When someone decides to stop abusing prescription painkillers like Percocet after long-term abuse, they are going to face the distinct possibility of some rather severe withdrawal symptoms. Some recovering addiction sufferers believe that the time spent going through withdrawal was far worst than any time spent dealing with the cycle of addiction.
Percocet is an opiate-based prescription painkiller that doctors prescribe for moderate to severe pain issues. The long-term effects of addiction and the associated withdrawal symptoms would the same as the ones a heroin addiction sufferer would experience. As a point of reference, here’s a typical list of Percocet (opiate) withdrawal symptoms:
- Severe muscle cramps in the stomach region
- Tremors in the extremities (arms, hands, legs and feet)
- Body convulsions
- Nightmares and hallucinations that interfere with sleep
- Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
- Difficulty with basic body function
- Breathing issues
- Increase in heart rate and blood pressure
- Paranoia, depression, anxiety and suicidal ideology
You have to admit there are things on this list that would be of great concern to anyone who considering the abrupt end to abusing Percocet. Still, ending the abuse of Percocet is the only way to start dealing with addiction issues.
What’s the Longest Time Period for Percocet Withdrawal Symptoms Duration?
At this point, you have a general idea of what kinds of withdrawal symptoms are out there waiting for the addiction sufferer who is ready to combat their addiction. That might include you.
To give you a better idea about the entire Percocet withdrawal process, now is the time to discuss the withdrawal timeline. Of interest to you should be the stages of withdrawal and the time it would typically take to clear each stage. At the end, there will be a brief discussion about the possible occurrence of what the addiction treatment community calls “Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome(PAWS).)
Standard Percocet Withdrawal Timeline
For purposes of this discussion, the Percocet withdrawal timeline will be broken down into three stages. Remember, the severity of the withdrawal symptoms one can expect to experience is going to be affected by the following criteria:
- The length of the addiction sufferer’s abuse
- The way the addiction sufferer’s body metabolizes opiates
- The frequency of drug abuse
- The amount of Percocet with each dose
Stage One would typically begin approximately 6 to 8 hours after the drug user’s last dose. Initially, the drug user will experience nausea, cramping in the stomach region, the onset of cravings, headaches and difficulty sleep. Heading into day two, the cramping and difficulty sleeping will increase while panic attacks and anxiety start to set in.
Stage two will typically begin with day three. This is where things start getting dangerous. Into the third day, the addiction sufferer could begin experiencing things like severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, severe muscle cramping throughout the body and the onset of blood pressure and breathing problems. Day four will see these symptoms intensify while the body starts to experience tremors and convulsions. By day five, everything is going haywire. Hallucinations occur as well as nightmares. The addiction sufferer will sweat profusely and experience confusion, anxiety and paranoia. All of this will occur within this stage.
Stage three will see the withdrawal symptoms start to slowly diminish. The worst part is over. At this point and through the next couple of days, the addiction sufferer will likely encounter fatigue, depression and continued insomnia. Moving into the beginning of the second week of abstinence, the addiction sufferer should start feeling better and thinking with more clarity.
Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome(PAWS)
For some unfortunate souls, there will be lingering withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms could last as long as several months, though they may not always be evident. These residual withdrawal symptoms might include intermittent fatigue, depression, continuing cravings and ongoing difficulties with sleep. Eventually, all of these symptoms will disappear.
As disturbing as this information may seem, you don’t have to go through withdrawal on your own. We can place you in a detox program where you will be kept safe and comfortable as your body detoxes off Percocet. We can also get you into therapy where you can learn about your addiction and how to battle it in the future. For more information about our addiction treatment services, you can speak with one of our representatives by dialing 844-639-8371.