Methadone vs. Percocet

• Are Methadone and Percocet the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Methadone?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Percocet?
• What is Methadone?
• What is Percocet?
• What Drugs Interact with Methadone?
• What Drugs Interact with Percocet?
• How Should Methadone Be Taken?
• How Should Percocet Be Taken?

Percocet (oxycodone and acetaminophen) and Methadone Hydrochloride are opioid analgesics used for pain relief.

A difference is that Percocet is a combination of an opioid and a non-narcotic pain reliever/fever reducer used for the management of moderate to severe pain, usually for an extended time period.

Methadone hydrochloride is indicated for detoxification treatment of opioid addiction (heroin or other morphine-like drugs), and for maintenance treatment of opioid addiction (heroin or other morphine-like drugs), in conjunction with appropriate social and medical services.

Brand names for methadone include Methadose, Diskets, and Dolophine.

Common side effects of Methadone include:

• anxiety,
• nervousness,
• restlessness,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• weakness,
• drowsiness,
• dry mouth,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• diarrhea,
• constipation,
• loss of appetite,
• decreased sex drive,
• impotence, or
• difficulty having an orgasm.

Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of methadone hydrochloride including:

• shallow breathing,
• hallucinations,
• confusion,
• chest pain,
• dizziness,
• fainting,
• fast or pounding heartbeat,
• trouble breathing,
• lightheadedness, or
• fainting.

Common side effects of Percocet include:

• constipation,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• upset stomach,
• sleepiness,
• drowsiness,
• dizziness,
• lightheadedness,
• itching,
• headache,
• blurred vision,
• dry mouth,
• sweating, and
• decreases in the ability to feel pain.

Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Percocet including:

• respiratory depression,
• apnea (periodic stoppage of breathing),
• respiratory arrest,
• circulatory depression,
• low blood pressure (hypotension),
• shock, and
• death.

Methadone is a synthetic opioid analgesic, indicated for detoxification treatment of opioid addiction (heroin or other morphine-like drugs), and for maintenance treatment of opioid addiction (heroin or other morphine-like drugs), in conjunction with appropriate social and medical services. Methadone oral concentrate is available in generic form.

Percocet (oxycodone and acetaminophen) is a combination drug consisting of an opioid and a pain reliever and fever reducer (analgesic and antipyretic) used for the management of moderate to severe pain, usually for an extended time period.

Methadone oral concentrate may interact with antiretroviral drugs, rifampin, phenytoin, St. John's wort, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, azole antifungals, macrolide antibiotics, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), voriconazole, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), desipramine, antiarrhythmics, neuroleptics, tricyclic antidepressants, calcium channel blockers, alcohol, other opioids or CNS depressants, or with illicit drugs that cause central nervous system depression. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

Who should not take Percocet?

Do not take Percocet if you are allergic to any of its ingredients.

If you develop signs of allergy such as a rash or difficulty breathing stop taking Percocet and contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Do not take more than 4000 milligrams of acetaminophen per day. Call your doctor if you took more than the recommended dose.

Patients should be aware that Percocet tablets contain oxycodone, which is a morphinelike substance.

Patients should be instructed to keep Percocet tablets in a secure place out of the reach of children. In the case of accidental ingestions, emergency medical care should be sought immediately.

When Percocet tablets are no longer needed, the unused tablets should be destroyed by flushing down the toilet.

Patients should be advised not to adjust the medication dose themselves. Instead, they must consult with their prescribing physician.

The dose of methadone oral concentrate to initiate detoxification and maintenance treatment is a single dose of 20 to 30 mg that may be sufficient to suppress withdrawal symptoms.

Dosage should be adjusted according to the severity of the pain and the response of the patient. It may occasionally be necessary to exceed the usual dosage recommended below in cases of more severe pain or in those patients who have become tolerant to the analgesic effect of opioids. If pain is constant, the opioid analgesic should be given at regular intervals on an around-the-clock schedule. Percocet tablets are given orally.