 Percocet® is the brand name for the combination of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and oxycodone. Percocet® is prescribed for moderate to moderately severe pain. Oxycodone binds to the pain receptors in the brain so that the sensation of pain is reduced. Acetaminophen halts the production of prostaglandins which otherwise cause pain. It is available in tablet, capsule, and liquid form and is taken every 6 hours by mouth. Since oxycodone can be habit forming, care must be taken to follow the doctor's instructions when taking Percocet®. Do not take a larger dose, or take it more frequently, or take it for longer than the doctor has prescribed. FLORIDA DETOX ANESTHESIA ASSISTED PERCOCET DETOX Our patients report our anesthesia assisted Percocet Detox eliminates 90 to 98 percent of the painful, uncomfortable Percocet withdrawal symptoms.
Florida Detox performs safe anesthesia assisted opiate detox, in the intensive care unit of a hospital presently rated in the top five percent in the United States and consistently rated in the top 10 percent. Dr. Sponaugle has perfected advanced anesthesia techniques which absolutely prevent dangerous blood pressure and pulse increases, during anesthesia assisted opiate detoxification. Since heart rate and blood pressure remain at safe normal resting levels, our patients rest quietly, breathing unassisted, without tremors or convulsions, during anesthesia. Fatigue and muscle soreness are reduced by our advanced anesthesia technique, since exhausting tremors and convulsions are eliminated. Our expert Licensed Massage Therapist, who graduated with a Masters Degree in Physical Education, provides two massages, for our patients, further reducing muscle soreness.
Florida Detox eliminates psychological craving by accurately diagnosing and effectively treating anxiety, depression, insomnia, attention deficit disorders and hormonal imbalances which usually drive opiate dependency. Neurotransmitter and hormone testing have proven and enhanced our highly accurate diagnosis, of disorders driving addiction. Florida Detox opiate treatment includes effective followup for three months.
NALTREXONE Florida Detox does not use Naltrexone implants. Naltrexone implants at some centers have caused infection, producing scarring and cellulitis. Florida Detox uses Naltrexone, after anesthesia, to prevent opiates from reattaching to the opiate receptor, while the liver finishes metabolizing or breaking the opiates down. We have not found it necessary to continue Naltrexone, more than 2 to 4 weeks, in most cases. Although Naltrexone can prevent physical craving for opiates, it does not eliminate psychological craving. .
Naltrexone can block the pain reduction, produced by exercise or acupuncture. Our bodies naturally produce opiates, which attach to our opiate receptors. These internally produced endorphins and enkephalins naturally reduce anxiety and pain. Women could not survive unmedicated childbirth, without these endogenous opiates. These endogenous opiates are increased by prolonged endurance exercise, such as swimming, bicycling, running, skating, rowing and cross country skiing. Extreme sports producing endorphins include skydiving, hang gliding, bungee jumping, rock climbing, extreme skiing, etc. Electrical measurements indicate acupuncture can also increase endorphin production. Continuation of Naltrexone medication, after physical opiate craving ends, unnecessarily blocks the natural anxiety and pain reduction of endorphins and enkephalins. In some cases, we recommend DL-Phenylalanine, DLPA, (an amino acid, available at health food stores) to increase production of endorphins and enkephalins. DLPA can inhibit the enkephalinase enzyme, slowing breakdown of these naturally occurring opiates.
Naltrexone implants could needlessly delay initiation of buprenorphine analgesia, or delay additional planned surgical procedures. Most of our patients are able to manage the pain from prior injuries, without opiates, after detox. A small proportion requires low doses of buprenorphine. These low doses generally numb their pain, without numbing their brain. They do not develop increasing tolerance for buprenorphine. Our anesthesia assisted opiate detox resets opiate tolerance at a much lower level, for patients, who are unable to completely eliminate pain without opiates. Patients who continue to require opiates, for pain control, no longer need to “doctor shop” or risk buying pain medication illegally, in the black market, when their pain is controlled by medication dosages, which can be legally prescribed, by a single physician.
Many of our patients report “the fog has lifted” or the “blinds have opened,” after they experience a successful opiate detoxification, with effective hormonal and neurotransmitter balancing. Accounts of this phenomenon are posted on our website. Deficient brain blood flow distribution usually normalizes approximately one year after opiate abstinence is achieved. In the interim, hormonal and neurotransmitter imbalances can be effectively treated to reduce or eliminate attention deficits, depression, anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, lethargy and chronic pain. Nutritional and antifungal treatments are also helpful.
PERCOCET CAN CAUSE HORMONAL IMBALANCES Opiate use severely decreases testosterone, while prolactin and cortisol are often increased. Thyroxine (T4) thyroid hormone often decreases, during opiate withdrawal. We have also found deficient DHEA sulfate levels in some patients we have treated for opiates. We frequently prescribe testosterone and thyroid hormone to depleted patients. Depression has decreased when we recommended DHEA for patients who tested with lowered levels. Opiate patients who gained excessive weight, due to opiate induced hypothyroidism, often look ten to twenty years younger, when they return for followup, after adequate hormonal treatment.Since dopamine is the inhibitory hormone for prolactin release, elevated prolactin levels, frequently indicate dopamine deficiency. Dopamine deficiency also requires correction to produce a successful recovery from opiate dependence.
PERCOCET DEPENDENCY Psychological dependence, physical dependence, and tolerance frequently develop with repeated use of Oxycodone. Psychological dependence is unlikely when Oxycodone is used for a short period of time.
Physical dependence occurs when continued use of the drug is needed to avoid withdrawal symptoms. This problem occurs after several (2 weeks to 2 months) of continued narcotic use.
Tolerance is when ever increasing doses are required to produce the same degree of pain relief. Tolerance is initially manifested by a decreased duration of pain relief, followed by decreases in the intensity of pain relief. The rate of tolerance varies among patients.
Percocet has a pain relief potency similar to or greater than oral morphine. Generally, this drug is abused by oral rather than intravenous administration.
When taken as directed, Percocet can produce physical dependence in a few weeks time.
Addiction is characterized by compulsive use, use for non-medical purposes, and continued use despite harm or risk of harm.
PERCOCET Withdrawal If a regular Percocet user abruptly stops taking Percocet, withdrawal begins in six to twelve hours. The intensity of withdrawal depends on the degree of the addiction, and symptoms are usually not life-threatening. Typically, Percocet withdrawal symptoms may intensify for twenty-four to seventy-two hours and then gradually decline over a period of seven to fourteen days.
The symptoms of Percocet withdrawal include but are not limited to, rapid heart beat, high blood pressure, insomnia, anxiety, restlessness, muscle pain, bone pain, diarrhea, vomiting, goose bumps, involuntary leg movements, watery eyes, runny nose, loss of appetite, irritability, panic, nausea, chills, and sweating. PERCOCET CAN CAUSE LIVER TOXICITY Percocet is a combination of the opiate oxycodone and acetaminophen. Oxycodone opiates causes hormonal deficiencies, prolonged constipation, impaired brain blood flow distribution and chemical dependency. Many Percocet dependent patients also receive dangerous, potentially fatal Acetaminophen doses. The Harvard Women’s Health Watch reports Acetaminophen overdose causes 56,000 emergency room visits and 458 deaths from acute liver failure annually, in the United States. An overdose is considered to be over 4,000 mg daily. Percocet tablets contain 500 milligrams of Acetaminophen per tablet. Acetaminophen doses exceeding 12,000 milligrams per day, frequently increase the alanine transaminase (AST) liver enzyme. Patients using over 4,000 milligrams of Acetaminophen daily may benefit from Alpha Lipoic Acid, Vitamin C or N Acetyl Cysteine supplementation to protect their liver.
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