To preface this: I’m not asking for medical advice-I’m going to follow the directions on the label. But I’m curious about the chemistry (or biology) of this:
I was recently prescribed percoset by my doc. The instructions on the bottle say “Take one to two tablets every four to six hours as needed for pain.”
Stuff worked well–killed the pain, was a little bit buzzed maybe, but still able to function.
Anyway, I’m getting near the end of the prescription and the pain is mostly gone, but still a bit above what aspirin/motrin/tylenol can handle so I thought “Hey, these things are scored, instead on one, I’ll take half–stuff’s supposed to be addictive anyway, so the less I take, the better, right?”
It knocked me out. I mean, ambien could take lessons from this stuff. I figured “…th’ hell? Must have been 'cause I took it in the evening.” so I tried it again the next morning with the other half tab and sure 'nuff, same thing. Knocked me out for about 2, 3 hours.
Why in the world would a half-tablet knock me out and a full tablet NOT? Anyone able to explain the bio-chemistry of this?
I’d say you were just more susceptible to the effects when you took them, especially since your pain had diminished from its previous high levels. With higher pain levels, higher doses tend to relieve the pain while often causing less sedation. When taken with less or no pain, even lesser doses can have a more sedative effect.
That makes sense though Qadgop–still, weirdest damned sensation. I’ve had ambien and it didn’t come close to knocking me out like the percocet did-it hit me like a ton o’ bricks–I barely made it to the bedroom!
I am pretty sure that the people who are addicted to oxy’s crush the pill to make it act faster, this is how they get addicted. Apparently the pill releases slowly when taken whole but hits hard and fast when crushed, this may explain the effect when you split it.
Even if it’s not coated, a half-tablet will still dissolve more quickly than a full one, simply because it’s smaller. (Or essentially what JFLuvly said).
That HAS to be it…'cause I took a full one this morning and am just a bit groggy but not the total “hit in the face with a hammer” feeling I had from the half tabs.
It’s weird that people can get addicted to this–I’m not denying they can or trying to diminish their experience, but the “knock-out” thing was actually kind of unpleasant and while the very mild buzz I’m getting is nice (and the pain relief is better), a couple of glasses of wine would be pretty close.
(Crushed up?? Eew. Wouldn’t that be like chewing aspirin?!)
In any case, we’re probably veering closer to stuff that will get this thread closed than we should be and I’d be interested in Qacgop opinion on the new theory–'cause this is nothing like I felt from the half-pill. (Also–stomach contents about the same, pain level probably lower than the half-pill)
Unless one is using the delayed-release style oxycodones (AKA oxycontin), I’m not aware that there is speedier release from breaking the tablet up. Most pharmacokinetic studies I’m familiar with indicate rapid breakdown and release from intact tablets.
But with generics, who knows?
Snorting is a whole 'nuther issue, and a rather dangerous one. Not only can one achieve toxic blood levels rapidly thru nasal ingestion, but the inert substances (and the tylenol) in the tablet can cause bad reactions in the nasal and sinus passages.
Not everybody is susceptible to opiate addiction. My wife, for instance, gets no pleasurable feelings from taking opiates; she just feels nauseated, dizzy, and tired.
That applies only to Oxycontin, the continuous-release form of oxycodone. Percocet is a mixture of acetaminophen and oxycodone with no time-release factor.
