Norco is another medication prescribed to patients experiencing moderate to severe pain associated with injury or surgery. Percocet and Norco are both prescribed to treat similar conditions but there are a few differences in how they impact addiction alongside their chemical composition.3
Both Percocet and Norco contain opioid painkillers as well as acetaminophen. However, the opioid found in Norco is hydrocodone while that in Percocet is oxycodone. Percocet is more likely to cause symptoms such as headache, dizziness, drowsiness, and nausea, while Norco causes more stomach problems.
Each drug depresses the central nervous system and can cause more serious side effects when taken at higher dosages. Overdose of each can cause significantly dangerous symptoms, such as low blood pressure, decreased breathing, organ failure, and even death.
Both Percocet and Norco interact with the body’s opioid receptors, changing the way a person experiences pain. Both have a higher potential for abuse, like other opioid drugs.