interactions, and medical conditions. If you use Percocet frequently or at high doses, it may stay in your system longer than usual.
What does Percocet work for?
Percocet is used to treat pain that requires opioid analgesics and other treatments (such as NSAIDs such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen alone, or non-drug treatments such as ice, heat, or physical therapy) are not sufficient.
Percocet is an oral prescription pain medication that contains acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol) and oxycodone. Acetaminophen is an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever and oxycodone is a prescription opioid pain reliever. Oxycodone is classified by the DEA as a II controlled substance due to its potential for abuse and addiction. An opioid (oxycodone) is typically evaluated for workplace drug testing.
Percocet will not stop the pain, but it will prevent the person from feeling the pain. Percocet also contains acetaminophen (Tylenol). Tylenol has two purposes: it adds additional pain-relieving properties, and it also helps prevent abuse, as high doses of acetaminophen can cause liver damage.
How long does Percocet stay in your urine?
General guidelines are available for detection time, but may vary between individuals. Percocet can be found in your urine for up to 4 days.
Many variables can affect the time it takes for drugs to appear in urine or other biological samples:
- Half-life of the drug
- if the person is dehydrated
- dose of medicine
- length or frequency of drug use
- route of administration (eg IV, oral, nasal)
- drug interactions that can affect metabolism or elimination
- The cutoff concentration used by the testing laboratory to detect the drug
How long does Percocet last? How long does Percocet last?
In general, the pain-relieving effect of one Percocet tablet (5 mg oxycodone immediate-release / 325 mg acetaminophen) begins to work in 20 to 30 minutes the peak effect lasts 1 to 2 hours, and usually lasts 4 to 6 hours.
Generally, your healthcare provider will start you on a low dose and slowly increase it until your pain is under control.
How long can a drug test detect?
Drug tests do not specifically test for Percocet, but most drug tests have a panel for oxycodone or opioids. Since it’s not normal, your doctor may want to try acetaminophen.
The opioid in Percocet can be found for up to 90 days on the basis of the test.
Urine
Urine testing is one of the most common drug testing methods, relatively inexpensive and easy to perform.
The detection window for immediate release of oxycodone can be as long as 1 to 1.5 days.
Rambutan
Oxycodone occurs within 1-2 days after taking Percocet.
Blood
The immediate-release oxycodone in Percocet can be detected in your blood up to 24 hours after administration, but unrecognizable in a few hours.
Hair
Hair follicle tests can detect traces of opioids up to 90 days after taking Percocet.
The chemicals in the treatment can reach the hair follicles through the tiny blood vessels in your scalp. That way, doctors can use a section of hair close to your scalp to detect the drug months after you’ve taken it.
How long does it take to break down (metabolize) Percocet?
The time it takes for Percocet to clear your system depends on several factors, including your individual metabolism, the condition of your liver, and how much Percocet you took.
First, let’s look at the average half-life of Percocet. In pharmaceuticals, the half-life of a drug is the time it takes for your body to clear half of the drug.
Immediate-release oxycodone has an average half-life of 3.2 hours, while acetaminophen has an average half-life of 2-3 hours.
This does not mean that Percocet cannot be detected by drug testing, but it does mean that the effects wear off 16 hours after taking it.
What can you do to metabolize Percocet faster?
Not. Your body’s metabolism of Percocet is largely under your control.
Be wary of advice on the internet that suggests drinking a glass of water to test negative for Percocet. Drinking large amounts of water in a short period of time can be harmful – even life-threatening.
If you experience side effects, remember that they won’t last forever. If you have a bad reaction to Percocet or experience severe side effects, consider going to the emergency room.
How does Percocet work?
Percocet contains the active ingredients oxycodone and acetaminophen. Oxycodone is an opioid pain reliever, while acetaminophen is a non-opioid and non-NSAID pain reliever.
People who use opioids such as oxycodone may experience euphoria or a sense of well-being. Opioids can create rewarding and reinforcing responses in the brain, which can lead to compulsive use.
Acetaminophen has a unique mechanism of action and works to reduce pain levels through serotonergic pathways in the central nervous system (CNS). Unlike oxycodone, acetaminophen is not addictive.
How long does Percocet take to kick in?
Percocet’s primary pain reliever comes from its opioid component, oxycodone. Oxycodone works by binding to opioid receptors on nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain or central nervous system.
Percocet starts working in about 10-30 minutes and the effect lasts for 3-6 hours. Percocet is usually taken several times a day, every 4-6 hours as needed for pain.
How long does Percocet last?
Percocet lasts 3-6 hours. Doctors usually prescribe the maximum daily dose to limit the risk of abuse and addiction. Percocet works best for short-term pain because of the fast-acting combination of two substances—oxycodone and acetaminophen.
If you take Percocet for a long time, usually longer than four weeks, you can develop a tolerance. When someone becomes tolerant to Percocet, larger doses of the drug are needed to produce the same pain. In this case, the effects of Percocet will not last long for the person who first started taking the drug.
How much time does it take for Percocet be shown on a drug test?
A drug test can detect recent Percocet use. Percocet is usually cleared from the system in 17.5 hours, but because of the metabolites left behind by the drug, it may take longer than a specific drug test.
When someone takes Percocet, the oxycodone in their blood is metabolized in the liver and then excreted in the urine and feces. Because its metabolites are around longer than oxycodone, drug tests can detect the last use of oxycodone even after it has been eliminated from the body.
How long does Percocet stay in your blood?
Percocet use may show up in blood tests up to 18 hours after use. This timeline is based on how long it takes most drugs and five and a half lives to get out of the system.
How long does Percocet stay in your urine?
Someone who takes a drug test may wonder – how long does Percocet stay in your urine? Some oxycodone remains in the urine after it has been cleared from the body. Oxycodone can be found in oral fluids for up to two days. Saliva tests are less common because they are harder to use and less accurate than urine tests.
How long does Percocet stay in your hair?
Percocet and other drugs were detected in hair tests for up to 90 days. Exfoliation time is based on rapid hair growth.
How long does Percocet stay in breast milk?
Oxycodone, the opioid ingredient in Percocet, can remain in breast milk for 2-3 days. Researchers estimate that about 8% of oxycodone passes into breast milk. This may be enough to cause adverse effects on the baby. Ask your doctor if you want to breastfeed while taking this medicine.
Characteristics that matters the duration of Percocet in your system
Several factors can affect how long Percocet stays in the blood:
Genetics:
Percocet components are metabolized by the liver to be eliminated from the body.
Kidney and liver function:
People with kidney or liver problems metabolize Percocet more slowly and stay in the body longer.
How often people use the substance:
People who take Percocet often have a lower metabolism of Percocet. Because it is not stored in fat tissue, it is more likely to be removed from the body faster than normal due to a person’s tolerance to the drug.
Weight:
Oxycodone is not lipophilic, meaning it is not stored in fatty tissue. Therefore, a person’s weight does not significantly affect how long they stay in the system.
Percocet withdrawal
Percocet contains oxycodone, which can cause physical dependence. It can happen even if the medicine is taken exactly as prescribed.
Symptoms can last 4-10 days for most people and can include:
- Riots
- Watch out
- It’s windy
- Do not have diarrhea
- Heat lamp
- Insomnia
- Muscle cramps
- Worried
- Vomit
- Sweat
- Pardon
When you detox, the addictive substances are metabolized out of the body. Medical detox is performed under the supervision of a trained professional and is considered the safest and most convenient detox method.
Percocet abuse
Percocet abuse usually involves taking it non-prescription (high doses, usually either by crushing or injecting the substance) or without a prescription. Percocet and other forms of oxycodone have a high risk of abuse and addiction.
Symptoms of oxycodone addiction may include:
- Taking oxycodone in a way other than prescribed
- Taking oxycodone without a prescription
- “Doctor-Shopping” to try to get some prescriptions
- Focus on taking oxycodone without paying attention to the consequences
- Neglecting responsibilities or activities you once enjoyed
If you stop taking oxycodone, experience symptoms
There is also a risk of overdose if someone takes multiple doses of Percocet per day or higher than the prescribed dose. Percocet overdose symptoms are usually caused by the oxycodone in the drug, but acetaminophen can help with an overdose in some cases.
Symptoms of a Percocet overdose include:
- Blue color on the lips, nails, or lips
- Cold or clammy skin
- Dizziness
- Sleep too much
- Fainting
- Muscle weakness
- Show students
- Slow heart rate
- Anxiety
- Coma
- Death
Treating Percocet Addiction
Our accredited facility is staffed by qualified and licensed occupational therapists that provide evidence-based compassionate care. We offer outpatient, partial inpatient, intensive care, outpatient and palliative care.
Once you decide to call, our representative will help you learn more about the Percocet addiction treatment program that fits your needs. Start your healthy future today.
Chemical composition of Percocet
Percocet consists of two different active ingredients: oxycodone and acetaminophen. Each compound plays a role in this medicine. Percocet contains several inactive ingredients, including colloidal silicon dioxide, crospovidone, croscarmellose sodium, microcrystalline cellulose, pregelatinized corn, povidone, and stearic acid.
Each dose of Percocet also contains various other coloring agents. Common coloring agents include FD&C Red No. 40 Aluminum Lake includes FD & C Blue No. 1 Aluminum Lake and FD & C Yellow No. 6 Aluminum Lake.
Mix Percocet with other substances
Mixing Percocet with other substances is never a good idea. Percocet is a depressant. This means it will have a relaxing effect on the body and mind. There is also a risk of respiratory depression and convulsions.
Mixing Percocet with other substances can cause some unwanted effects. If you mix Percocet with other depressants, you increase the risk of overdose. This is because both substances will have an effect on the body and brain. As a result, they will magnify the influence of others. This means that small doses of Percocet can push the body and mind over the edge.
On the other hand, mixing Percocet with stimulants like cocaine can also have some negative consequences. First, both of these substances have a negative effect on the body. This means that the effect of each ingredient will be reduced. As a result, they can take larger doses of each ingredient to achieve the desired effects. This can cause them to take dangerous doses.
It should also be noted that the body detoxifies each substance at a different rate. If the body begins to clear the stimulant, it can lead to an opioid overdose.
Bottom line
The pain-relieving effects may wear off within 4 to 6 hours after taking Percocet, but the drug may stay in your system longer. Percocet can be detected in urine drug tests for up to 4 days, in saliva samples for up to 2 days, and in hair samples for up to 90 days.
People can often abuse Percocet because it contains oxycodone. It can be an addictive and potentially harmful drug. Urine tests can detect opioids like oxycodone up to 4 days after the last dose, but it may take a little longer for the drug to leave your system.
