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512 Pill Used for the Treatment of Chronic Pain

White Colored Round 512 Pill

Introduction

The 512 pill is a white-colored round pill with an imprint of "512". It is known to contain the active ingredients acetaminophen with the strength of 325 mg and oxycodone with the strength of 5 mg. This medicine is supplied by the company known as Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals.

The 512 pill is the lowest dose of the acetaminophen and oxycodone combination. It is basically a narcotic analgesic. Oxycodone is considered to be moderately potent when compared with acetaminophen. This pill is available on prescription only and weighs 12 mm. The inactive ingredients present in this medication are povidone, crospovidone, stearic acid, microcrystalline cellulose, corn starch, and silicon dioxide. This medication is available in the generic form and under the brand name Percocet.

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The combination of acetaminophen and oxycodone is used for the treatment of chronic pain conditions. Based on the strength of the medicine, it is classified as a Schedule 2 controlled substance according to the Controlled Substances Act or CSA.

Acetaminophen and Oxycodone

Oxycodone is considered as an opioid medicine for pain relief. An opioid is also called as a narcotic. In the case of acetaminophen, it is a less potent pain reliever that tends to enhance the effects of oxycodone. The combination of acetaminophen and oxycodone is known to provide relief from moderate to severe kind of pain.

Important Information

  • Taking this medicine may cause a slow breathing pattern. There is also an increased risk for an individual to stop breathing.
  • The long-term use of this medicine can be habit-forming. Thus, only take the doctor's prescribed dosage and usage. As a precautionary measure, the medicine should be swallowed as a whole, so that it does not in any way lead to a fatal overdose.
  • Do not share this medicine with anyone else.
  • Misusing this medicine can lead to fatal consequences such as drug abuse, overdose, or even death in worst cases. Keep this medicine out of children's reach. 
  • Let the doctor know if you are pregnant since taking this medicine during pregnancy can lead to life-threatening withdrawal symptoms to the newborn baby.
  • Since the strength of acetaminophen is higher in this medicine, an overdose of acetaminophen can lead to liver damage or death. Immediately consult a doctor if you experience extreme pain in the upper portion of the stomach, nausea, loss of appetite, dark-colored urine, clay-colored stools, signs of jaundice such as yellowing of the skin and eyes, and itching.
  • Inform the doctor right away if you experience skin redness, skin rashes, skin peeling or blistering.
  • When you are taking this medicine, do not consume alcohol to avoid fatal side effects. This medicine should not be used with any other drugs to avoid symptoms such as drowsiness and slow breathing pattern.

Before Usage

Before starting with the 512 pill, there are certain things that should be discussed with the doctor to properly decide on your treatment plan.

  • Let the doctor know if you are allergic to acetaminophen, oxycodone, or any of the other ingredients in the medicine.
  • Inform the doctor if you are allergic to any drugs or medications, foods, and substances. The doctor should be made aware of your allergic reactions such as hives, itching, swelling of the lips, tongue, throat, or face, and slow breathing.
  • Inform the doctor if you have other medical conditions such as severe asthma or breathing issues and if you have an intestinal obstruction, which may include paralytic ileus.
  • If you are currently using or has used sedatives, alcohol, other narcotic medications, and tranquilizers.
  • The doctor should be made aware of all the medications being taken, which include over-the-counter drugs, prescription medicine, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal supplements.
  • Some medications tend to interact with oxycodone that leads to a serious medical condition known as the serotonin syndrome. Let the doctor know if you are taking any medicines for mental illnesses, Parkinson’s disease, depression, serious infections, medicines to prevent nausea or vomiting, and migraine medications. 

To ensure that this medicine is safe for use, let the doctor know if you have the following conditions:

  • Any type of lung disease or breathing difficulties
  • Urination problems
  • Kidney disease
  • A medical history of a brain tumor, head injury or seizures, history of drug abuse, alcohol addiction, or mental illness
  • Liver problems such as cirrhosis
  • Excessive alcohol consumption
  • Problems with the pancreas, gallbladder, adrenal glands, or thyroid gland imbalance

The doctor should also be informed if you are using sedatives such as:

In the case of elderly patients, they should be careful taking this medicine since it can lead to breathing problems. The same goes for individuals who are severely ill, those who are malnourished, and debilitated.

If you are pregnant and have been using this medicine during the course of pregnancy, then the baby would become dependent on the medicine, which often leads to life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after delivery. Babies who are born with drug withdrawal symptoms would require medical treatment for several weeks after birth. 

There are chances that this medicine can pass into the breast milk and cause harm to the nursing baby. While you are on this medicine, avoid breastfeeding the baby and give formula milk instead. 

Usage

It is important to follow all your doctor's instructions when taking this medicine. You can also go through the prescription label for more details regarding its dosage and usage. As previously mentioned, oxycodone has the tendency of slowing down the breathing pattern of an individual, which would mostly happen when an individual suddenly starts or changes the dosage of this medicine. Avoid taking large doses of this medicine or taking this medicine for a longer duration. An overdose of this medicine can lead to death. If the medicine is not working well or not working as expected, then the doctor may increase the dose.

Swallow this medicine as a whole and do not crush, chew, or break the tablet. In case if you need surgery, inform the doctor in advance that you are taking this medicine. The doctor may suggest that you stop using this medicine before surgery and then start again after the procedure. Do not stop this medicine all of a sudden to avoid having unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Check with the doctor on how to safely stop taking this medicine.

Store this medicine at room temperature away from heat, light, and moisture. Always keep track of the number of pills being used from the bottle to monitor your intake. Avoid keeping any leftover pills of acetaminophen and oxycodone. You can ask the doctor on how to properly dispose of the medicine. Do not break or crush the pill. Do not inhale the powdered medicine or try mixing it with any type of liquid for injection to avoid an overdose, which can be life-threatening. 

Since this medicine is for pain relief, it would be less likely to miss a dose. However, when you missed a dose, take it as soon as you remember, but when it is already time for the next dose, then skip the missed one and follow the usual dosing schedule. Avoid taking extra doses of the medicine to make up for the missed dose.

The following are symptoms related to overdose:

  • Slow breathing
  • Slow heart rate
  • Excessive sleepiness
  • Feeling cold
  • Muscle weakness
  • Fainting
  • Pinpoint pupils
  • Cold and clammy skin

Some of the first signs of an acetaminophen overdose include:

Side Effects

For those individuals who encounter allergic reactions after taking this medication, reach out for medical help immediately. Few of the symptoms are hives, itching, slow breathing, and swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat. In certain rare cases, acetaminophen may cause severe skin reactions that tend to spread. Such reactions can also happen to those individuals who have been taking acetaminophen in the past without experiencing any kind of reaction. In such cases, stop taking the medicine and seek immediate medical help.

Reach out to the doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:

  • Seizures
  • Urinary problems
  • Slow or shallow breathing 
  • Slow heartbeat
  • Missed menstrual periods 
  • Fertility issues
  • Confusion
  • Lightheadedness
  • Impotence and other sexual issues

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