At times, it may be necessary to check for Percocet via a saliva test. This is a test that police officers often use when they suspect drug impairment. This type of drug test can also be used in workplaces, and is also one of the easiest tests to get. Due to this reason, many loved ones may rely on saliva tests to see whether their loved ones are using drugs or not. 

A saliva test will yield a relatively quick result for Percocet in the body. It can be detected for as long as 1 to 4 days after the last use of the drug. This type of test is non-invasive. The results are usually instantaneous. Tests that are analyzed in laboratories tend to be a lot more precise and accurate. They also tend to have a longer detection window. 

In hospital settings, and in some clinics, a blood test may be used to check for Percocet. Blood tests are excellent, and their results are quite reliable. Oxycodone will peak in the bloodstream within one hour of the last dose. However, most experts say that Percocet can be detected in blood in as little as 15 minutes. 

A blood test for Percocet will remain positive for as long as 24 hours after the last dose. If an overdose is suspected, a blood test provides immediate information about the drug that was ingested. 

The only downside of a blood test is that it is a bit invasive. Those who take a blood test will need to go to a medical center for the test. They will also need to wait for the results, as the blood sample needs to be analyzed at a laboratory.

Urine tests are the types of tests most frequently used to check for Percocet in the body. Within 2 hours of ingestion, Oxycodone will show up in a urine test. 

Furthermore, a positive urine test for Percocet will stay positive for 48 hours, on average. Peak levels of Oxycodone will be present between 3 and 19 hours after the last dose. 

Frequent Percocet users may find that their urine tests remain positive for a bit longer. It's possible for these individuals to test positive for the drug for 10 additional hours. 

These tests are non-invasive. All that’s needed is a urine sample. The results are also immediate. The drug test kits will turn a different color depending on whether there is any Percocet or Percocet metabolites in the urine. In general, urine tests are also fairly inexpensive and accessible, making them a great option for those who want to do a drug test at home.

The Oxycodone in Percocet can also be detected through a hair sample, under some circumstances. A hair test for Percocet might be used if the individual is suspected to have a recent history of abuse. A hair test is not a good option for more immediate Percocet use. It can take several weeks before Oxycodone is detected in hair. 

Once it is detected, a Percocet hair test might remain positive for as long as 30 days. In some cases, it may even remain positive for longer. 

A hair test offers the most in-depth analysis possible. The closest 1.5 inches of hair near the roots will be taken for testing. Most tests will require anywhere from 50 to 200 strands of hair. Every 0.5 inches of hair can offer insight as to whether the individual took any drugs for a 30-day window. As a result, 1.5 inches of hair can detect drug use for up to 90 days.

So many people are focused on what Percocet can do to your brain that they don’t realize that it has an equally large impact on one’s heart. Percocet abuse can lead to many cardiac problems, like: 

• A depressed function of the heart muscle. Opioids can cause the heart muscle to contract forcefully. This can cause them to experience some degree of cardiac weakness with time. This is especially true for those who mix opioids with other substances, like benzodiazepines. Percocet misuse can cause cardiomyopathy. Combining benzodiazepines with opioids can lead to heart failure. 
• Bradycardia. Those who take opioids may also develop bradycardia, which is a slow heart rate. Although the symptoms aren’t too noticeable when the user is at rest, they can really kick off when the drug abuser exercises. 
• Vasodilation. Opioid use can also cause hypotension, which is low blood pressure. This can lead to severe lightheadedness or syncope. 
• Atrial fibrillation. This happens when a user experiences a rapid, irregular heart rhythm. Those with atrial fibrillation have an increased risk of stroke and heart attacks.
• Infectious endocarditis. This is a life-threatening infection of the heart valves. While this infection is not particularly common, those who participate in intravenous opioid abuse may be at risk.
• Cardiovascular death. No one really knows why opioids, like Percocet may cause cardiovascular death. The reigning theory is that Percocet may cause sleep-disordered breathing. 

Percocet abuse puts a lot of unnecessary strain on the heart. Those who abuse Percocet are more likely to face cardiac problems in the future. A lot of these problems are permanent and irreversible.

Percocet floods the brain with both dopamine and serotonin, as well as other chemicals. These neurochemicals are responsible for creating the euphoric sensations that get people hooked on Percocet. 

As Percocet artificially floods the brain with these neurochemicals, the brain starts to rely on the artificial boost and will make less of the neurochemicals by itself. This causes the brain to become dependent on Percocet. When there is no more Percocet in its system, it will start to react via withdrawal symptoms. 

The neurochemicals that flood the brain activate different biological pathways. Some of these pathways affect the respiratory system and others affect the nerves. 

A lack of dopamine and serotonin can cause the drug user to fall into depression. It can also cause the onset of many co-occurring disorders. Those with a co-occurring disorder will usually experience worsened symptoms. The neurochemical levels can take a while before they return to normal. In extreme cases, the brain is in so much distress that a lack of Percocet can lead to deadly consequences.  

Percocet is a drug cleared by the kidneys. Those with kidney problems cannot take such a large dose of the drug, as their body cannot remove it efficiently. Those with impaired kidney function need to be extra careful when taking Percocet, as they are more likely to overdose even on a small dose. 

Those with impaired kidney function may want to consider switching to another medication. This is especially true if they notice that they are developing a tolerance to Percocet. Increasing their dosage can be quite dangerous. It can also lead to some very unexpected consequences.

Some recovering opioid abusers will experience post-acute withdrawal syndrome, otherwise known as PAWS. This type of withdrawal syndrome happens after the initial stage. The onset of this syndrome can pop up anywhere from 2 weeks to a month after a recovering drug addict has quit taking Percocet. 

PAWS has many unique withdrawal symptoms that can last for months. In worst-case scenarios, the symptoms can last for years, making it difficult for recovering addicts to move on with their lives. Some of the most common symptoms of PAWS include: 

• Tremors and seizures. In extreme cases, seizures can have fatal consequences.
• Hyperactive autonomic nervous system. This presents itself as sweating, nausea and a rapid heart rate.
• Intense drug cravings that absolutely take over one’s life. It becomes difficult to think or to do anything without thinking about Percocets.
• Mood swings. The recovering drug user may experience periods of mania. They may also feel depressed for no apparent reasons.
• Anhedonia. This is a fancy way of saying that the drug user has lost interest in everything. They may no longer have any interest in once-pleasurable activities and hobbies. They may even seem bored or unhappy with life in general.
• .Sleep disturbances. It’s not unusual for recovering opioid addicts to have difficulties sleeping. They may have vivid, realistic dreams. Or, they may simply have a hard time falling asleep.
• Cognitive impairment. Some recovering drug abusers report having difficulties thinking clearly. They may seem to always get distracted. 

These symptoms can also disappear within a matter of weeks. They can also linger on for months, if not years. No one really knows what influences the severity of PAWS. This syndrome will manifest itself differently in each individual. These individuals also tend to have a higher sensitivity to stress.