What is Endocet?
This combination medication is used to help relieve moderate to severe pain. It contains an opioid pain reliever (oxycodone) and a non-opioid pain reliever (acetaminophen). Oxycodone works in the brain to change how your body feels and responds to pain. Acetaminophen can also reduce a fever.
How to Use Endocet?
Take this medication by mouth as directed by your doctor. You may take this drug with or without food. If you have nausea, it may help to take this drug with food. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about other ways to decrease nausea (such as lying down for 1 to 2 hours with as little head movement as possible).
Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while using this medication unless your doctor or pharmacist says you may do so safely. Grapefruit can increase the chance of side effects with this medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
If you are using a liquid form of this medication, use a medication measuring device to carefully measure the prescribed dose. Do not use a household spoon because you may not get the correct dose.
The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. Do not increase your dose, take the medication more frequently, or take it for a longer time than prescribed. Properly stop the medication when so directed.
Pain medications work best if they are used as the first signs of pain occur. If you wait until the pain has worsened, the medication may not work as well.
If you have ongoing pain (such as due to cancer), your doctor may direct you to also take long-acting opioid medications. In that case, this medication might be used for sudden (breakthrough) pain only as needed. Other pain relievers (such as ibuprofen, naproxen) may also be prescribed with this medication. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about using oxycodone safely with other drugs.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use Endocet if you are allergic to acetaminophen (Tylenol) or oxycodone, or if:
- You have severe asthma or breathing problems
- You have a blockage in your stomach or intestines, including paralytic ileus
- You have recently used alcohol, sedatives, tranquilizers, or other opioid medications
Some medicines can interact with oxycodone and cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome. Be sure your doctor knows if you also take medicine for depression, mental illness, Parkinson’s disease, migraine headaches, serious infections, or prevention of nausea and vomiting. Ask your doctor before making any changes in how or when you take your medications.
To make sure Endocet is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
- Problems with your gallbladder, pancreas, thyroid, or adrenal gland
- A history of head injury, brain tumor, or seizures
- If you use a sedative like Valium (diazepam, alprazolam, lorazepam, Ativan, Klonopin, Restoril, Tranxene, Versed, Xanax, and others).
- Breathing problems, sleep apnea
- Liver disease, cirrhosis, or if you drink alcohol daily
- A history of drug abuse, alcohol addiction, or mental illness
- Kidney disease, urination problems
Endocet is more likely to cause breathing problems in older adults and people who are severely ill, malnourished, or otherwise debilitated.
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. You should not breastfeed while using this medicine.
Acetaminophen and oxycodone may pass into breast milk and could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding a baby.
Warnings
You should not use Endocet if you have recently used alcohol, sedatives, tranquilizers, or other opioid medications. Oxycodone can slow or stop your breathing, and may be habit-forming. Use only your prescribed dose, and swallow the pill whole to avoid a potentially fatal dose. Never share Endocet with another person.
Misuse of this medicine can cause addiction, overdose, or death, especially in a child or other person using the medicine without a prescription. Do not take more of this medication than is recommended. An overdose of acetaminophen can damage your liver or cause death. Call your doctor at once if you have nausea, pain in your upper stomach, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes).
Oxycodone may cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in a newborn if the mother has taken Endocet during pregnancy. An overdose of acetaminophen can damage your liver or cause death. Call your doctor at once if you have nausea, pain in your upper stomach, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes).
Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor right away if you have skin redness or a rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling. Fatal side effects can occur if you use this medicine with alcohol, or with other drugs that cause drowsiness or slow your breathing.
Endocet vs Percocet
Endocet and Percocet are two brand names for the combination of acetaminophen and oxycodone. This combination medication is often prescribed for moderate to severe pain that is not relieved with other therapies.
Acetaminophen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that treats pain and inflammation by decreasing the production of prostaglandins. Oxycodone is an opioid that binds to mu receptors in the brain. This combination produces strong analgesic effects to relieve pain from injury, surgery, and other conditions.
Endocet and Percocet contain the same active ingredients, acetaminophen, and oxycodone. As a potent opioid combination, Endocet and Percocet can help relieve moderate to severe pain.
Both Endocet and Percocet come in similar dosage forms. They can both be taken multiple times throughout the day as needed for pain. However, the maximum recommended daily dose of acetaminophen is 4000 mg. This is because acetaminophen can cause liver damage at high doses.
Acetaminophen and oxycodone can cause side effects such as constipation and nausea. As a Schedule II drug, this combination also has a high risk for abuse and dependence. Those who abuse acetaminophen and oxycodone report feelings of euphoria which can lead to addiction.
It is important to discuss these medications with a doctor. This information should be reviewed with a doctor to determine the best treatment option for you.
Endocet Addiction
Suddenly stopping this medication may cause withdrawal, especially if you have used it for a long time or in high doses. To prevent withdrawal, your doctor may lower your dose slowly. Tell your doctor or pharmacist right away if you have any withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, mental/mood changes (including anxiety, trouble sleeping, thoughts of suicide), watering eyes, runny nose, nausea, diarrhea, sweating, muscle aches, or sudden changes in behavior.
When this medication is used for a long time, it may not work as well. Talk with your doctor if this medication stops working well.
Though it helps many people, this medication may sometimes cause addiction. This risk may be higher if you have a substance use disorder (such as overuse of or addiction to drugs/alcohol). Take this medication exactly as prescribed to lower the risk of addiction. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details. Tell your doctor if your pain does not get better or if it gets worse.
Endocet Side Effects
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Opioid medicine can slow or stop your breathing, and death may occur. A person caring for you should give naloxone and/or seek emergency medical attention if you have slow breathing with long pauses, blue-colored lips, or if you are hard to wake up.
In rare cases, acetaminophen may cause a severe skin reaction that can be fatal. This could occur even if you have taken acetaminophen in the past and had no reaction. Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor right away if you have skin redness or a rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling.
Common side effects of Endocet
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Upset stomach
- Indigestion
- Constipation
- Lightheadedness
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Itching or rash
- Blurred vision
- Dry mouth
- Sweating
Serious side effects of Endocet
- Seizures (convulsions)
- Problems with urination
- Upper stomach pain
- Loss of appetite
- Dark urine
- Clay-colored stools
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes
- Shallow breathing
- Slow heartbeat
- Lightheadedness
- Fainting
- Confusion
- Unusual thoughts or behavior
What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Endocet?
Products that may interact with this drug include alcohol, pain medications, narcotics, allergy or cough, cold medications, seizure medications, medicine for sleep or anxiety, muscle relaxants, or psychiatric medications. Endocet contains acetaminophen, an ingredient in many nonprescription and combination prescription medications. Read labels or consult a pharmacist or doctor before taking Endocet with other pain relievers, fever reducers, or cold products to see if they contain acetaminophen as this can cause liver damage.
Endocet During Pregnancy or Breastfeeding
During pregnancy, Endocet should be used only if a doctor prescribes it. Using it for long periods or in high doses near the expected delivery date is not recommended because of potential harm to the fetus. Babies born to mothers who have used this medication may have withdrawal symptoms. This medication passes into breast milk and may have effects on a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding. This medication may cause withdrawal reactions, especially if it has been used long-term or in high doses. Withdrawal symptoms (such as restlessness, watering eyes, runny nose, nausea, sweating, muscle aches) may occur if you suddenly stop using this medication.
Endocet Overdose
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of this medicine can be fatal, especially in a child or other person using the medicine without a prescription. Overdose symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, sweating, severe drowsiness, pinpoint pupils, slow breathing, or no breathing.
Your doctor may recommend you get naloxone (a medicine to reverse an opioid overdose) and keep it with you at all times. A person caring for you can give them naloxone if you stop breathing or don’t wake up. Your caregiver must still get emergency medical help and may need to perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) on you while waiting for help to arrive. Anyone can buy naloxone from a pharmacy or local health department. Make sure any person caring for you knows where you keep naloxone and how to use it.
Reclaim Your Life From Endocet Addiction
Endocet addiction is a serious condition that can cause major health, social, and economic problems that should not be taken lightly. We Level Up California can provide to you, or someone you love, the tools to recover from addiction with professional and safe treatment. Feel free to call us to speak with one of our counselors. Our specialists know what you are going through. Please know that each call is private and confidential.