Percodan vs Percocet: How These Two Opioid Painkillers Compare
How Percodan and Percocet compare, what each contains, the key difference between their aspirin and acetaminophen components, their shared opioid risks, and why both must be used with the caution any opioid demands.
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Ponlawat Pitsuwan, Physician and Addiction Medicine Specialist, Phuket Island Rehab.
Percodan and Percocet are both prescription opioid painkillers that contain the same opioid, oxycodone, and they are more alike than different. The key difference is the non-opioid ingredient each is combined with: Percodan combines oxycodone with aspirin, while Percocet combines oxycodone with acetaminophen (paracetamol). Both treat moderate to moderately severe pain, both rely on oxycodone for their opioid pain relief, and both carry the same opioid risks of tolerance, physical dependence, addiction, withdrawal, and life-threatening respiratory depression in overdose, especially when combined with alcohol or sedatives. The difference lies in the second ingredient and its risks: aspirin in Percodan can cause stomach irritation and bleeding and other aspirin-related effects, while acetaminophen in Percocet can cause severe liver damage if too much is taken. Percocet is the more commonly used of the two today. Neither is the safe option, both are controlled substances, and both should be taken only exactly as prescribed, never combined with alcohol, and never stopped abruptly after regular use.
Two oxycodone painkillers compared
Percodan and Percocet are two prescription opioid painkillers that are often confused because of their similar names and their similar purpose, and understanding how they compare is useful. The most important thing to know is that they share the same opioid: both Percodan and Percocet contain oxycodone, a powerful opioid, as their active opioid ingredient, and it is the oxycodone that provides the main pain relief and carries the opioid risks in both. Both are used to treat moderate to moderately severe pain, and both are controlled substances. In their core, the opioid component, they are essentially the same, which is why they are more alike than different.
The key difference between them lies in the second, non-opioid ingredient that the oxycodone is combined with. Percodan combines oxycodone with aspirin, while Percocet combines oxycodone with acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol. This difference in the second ingredient is the main distinction between the two and the source of their differing non-opioid risks, but it does not change the fact that both are oxycodone-based opioids with the same opioid effects and dangers. Understanding how Percodan and Percocet compare, in their shared opioid and their differing second ingredient, helps make sense of the two medications and underlines that whichever is used, it is a potent opioid to be treated with caution.
What each one contains
Both Percodan and Percocet are combination medicines pairing oxycodone with a non-opioid pain reliever, and the difference is which one. In Percodan, the oxycodone is combined with aspirin, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that relieves pain and reduces inflammation. In Percocet, the oxycodone is combined with acetaminophen, a non-opioid pain reliever and fever reducer that works differently from aspirin and is not an anti-inflammatory. So the structure of the two medicines is the same, an opioid plus a non-opioid pain reliever, and they differ only in which non-opioid is paired with the oxycodone.
This shared structure means both carry the same opioid risks from their oxycodone, plus a second set of risks that differs according to the non-opioid ingredient. The aspirin in Percodan brings the risks associated with aspirin and NSAIDs, particularly stomach irritation, ulcers, and bleeding, as well as effects on blood clotting and other aspirin-related considerations, and it is generally avoided in certain people, such as children and those with bleeding risks or stomach problems. The acetaminophen in Percocet brings the risk of liver damage if too much is taken. So while the opioid danger is identical, the second ingredient gives each its own distinct additional risk, which is part of how they differ in practice.
| Feature | Percodan | Percocet |
|---|---|---|
| Opioid ingredient | Oxycodone | Oxycodone |
| Non-opioid ingredient | Aspirin (an NSAID) | Acetaminophen (paracetamol) |
| Used for | Moderate to moderately severe pain | Moderate to moderately severe pain |
| Second-ingredient risk | Stomach irritation, ulcers, bleeding | Liver damage if too much taken |
| Opioid risks | Tolerance, dependence, addiction, overdose | Tolerance, dependence, addiction, overdose |
| Common use today | Less commonly used | More commonly used |
The difference: aspirin versus acetaminophen
The practical difference between Percodan and Percocet comes down to aspirin versus acetaminophen, and their different risks. Aspirin, in Percodan, is an NSAID, and its main additional risks are to the stomach and to bleeding: it can cause stomach irritation, ulcers, and gastrointestinal bleeding, and it affects blood clotting, so it carries a bleeding risk and is generally avoided in people with bleeding disorders, stomach ulcers, certain other conditions, and in children, in whom aspirin can cause a rare but serious condition. These aspirin-related considerations are a meaningful part of why Percodan is used more selectively.
Acetaminophen, in Percocet, has a different risk profile: it is generally gentler on the stomach and does not affect bleeding, but it is toxic to the liver above a certain daily amount, so its main additional danger is severe liver damage if too much is taken, a particular hazard when people take extra for the opioid effect or combine it with other acetaminophen products. In practice, Percocet is the more commonly used of the two today. The choice between them, where both are options, depends on the individual and factors such as their stomach and bleeding risk versus liver considerations, which is a medical decision. But the difference is in the second ingredient and its risks, not in the opioid, which is the same.
The risks they share
Whichever of the two is used, the opioid risks are identical, because both contain oxycodone, and these are the most serious risks of both. Both Percodan and Percocet can cause tolerance, where more is needed for the same effect, and physical dependence, where the body adapts so that stopping suddenly causes withdrawal. Both carry a real potential for misuse and addiction, particularly when taken in larger doses, more often than prescribed, or for their euphoric and calming effect rather than for pain, and oxycodone-based products are among the most commonly misused prescription opioids. And both, like all opioids, can suppress breathing dangerously in overdose, a fatal risk that rises sharply when combined with alcohol, benzodiazepines, or other sedatives.
Both also produce an opioid withdrawal syndrome if stopped suddenly after regular use, with cravings, aches, sweating, agitation, nausea, and insomnia, which while rarely directly life-threatening is intensely unpleasant and drives continued use. For all these reasons, neither Percodan nor Percocet should be stopped abruptly after regular use, both should be taken only exactly as prescribed, and both should be treated as the powerful opioids they are. The choice between them is a medical one based on the second ingredient’s risks and the person’s situation, not a matter of one being safe and the other not; both carry the full, serious opioid risks of oxycodone.
When use has become a problem
Because both Percodan and Percocet contain oxycodone, both carry a real risk of dependence and addiction, and recognising the warning signs with either is important. They include taking more than prescribed or more often, needing more for the same effect, taking the medication for its calming or euphoric effect rather than for pain, running out of a prescription early, seeking it from more than one source, feeling unable to stop, and experiencing withdrawal such as aches, sweating, agitation, and nausea between doses. With both drugs, escalating use also carries the added danger of the second ingredient, liver damage from acetaminophen in Percocet, or stomach bleeding from aspirin in Percodan.
If you or someone you love has become dependent on Percodan, Percocet, or any opioid, help is available, and stopping is safest done with medical support rather than suddenly and alone. A medically supervised opioid detox can manage withdrawal safely and comfortably, and for opioid addiction, medication-assisted treatment with buprenorphine or methadone is highly effective, alongside counselling and support. Anyone who has been taking high doses of either drug also needs assessment for harm from the second ingredient, and anyone also dependent on alcohol or benzodiazepines should not stop those suddenly. Opioid dependence and addiction are treatable, recovery is realistic, and reaching out for help is a positive and potentially life-saving step, regardless of which oxycodone product was involved.
Summary
Percodan and Percocet are both prescription opioid painkillers that contain the same opioid, oxycodone, and they are more alike than different. The key difference is the non-opioid ingredient each is combined with: Percodan combines oxycodone with aspirin, while Percocet combines oxycodone with acetaminophen. Both treat moderate to moderately severe pain, both rely on oxycodone for their opioid pain relief, and both carry the same opioid risks of tolerance, physical dependence, addiction, withdrawal, and life-threatening respiratory depression in overdose, especially when combined with alcohol or sedatives. The difference lies in the second ingredient and its risks: aspirin in Percodan can cause stomach irritation and bleeding, while acetaminophen in Percocet can cause severe liver damage if too much is taken. Percocet is the more commonly used today. Neither is the safe option, both are controlled substances, and both should be taken only exactly as prescribed, never combined with alcohol, and never stopped abruptly after regular use. Dependence and addiction are treatable.
As Dr. Ponlawat Pitsuwan, addiction medicine specialist at Phuket Island Rehab, puts it, “Patients ask me which is safer, Percodan or Percocet, and the honest answer is that the part that matters most, the oxycodone, is identical in both, so the opioid danger of addiction and overdose is the same. The difference is the partner ingredient: aspirin in Percodan, which can irritate and bleed the stomach, versus acetaminophen in Percocet, which can damage the liver. Neither is the gentle option. Both are oxycodone, both demand the same caution, never with alcohol, never stopped suddenly, and only ever exactly as prescribed.”
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Percodan and Percocet?
Both contain the same opioid, oxycodone, and treat moderate to moderately severe pain, so they are more alike than different. The key difference is the non-opioid ingredient: Percodan combines oxycodone with aspirin, an NSAID, while Percocet combines oxycodone with acetaminophen (paracetamol). This gives them different additional risks, stomach irritation and bleeding with the aspirin in Percodan, and liver damage with the acetaminophen in Percocet, but the opioid component, and therefore the opioid risks, are the same in both. Percocet is the more commonly used today.
Do Percodan and Percocet contain the same opioid?
Yes. Both Percodan and Percocet contain oxycodone, a powerful opioid, as their active opioid ingredient, and it is the oxycodone that provides the main pain relief and carries the opioid risks in both. They differ only in the non-opioid ingredient combined with the oxycodone, aspirin in Percodan and acetaminophen in Percocet. Because they share the same opioid, they carry the same opioid risks of tolerance, dependence, addiction, withdrawal, and overdose, and neither is the safe option in opioid terms.
Which is safer, Percodan or Percocet?
Neither is the safe option in opioid terms, since both contain the same opioid, oxycodone, with the same risks of addiction and overdose. They differ in the second ingredient’s risks: aspirin in Percodan can cause stomach irritation, ulcers, and bleeding and affects clotting, while acetaminophen in Percocet can cause liver damage if too much is taken. The choice depends on the individual, such as their stomach and bleeding risk versus liver considerations, and is a medical decision. Percocet is more commonly used today. Both demand the same opioid caution.
Are Percodan and Percocet addictive?
Yes, both are. Each contains oxycodone, a potent opioid, and carries a real risk of tolerance, physical dependence, and addiction, particularly when taken in larger doses, more often than prescribed, or for their euphoric effect rather than for pain. Oxycodone-based products are among the most commonly misused prescription opioids. Neither is the safe option. Warning signs include needing more, taking it for its mood effects, running out early, and being unable to stop. Dependence and addiction to either are treatable, and stopping is safest done with medical support.
Why does Percodan contain aspirin?
Percodan combines oxycodone with aspirin because aspirin, an NSAID, relieves pain and reduces inflammation through a different mechanism than the opioid, enhancing the overall pain relief, much as acetaminophen does in Percocet. However, aspirin brings its own risks, including stomach irritation, ulcers, and bleeding, and effects on blood clotting, and it is generally avoided in people with bleeding risks or stomach problems and in children. These aspirin-related considerations are part of why Percodan is used more selectively and Percocet, with acetaminophen, is more common today.
Are Percodan and Percocet dangerous with alcohol?
Yes, both are. Combining either with alcohol is dangerous because alcohol adds to the opioid’s suppression of breathing, raising the risk of fatal overdose. There are also second-ingredient risks: alcohol with the acetaminophen in Percocet increases liver risk, and alcohol with the aspirin in Percodan increases the risk of stomach bleeding. The same overdose danger applies to combining either with benzodiazepines or other sedatives. Neither should ever be taken with alcohol or other depressant substances, which is one of the most important safety rules for both.
Sources
Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Oxycodone Combination Products Prescribing Information. https://www.fda.gov/drugs
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Prescription Opioids DrugFacts. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/prescription-opioids
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Oxycodone Drug Fact Sheet. https://www.dea.gov/factsheets
National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus). Oxycodone Combination Products. https://medlineplus.gov/
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Medication-Assisted Treatment. https://www.samhsa.gov/medications-substance-use-disorders
World Health Organization (WHO). Opioid Overdose. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/opioid-overdose
Percodan vs Percocet — key entities and related terms
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