Percocet dosage: A detailed guide

This article describes Percocet’s dosages, strengths, and how to take it. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for Percocet. If you want to know more about Percocet, see this overview article. It covers the drug’s uses and side effects, ways to save on cost, and more.

Percocet is a brand-name medication that comes as an oral tablet. It’s available in a generic version called oxycodone/acetaminophen. This article describes the dosages of Percocet.

Boxed warnings

This drug has boxed warnings about the following risks. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The drug’s boxed warnings include risk of:

• misuse and addiction*
• serious respiratory depression (shallowed, slowed breathing)
• someone accidentally taking the drug, especially children
• serious harm if taken with certain other medications
• neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome
• liver failure

See the end of this article for more information about these warnings.

* Misuse means taking a drug in a way other than how it’s prescribed. Addiction means taking a drug even if it’s causing harm. Doctors sometimes refer to misuse and addiction as substance use disorder.

Forms and strengths of Percocet

Percocet comes as follows:

• Form: tablet that you swallow
• Strengths:
  • 2.5 milligrams (mg) oxycodone/325 mg acetaminophen
  • 5 mg oxycodone/325 mg acetaminophen
  • 7.5 mg oxycodone/325 mg acetaminophen
  • 10 mg oxycodone/325 mg acetaminophen

Dosage of Percocet

This article describes the recommended dosages for Percocet. The drugmaker provides these dosages.

If your doctor prescribes this medication, you should follow the dosage they prescribe. Your doctor will determine the dosage that best meets your needs. Do not change your dosage of Percocet without your doctor’s recommendation.

Usual recommended dosages of Percocet in adults

Usually, doctors start by prescribing a low dosage of Percocet. Then, they’ll adjust it over time until the right dosage is reached. Ultimately, your doctor will prescribe the smallest dosage of Percocet that gives the desired outcome.

Doctors will typically start treatment with Percocet 2.5 mg/325 mg tablets. The recommended starting dosage is 1–2 tablets every 6 hours as needed for pain.

The following table outlines the typical adult dosages of Percocet in milligrams (mg).

Note: The maximum dose of acetaminophen is 4,000 mg per day.

Dosage adjustments for Percocet

Your doctor will prescribe a dosage of Percocet based on several factors. These include:

• the specific condition you are taking Perocet to treat and how severe it is
• your age
• other health conditions you may have
• other medications you may be taking

Missed dose of Percocet

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist right away if you realize you forgot to take a dose of Percocet. They may advise you to take the missed dose. Or they may advise you to skip it and take your next dose as scheduled.

For tips on how to plan your doses of Percocet and avoid missing a dose, read this article. You could also try:

• downloading a reminder app on your phone
• setting an alarm
• putting a note where you’ll see it, such as on your calendar, bathroom mirror, or bedside table

Frequently asked questions

Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about Percocet and its dosage.

Do older adults need to take a lower dose of Percocet?

Possibly. The drugmaker advises starting with a dosage on the low end of the recommended range for older adults. Older adults are people ages 65 years and older.

Compared with younger adults, older adults may clear Percocet from their bodies more slowly. This means the drug may reach higher levels in the body. This can increase the risk of serious side effects such as breathing problems. Older adults may also be more sensitive to Percocet. Starting at a lower dosage may help avoid these problems.

If you have questions about the right dosage of Percocet for older adults, talk with your doctor.

Is Percocet taken long term?

It can be. Doctors typically prescribe Percocet as a short-term treatment. But it may also be taken long term. If you and your doctor determine that it’s safe and effective for your condition, you may take it long term.

If you have questions about how long you should take Percocet, talk with your doctor.

How Percocet is taken

You’ll swallow Percocet oral tablet once every 6 hours as needed for pain. You can take it with or without food.

Swallow the tablets whole. The drugmaker doesn’t specify whether you can cut, crush, or dissolve Percocet tablets. If it’s hard for you to swallow tablets, view this article. It provides suggestions on how to swallow medications that come in pill form.

Also, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re having difficulty taking your medication. They can recommend ways to help you take it.

Percocet coupon

Visit this page to access Optum Perks coupons and get price estimates for Percocet when you use the coupons. These coupons can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.

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Overdose of Percocet

It’s important that you do not take more Percocet than your doctor prescribes. Doing so can lead to harmful effects.

Symptoms of Percocet overdose

Symptoms of an overdose can include:

• slowed or shallow breathing, known as respiratory depression
• extreme sleepiness
• coma
• limp muscles
• cold or clammy skin
• small pupils, which is known as pinpoint pupils
• fluid in your lungs
• slow heart rate
• low blood pressure
• nausea
• vomiting
• sweating
• fatigue (low energy)

What to do if you take too much Percocet

If you think you’ve taken too much Percocet, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

What to ask your doctor

This article describes the usual recommended dosages for Percocet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they’ll determine the dosage that’s best for you.

Do not change your dosage of Percocet without your doctor’s recommendation. You should take Percocet exactly as your doctor prescribes it. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about your treatment plan.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• Will my dosage of Percocet change if I’m taking other medications with it?
• Will a lower dosage of Percocet reduce my risk of side effects?
• How long will I need to take Percocet?
• How does the dosage of Percocet compare to other drugs prescribed for pain?

Boxed warnings for Percocet

This drug has boxed warnings about the following risks. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Risk of addiction and misuse. Percocet has a risk of misuse and addiction. Misuse means taking a drug in a way other than how it’s prescribed. Addiction means taking a drug even if it’s causing harm. Doctors sometimes refer to misuse and addiction as substance use disorder. Misuse and addiction can occur in anybody who receives a prescription for Percocet. Addiction may happen even if you take the drug at the recommended dosage.

Due to this risk, Percocet is only prescribed and dispensed through the opioid analgesic risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) program. This program helps ensure that doctors prescribe the drug safely.

Risk of serious respiratory depression. Percocet can cause serious, life threatening breathing problems, even when taken as recommended. It can make your breathing slow and shallow, which is known as respiratory depression. If this isn’t recognized and treated right away, it may lead to death.

Respiratory depression can occur at any time during treatment. But the risk is greatest when you first start taking Percocet or if your doctor increases your dosage.

If you have trouble breathing during treatment with this drug, call 911 to get emergency medical help right away.

Risk of someone accidentally taking the drug, especially children. Percocet can cause serious and life threatening side effects if it’s accidentally taken by someone it’s not intended for, especially children. In some cases, taking even one dose can lead to overdose and death.

Due to this risk, be sure to store Percocet in a safe, secure place where others can’t get to it, especially children.

Risk of serious harm if taken with certain other medications. Taking Percocet along with certain other medications can raise the amount of Percocet in your body. This can lead to life threatening side effects, including slowed or shallow breathing.

Taking Percocet with other drugs that slow your brain function can increase the risk of extreme sleepiness, slowed breathing, coma, and even death. This can also occur if you drink alcohol or use illegal drugs while taking Percocet. Examples of medications that can slow your brain function include:

• sedatives
• benzodiazepines
• muscle relaxants

In addition, certain medications can affect a protein that breaks down Percocet in your body. As a result, these medications can raise the level of Percocet in your system, increasing your risk of side effects from the drug.

Due to this risk, doctors typically won’t prescribe this combination of medications unless it’s the best or only option. If you take these medications at the same time, your doctor will prescribe the lowest effective dosage of each medication. And they’ll prescribe them for the shortest amount of time needed.

Risk of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). If you take Percocet for a long period of time during pregnancy, it can cause neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). (Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that can occur when you stop taking a drug that your body depends on. Dependence means your body needs the drug to function as usual.) In this case, withdrawal symptoms affect the newborn.

NOWS can be life threatening if it’s not recognized and treated. If you take Percocet for a long time during your pregnancy, your doctor will monitor your newborn for NOWS.

Risk of liver failure. Acetaminophen, which is one of the active ingredients in Percocet, increases your risk of serious liver problems, including sudden liver failure. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work) The risk is higher if you take more than 4,000 milligrams (mg) of acetaminophen per day or if you take more than one medication that contains acetaminophen.

Acetaminophen is a common ingredient in many over-the-counter drugs. Due to this risk, it’s important to check the ingredients of any new medications to ensure you’re not taking more than 4,000 mg of acetaminophen per day. Check with your pharmacist or doctor if you’re unsure of the ingredients in your medications.

For details, see the “Dosage of Percocet” section above. You can also talk with your doctor to learn more.

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.