What Does a Percocet Look Like?
What Percocet tablets look like, why appearance varies, the danger of counterfeit pills, and the risks of this opioid painkiller.
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Ponlawat Pitsuwan, Physician and Addiction Medicine Specialist, Phuket Island Rehab.
Percocet is a prescription painkiller that combines the opioid oxycodone with acetaminophen (paracetamol), used for moderate to moderately severe pain. There is no single appearance for Percocet: it comes as tablets in various shapes, colours, and markings depending on the strength (the amount of oxycodone and acetaminophen) and the manufacturer. Brand-name and generic versions, and different doses, can look different, for example round or oval tablets in colours such as white, blue, yellow, or pink, each usually stamped with identifying letters or numbers (an imprint). Because appearance varies so much, you cannot reliably identify a genuine Percocet, or its strength, by look alone. This is an important safety point, because counterfeit pills made to look like Percocet are a serious and growing danger: fake pills sold illicitly may contain other, far more dangerous drugs such as fentanyl, which can cause fatal overdose in tiny amounts, and they can be impossible to tell apart from genuine tablets. For this reason, you should never take a Percocet (or any pill) that was not prescribed to you and dispensed by a pharmacy. Percocet is also a strong opioid with real risks of dependence, addiction, and overdose. If you or someone you know is struggling with Percocet or opioids, help is available.
What does a Percocet look like?
Percocet is a prescription painkiller that combines two ingredients: oxycodone, a strong opioid, and acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol), a non-opioid pain reliever. It is used to treat moderate to moderately severe pain. People often ask what a Percocet looks like, but the important answer is that there is no single appearance: Percocet comes as tablets in a variety of shapes, colours, and markings, which differ depending on the strength of the tablet (the amount of oxycodone and acetaminophen it contains) and the manufacturer. Brand-name Percocet and the many generic versions of oxycodone-acetaminophen can look different from one another, and different doses are often made in different colours and with different markings to help distinguish them. So a Percocet might be, for example, a round or oval tablet in a colour such as white, blue, yellow, or pink, usually stamped with identifying letters or numbers known as an imprint.
This article explains what Percocet tablets look like and why their appearance varies, and, importantly, why you cannot reliably identify a genuine Percocet by appearance, the serious danger of counterfeit pills, and the real risks of this opioid painkiller. The central message is that, because Percocet’s appearance varies so much between strengths and manufacturers, you cannot tell a genuine Percocet, or its strength or contents, from its look alone, and that this matters greatly because counterfeit pills made to look like Percocet are a serious and growing danger, often containing other, far more dangerous drugs such as fentanyl. The safest rule is never to take a Percocet, or any pill, that was not prescribed to you and dispensed by a pharmacy. It is also important to understand that Percocet is a strong opioid with genuine risks of dependence, addiction, and overdose, and that if you or someone you know is struggling with it, help is available.
Why Percocet’s appearance varies
Percocet’s appearance varies for a few reasons. First, Percocet comes in different strengths, containing different amounts of oxycodone (the opioid) combined with acetaminophen. Manufacturers often make different strengths in different colours, shapes, or sizes, and with different markings, precisely so that they can be told apart, which is a safety measure. Second, Percocet is available both as the brand-name product and as many generic versions of oxycodone-acetaminophen made by different manufacturers, and these can look different from one another; a generic tablet with the same ingredients and strength as brand-name Percocet may have a completely different colour, shape, and imprint. Third, tablets carry an imprint, a set of letters and/or numbers stamped on them, which identifies the specific medication, strength, and manufacturer; these imprints differ between products.
This variety means that there is no one look for a Percocet. Genuine oxycodone-acetaminophen tablets (Percocet and its generics) come in many appearances, and the imprint is actually the most reliable identifying feature, as each corresponds to a specific medication and strength (pharmacists and pill-identification resources use imprints, along with colour and shape, to identify tablets). However, and this is a crucial safety point, appearance and imprints can be, and are, copied by those making counterfeit pills, so even a tablet that looks exactly like a genuine Percocet, with the right colour, shape, and imprint, cannot be assumed to be genuine or safe if it did not come from a legitimate pharmacy with a prescription. In other words, while genuine Percocet has recognisable (though varied) appearances, you cannot rely on appearance to confirm that a pill is a genuine, safe Percocet, because counterfeits can look identical. This leads to the most important safety issue: the danger of counterfeit pills.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| What Percocet is | Oxycodone (opioid) + acetaminophen; a painkiller |
| Appearance | Varies: different shapes, colours, and imprints |
| Why it varies | Different strengths, generics, and manufacturers |
| Most identifying feature | The imprint (letters/numbers), plus colour and shape |
| Key danger | Counterfeit pills can look identical but contain fentanyl |
| Safety rule | Never take a pill not prescribed and pharmacy-dispensed |
The serious danger of counterfeit pills
The most important reason not to rely on appearance to identify a Percocet is the serious and growing danger of counterfeit pills. Counterfeit pills are fake tablets made to look like genuine prescription medications, such as Percocet, but produced illicitly, often containing other, far more dangerous drugs. In particular, many counterfeit pills sold on the illicit market and made to look like Percocet or other prescription opioids have been found to contain fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is extremely powerful and can cause fatal overdose in very small amounts. Because fentanyl is so potent, a counterfeit pill may contain a lethal dose, and the amount can vary unpredictably even between pills from the same batch. Crucially, these counterfeit pills can be made to look virtually identical to genuine Percocet, with the same colour, shape, and imprint, so it is impossible to tell them apart by appearance, and impossible to know what a pill really contains just by looking at it.
This danger is why appearance is not a safe way to identify a Percocet, and why the only safe rule is never to take a Percocet, or any pill, that was not prescribed to you and dispensed by a legitimate pharmacy. Pills bought online, from friends, from dealers, or from any source other than a pharmacy on a prescription cannot be trusted, no matter how genuine they look, because they may be counterfeit and may contain fentanyl or other dangerous substances. This has caused many deaths, often in people who believed they were taking a genuine prescription pill. The rise of counterfeit pills has made taking any non-prescribed pill extremely dangerous. If there is any chance a pill is not from a legitimate source, it should be treated as potentially deadly. This is a vital public-safety message: you cannot identify a safe Percocet by how it looks, and taking an illicitly obtained pill is a potentially fatal gamble. Being aware of the signs of opioid overdose and having naloxone available can be life-saving, and it is safest never to take such pills at all, and never alone.
The risks of Percocet and getting help
Even genuine Percocet, taken as prescribed, is a strong opioid with real risks, and these are worth understanding. Because it contains oxycodone, Percocet carries the opioid risks of tolerance, physical dependence, and addiction with repeated use, and the danger of respiratory depression (slowed breathing) in overdose, which can be life-threatening, especially at high doses or when combined with alcohol, benzodiazepines, or other sedatives. Because it also contains acetaminophen, taking too much Percocet can cause serious liver damage from the acetaminophen. Signs of a developing problem include taking more than prescribed, using it for its effects rather than for pain, being unable to stop, cravings, and continuing despite harm. Percocet should be taken exactly as prescribed, never in larger doses, and not combined with alcohol or other sedatives without medical advice, and should be stored safely away from others.
If a person is misusing Percocet, has become dependent or addicted, or is taking illicitly obtained pills, it is important to seek help, both because opioid addiction is treatable and because of the deadly risk of counterfeit pills. The reassuring message is that opioid dependence and addiction are treatable, with help including medically supervised withdrawal, medications used in opioid use disorder treatment such as buprenorphine or methadone where appropriate, counselling and behavioural therapies, and ongoing support. The key messages are that there is no single appearance for Percocet, as it varies by strength and manufacturer, that you cannot reliably identify a genuine, safe Percocet by look alone, that counterfeit pills made to look like Percocet are a serious, potentially fatal danger (often containing fentanyl), that you should never take a pill not prescribed to you and dispensed by a pharmacy, and that Percocet is a strong opioid with real risks. If you or someone you know is struggling with Percocet or opioids, reaching out for help is important and potentially life-saving, and recovery is possible.
Summary
Percocet is a prescription painkiller that combines the opioid oxycodone with acetaminophen (paracetamol), used for moderate to moderately severe pain. There is no single appearance for Percocet: it comes as tablets in various shapes, colours, and markings depending on the strength (the amount of oxycodone and acetaminophen) and the manufacturer. Brand-name and generic versions, and different doses, can look different, for example round or oval tablets in colours such as white, blue, yellow, or pink, each usually stamped with identifying letters or numbers (an imprint). Because appearance varies so much, you cannot reliably identify a genuine Percocet, or its strength, by look alone. This is an important safety point, because counterfeit pills made to look like Percocet are a serious and growing danger: fake pills sold illicitly may contain other, far more dangerous drugs such as fentanyl, which can cause fatal overdose in tiny amounts, and they can be impossible to tell apart from genuine tablets. For this reason, you should never take a Percocet (or any pill) that was not prescribed to you and dispensed by a pharmacy. Percocet is also a strong opioid with real risks of dependence, addiction, and overdose. If you or someone you know is struggling with Percocet or opioids, help is available.
As Dr. Ponlawat Pitsuwan, addiction medicine specialist at Phuket Island Rehab, puts it, “People ask what a Percocet looks like hoping for a simple picture, but the honest and life-saving answer is that there isn’t one, they come in many colours, shapes, and imprints depending on the dose and the maker. And here is the part that frightens me: counterfeit pills can be pressed to look exactly like a real Percocet, right down to the stamp, but contain fentanyl, and fentanyl can kill in an amount you cannot even see. So I tell people plainly: you cannot judge a pill’s safety by its appearance, and the only pill you can trust is one your own pharmacy handed you on your prescription. Anything else is a gamble with your life. And if Percocet has become a struggle, please reach out, because this is treatable.”
Frequently asked questions
What do Percocet pills look like?
There is no single look for Percocet pills; they come in a variety of shapes, colours, and markings depending on the strength and the manufacturer. Percocet contains oxycodone and acetaminophen, and it is made in different strengths (different amounts of oxycodone and acetaminophen), which manufacturers often produce in different colours, shapes, or sizes so they can be told apart. It is also available both as brand-name Percocet and as many generic versions of oxycodone-acetaminophen, which can look different from one another. So a Percocet might be a round or oval tablet in a colour such as white, blue, yellow, or pink, usually stamped with an imprint (identifying letters and/or numbers). The imprint is the most reliable identifying feature, as each corresponds to a specific medication and strength, and pharmacists and pill-identification resources use imprints, along with colour and shape, to identify tablets. However, and crucially, you cannot rely on appearance to confirm that a pill is a genuine, safe Percocet, because counterfeit pills can be made to look identical, including copying the imprint. So while genuine Percocet has varied but recognisable appearances, appearance alone cannot confirm a pill is safe. The only pill you can trust is one prescribed to you and dispensed by a legitimate pharmacy.
Can you identify a Percocet by its appearance?
You cannot reliably or safely identify a genuine Percocet by appearance alone, and this is a crucial safety point. While genuine Percocet tablets have particular appearances (varying by strength and manufacturer), and the imprint, colour, and shape can, in principle, identify a specific genuine medication, there are two big problems with relying on appearance. First, Percocet’s appearance varies so much between strengths, generics, and manufacturers that there is no single look to recognise. Second, and far more importantly, counterfeit pills can be made to look virtually identical to genuine Percocet, with the same colour, shape, and imprint, so a pill that looks exactly like a real Percocet may in fact be a fake containing dangerous drugs such as fentanyl. This means you cannot tell, from appearance, whether a pill is a genuine, safe Percocet or a potentially deadly counterfeit. For this reason, appearance should never be used to judge whether a pill is safe to take. The only way to know a Percocet is genuine and safe is that it was prescribed to you and dispensed by a legitimate pharmacy. Any pill from another source, however genuine it looks, cannot be trusted. If you need to identify a legitimately obtained medication, a pharmacist can help. But you should never take a pill obtained illicitly, no matter how it looks.
Why are counterfeit Percocet pills so dangerous?
Counterfeit Percocet pills are extremely dangerous because they are fake tablets made to look like genuine Percocet but produced illicitly, and they often contain other, far more dangerous drugs, most notably fentanyl. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is extremely potent, and it can cause fatal overdose in very small amounts. A counterfeit pill may contain a lethal dose of fentanyl, and the amount can vary unpredictably even between pills from the same batch, so there is no way to take such a pill safely. Crucially, counterfeit pills can be made to look virtually identical to genuine Percocet, with the same colour, shape, and imprint, so it is impossible to tell them apart by appearance or to know what a pill really contains just by looking. This means that anyone taking a pill they believe to be Percocet, but which was not obtained from a legitimate pharmacy on a prescription, could unknowingly be taking a deadly dose of fentanyl. This has caused many deaths, often in people who thought they were taking a genuine prescription pill. The danger of counterfeit pills is why you should never take a Percocet, or any pill, that was not prescribed to you and dispensed by a pharmacy, no matter how genuine it looks. If pills are being taken from any other source, it is a potentially fatal risk, and having naloxone available and never using alone can be life-saving, though the safest choice is not to take such pills at all.
Is Percocet a strong drug?
Yes, Percocet is a strong drug, because it contains oxycodone, a strong opioid painkiller, combined with acetaminophen. It is used for moderate to moderately severe pain and is a controlled medication because of its potential for misuse and its risks. As a strong opioid, Percocet carries the risk of tolerance, physical dependence, and addiction with repeated use, and the danger of respiratory depression (slowed breathing) in overdose, which can be life-threatening, especially at high doses or when combined with alcohol, benzodiazepines, or other sedatives. Because it also contains acetaminophen, taking too much can cause serious liver damage. Even taken as prescribed, Percocet should be used carefully, at the lowest effective dose for the shortest appropriate time, exactly as directed, and never combined with alcohol or other sedatives without medical advice. Its strength and risks are why it is prescribed and used with caution and why misusing it, or taking it without a prescription, is dangerous. Signs of a developing problem include taking more than prescribed, using it for its effects rather than for pain, being unable to stop, and cravings. The encouraging message is that if Percocet use has become a problem, opioid dependence and addiction are treatable. So Percocet is indeed a strong, potent medication that must be respected and used only as prescribed.
What should you do if you’re struggling with Percocet?
If you are struggling with Percocet, whether taking more than prescribed, using it for its effects, unable to stop, experiencing cravings or withdrawal, or taking illicitly obtained pills, it is important to seek help, and to know that opioid dependence and addiction are treatable. A good first step is to speak to your doctor or a drug and addiction service, who can assess the situation and recommend treatment. It is important not to stop opioids suddenly after regular use, as this can cause withdrawal; coming off should be done with medical guidance. Treatment for opioid dependence and addiction can include a medically supervised, gradual reduction of the drug to manage withdrawal safely, medications used in opioid use disorder treatment such as buprenorphine or methadone where appropriate, counselling and behavioural therapies to address the psychological aspects and any underlying issues (including chronic pain, which can be managed in other ways), and ongoing support for recovery, including for any co-occurring mental health conditions. Depending on the severity, help may come from a doctor, specialist services, or a structured treatment program, sometimes residential. There is also particular urgency if illicitly obtained pills are involved, because of the deadly risk of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl. With the right help, people do recover from opioid addiction. If you or someone you know is struggling with Percocet, reaching out for professional help is an important, hopeful, and potentially life-saving step.
How is Percocet different from Percodan or OxyContin?
Percocet, Percodan, and OxyContin are all oxycodone-based prescription painkillers, but they differ. Percocet combines oxycodone with acetaminophen (paracetamol) and is used for moderate to moderately severe pain. Percodan combines oxycodone with aspirin (rather than acetaminophen), so it carries aspirin-related considerations (such as bleeding risk and not being suitable for children). OxyContin is an extended-release form of oxycodone alone (without a second painkiller), designed to release the oxycodone slowly over about 12 hours for severe, ongoing pain requiring around-the-clock treatment, whereas Percocet is an immediate-release combination product. So the key differences are: Percocet is oxycodone plus acetaminophen (immediate-release); Percodan is oxycodone plus aspirin; and OxyContin is extended-release oxycodone alone. All three contain oxycodone and therefore share the opioid risks of tolerance, dependence, addiction, and overdose, but their second ingredients (or lack of one) and their release forms differ, giving each its own particular characteristics and additional risks (such as liver risk from acetaminophen in Percocet, bleeding risk from aspirin in Percodan, and the danger of a large dose being released at once if OxyContin is crushed). Understanding these differences matters for using each safely. As with all these medicines, they should only be taken exactly as prescribed, and never from an illicit source, given the danger of counterfeit pills.
Sources
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). One Pill Can Kill (Counterfeit Pills). https://www.dea.gov/onepill
National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus). Oxycodone and Acetaminophen. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682132.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Counterfeit Pills and Fentanyl. https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Prescription Opioids and Fentanyl. https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/prescription-drugs
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Counterfeit Medicine. https://www.fda.gov/drugs
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Opioid Use Disorder. https://www.samhsa.gov/
What does a Percocet look like — key entities and related terms
what does a percocet look like, Percocet, percocet, oxycodone, acetaminophen, paracetamol, opioid, painkiller, prescription medications, prescription, prescribed, moderate severe, prescribed moderate, moderate to severe pain, pain, tablet, available tablet, pill, pills, appearance, shape, colour, color, round, oval, white, blue, yellow, pink, markings, imprint, strength, dose, generic, brand-name, manufacturer, pill identification, counterfeit pills, fake pills, illicit, fentanyl, synthetic opioid, lethal dose, overdose, respiratory depression, slowed breathing, blue lips, pinpoint pupils, naloxone, deaths, safety, never take, pharmacy, dispensed, Percodan, OxyContin, extended-release, immediate-release, aspirin, liver damage, tolerance, physical dependence, dependence, addiction, opioid use disorder, cravings, withdrawal, misuse, abuse, risk addiction, side effects, side, alcohol, benzodiazepines, sedatives, medically supervised, buprenorphine, methadone, counselling, treatment, recovery, support, help, drug, medication, use, take, taking, may, DEA, CDC, NIDA, FDA, SAMHSA, MedlinePlus, Phuket Island Rehab, Dr. Ponlawat Pitsuwan