Percodan
Percodan® is a
potent opioid painkiller used to treat moderately severe to severe
acute (short-term)
pain. Percodan was first
marketed by
DuPont Pharmaceuticals and prescribed in the
United States in
1950. At one time one of the most widely prescribed painkillers, Percodan has largely been replaced by safer alternatives.
Each Percodan
tablet contains the following
active ingredients: 4.5
mg of
oxycodone hydrochloride, 0.38 mg of
oxycodone terephthalate, and 325 mg of
aspirin. Each tablet also contains the following inactive ingredients:
FD&C Yellow 10,
FD&C Yellow 6,
microcrystalline cellulose and
starch. The
oxycodone component in Percodan is technically
14-hydroxydihydrocodeinone, a
white odorless,
crystalline powder which is
synthesized from the
opium alkaloid thebaine. Thebaine by itself has no
therapeutic value. Oxycodone is
metabolized into
oxymorphone. Unlike
morphine and like
codeine, oxycodone has a good oral
potency. Prior to the introduction of
acetaminophen (
Tylenol), Percodan was the mainstay in post-operative oral pain treatment due to the potency and long
half-life of oxycodone. Percodan originally contained a small amount of
caffeine.
Percodan has largely been replaced by
Percocet (which is a
compound of oxycodone and acetaminophen, instead of Percodan's aspirin) and other oxycodone-containing compounds for post-operative pain, since aspirin and other
anti-inflammatory drugs increase
prothrombin time and thus inhibit the blood from clotting, which can result in post-operative complications, such as excessive bleeding. In the United States, Percodan is regulated as a
Schedule II controlled substance under the Uniform
Controlled Substances Act of 1970, along with
cocaine, morphine and
raw opium.
Schedule II prescriptions may not be filled
telephonically (except in an emergency), and no
refills are allowed. Percodan is becoming something of a relic in the United States, at least, as the number of prescriptions has fallen precipitously since the 1960s in light of the safer and stronger drugs available containing oxycodone (Percocet,
Tylox,
OxyContin,
Roxicodone,
Percocet 10/325).
Percodan is also sold under the brand name
Endodan®. All products containing oxycodone (including Percodan, Percocet, OxyContin) have the potential to be habit-forming. Oxycodone can produce
drug dependence of the morphine type and, therefore, has the potential for being
abused. Percodan is subject to the Federal
Controlled Substances Act (
Schedule II); it is a favorite of and eagerly sought after by
opiate addicts; most opiate addicts, however, prefer OxyContin because it does not contain any other active ingredients besides oxycodone, unlike Percodan and Percocet, which each contain aspirin and Tylenol, respectively.
Percodan and Percocet are currently (
2006) manufactured by
Endo Pharmaceuticals.
The usual adult
dosage of Percodan is one tablet by mouth every 6 hours as needed for pain, not to exceed 12 tablets in 24 hours in any event.
*
Percodan Prescribing Information from Endo Pharmaceuticals.*
Endo Pharmaceuticals.
