Should I Break My Percocet in Half?

Percocet is a strong narcotic pain medication prescribed for moderate to severe pain. This is not a medication that everyone can take due to its strength. However, sometimes breaking it in half will help to lessen the site effects. Here we will talk about breaking Percocet in half and how it may help you.

Why Break Percocet in Half?

For me, I simply wanted to take as little as possible. Taking only a half at a time allows me to best control my dose. I want to take only enough to make my pain tolerable and no more. I have been prescribed this medication for a long time and will be prescribed for a lot longer and it is powerful, so I always want to take as little as possible while making sure my pain is tolerable. I talked to my doctor before doing this and you should make sure to talk to your doctor too to make sure that breaking your pills in half is a good choice for you.

Some people want to reduce the side effects that Percocet may cause. For those whose bodies have not adjusted to this drug, nausea, feeling loopy or drowsy and dizziness and common side effects. Taking a smaller dose may help to lessen these side effects.

Some people are not meant to take Percocet long-term and need to taper off of the drug. Breaking pills in half may help with this. However, if you are tapering off of Percocet make sure that you are doing so under the direct supervision of your doctor. This is a narcotic medication and withdrawal symptoms can occur if you have been taking it long enough and/or at a high enough dose. These withdrawal symptoms can be very unpleasant.

Can I Break My Percocet in Half?

It is important to look for the score. The score is the groove or line located in the middle on one side of the pill. If this is present, the pill can be broken in half. If this score is not present, you should not break the pill in half. Not all Percocet pills are scored. Breaking an un-scored pill in half may lead to too much of the medication entering your body at once and overdose occurring. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure about whether you can break your specific Percocet in half.

Resources

WebMD: Percocet