Strength in numbers

Nursing, Mar 2000 by Cohen, Michael R

PERCOCET DOSING

Strength in numbers

For more than 20 years, Percocet (oxycodone, 5 mg, and acetaminophen, 325 mg) has been a popular pain reliever. Now that three additional strengths are available, using the Percocet name alone without the dose breakdown is no longer acceptable.

The four Percocet products now available include the following amounts of oxycodone and acetaminophen, respectively:

Percocet 2.5 mg/325 mg

Percocet 5 mg/325 mg

Percocet 7.5 mg/500 mg

Percocet 10 mg/650 mg.

Each Percocet strength differs from the others in tablet shape, size, and color; however, these safeguards may not be available in corresponding generic products.

If you receive an order for "Percocet," ask the prescriber to specify both the oxycodone and acetaminophen strengths. Relying on the oxycodone concentration alone is dangerous because the order may be misinterpreted and the patient could receive multiple tablets. Question any order for Percocet that appears to require multiple tablets.