Percodan contains a combination of aspirin and oxycodone. Aspirin belongs to a group of drugs called salicylates. It works by reducing substances in the body that cause pain, fever, and inflammation. Oxycodone is an opioid pain medication. An opioid is sometimes called a narcotic.
Percodan is used to relieve moderate to severe pain.
Percodan may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Important information
Oxycodone can slow or stop your breathing. Never take Percodan in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed.
Oxycodone may be habit-forming, even at regular doses. Take Percodan exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Never share the medicine with another person. MISUSE OF NARCOTIC PAIN MEDICINE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH, especially in a child or other person using the medicine without a prescription.
Aspirin should not be given to a child or teenager who has a fever, especially if the child also has flu symptoms or chicken pox. Aspirin can cause a serious and sometimes fatal condition called Reye"s syndrome in children.
You should not take Percodan if you have a bleeding disorder, a recent history of stomach or intestinal bleeding, if you take a blood thinner, or if you are allergic to aspirin, oxycodone, or an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) such as Advil, Motrin, Aleve, Orudis, Indocin, Lodine, Voltaren, Toradol, Mobic, Relafen, Feldene, and others. Do not use Percodan if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects.
Before taking this medicine
You should not take Percodan if you are allergic to aspirin or oxycodone, or if you have:
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a bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia;
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ulcer or obstruction in the stomach;
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severe asthma or breathing problems;
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an allergy to an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) such as Advil, Aleve, Motrin, Naprosyn, Orudis, Cataflam, Celecoxib, Feldene, Indocin, Lodine, Mobic, Relafen, Toradol, Voltaren, and others; or
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if you are taking a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven).
Do not use Percodan if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others.
Do not give this medication to a child or teenager with a fever, flu symptoms, or chicken pox. Aspirin can cause Reye"s syndrome, a serious and sometimes fatal condition in children.
To make sure Percodan is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
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stomach or intestinal disorder, history of stomach ulcer or bleeding;
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a blockage in your stomach or intestines;
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any type of breathing problem or lung disease;
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allergies, nasal polyps;
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urination problems;
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liver or kidney disease;
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a history of head injury, brain tumor, or seizures;
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a history of drug abuse, alcohol addiction, or mental illness; or
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problems with your gallbladder, pancreas, or thyroid.
This medicine is more likely to cause breathing problems in older adults and people who are severely ill, malnourished, or otherwise debilitated.
Oxycodone may be habit-forming. Never share Percodan with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep this medication in a place where others cannot get to it. Selling or giving away Percodan to any other person is against the law.
FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while taking Percodan.
See also: Pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (in more detail)
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If you use oxycodone while you are pregnant, your baby could become dependent on the drug. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after it is born. Babies born dependent on habit-forming medicine may need medical treatment for several weeks.
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Taking aspirin during late pregnancy may cause bleeding in the mother or the baby during delivery.
Aspirin and oxycodone can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using Percodan.
How should I take Percodan?
Take Percodan exactly as prescribed. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Never take this medicine in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed. Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain.
Oxycodone may be habit-forming, even at regular doses. Never share this medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. MISUSE OF NARCOTIC PAIN MEDICINE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH, especially in a child or other person using the medicine without a prescription. Selling or giving away Percodan to any other person is against the law.
Always check your bottle to make sure you have received the correct pills (same brand and type) of medicine prescribed by your doctor. Ask the pharmacist if you have any questions about the medicine you receive at the pharmacy.
Percodan may be taken with food if it upsets your stomach.
If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using Percodan. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.
Do not stop using Percodan suddenly after long-term use, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when you stop using Percodan.
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
Keep track of the amount of medicine used from each new bottle. Oxycodone is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if anyone is using your medicine improperly or without a prescription.
Do not keep leftover Percodan tablets. Ask your pharmacist where to locate a drug take-back disposal program. If there is no take-back program, flush any unused tablets down the toilet. Disposal of medicines by flushing is recommended to reduce the danger of accidental overdose causing death. This advice applies to a very small number of medicines only. The FDA, working with the manufacturer, has determined this method to be the most appropriate route of disposal and presents the least risk to human safety.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Since Percodan is used for pain, you are not likely to miss a dose. Skip any missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. A Percodan overdose can be fatal, especially in a child or other person using the medicine without a prescription. Overdose symptoms may include slow breathing and heart rate, severe drowsiness, muscle weakness, cold and clammy skin, pinpoint pupils, and fainting.
What should I avoid?
Avoid drinking alcohol. It may increase your risk of stomach bleeding while taking aspirin.
This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how Percodan will affect you. Dizziness or severe drowsiness can cause falls or other accidents.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other over-the-counter cold, allergy, or pain medicine. Aspirin is contained in many combination medicines. Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much aspirin. Check the label to see if a medicine contains aspirin.
Ask your doctor before using Percodan if you take an antidepressant such as citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline (Zoloft), trazodone, or vilazodone. Taking any of these medicines with an NSAID may cause you to bruise or bleed easily.
Percodan side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any signs of an allergic reaction to Percodan: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
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severe stomach pain or constipation, vomiting;
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easy bruising, unusual bleeding, bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
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weak or shallow breathing, fast or slow heartbeat;
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confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior, feeling like you might pass out;
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seizure (convulsions); or
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decreased hearing or ringing in the ears.
Common Percodan side effects may include:
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headache, dizziness, drowsiness;
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constipation, heartburn, upset stomach, bloating, gas, diarrhea; or
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dry mouth.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
See also: Side effects (in more detail)
What other drugs will affect Percodan?
Taking this medicine with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous or life-threatening side effects. Ask your doctor before taking Percodan with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.
Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with Percodan, especially:
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medication to prevent blood clots - dalteparin, desirudin, enoxaparin, fondaparinux, tinzaparin, warfarin, Coumadin; or
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an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) - ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), ketorolac.
This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with Percodan, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.
