Percocet side effect, Is it ok to continue taking?

[TMB223]

Hello, I have recently injured my back working out. I deal with the pain in the day time with tylenol but my promary care physician gave me oxycodone/apap 5/325 to take at night as needed when I cant sleep. It works great for the pain, however sometimes when I take it I notice a weird effect. I get a feeling like my hearing will "shift" if you will in one ear. It sounds like everything is being heard through a cone and very quiet but it never lasts for more than one second max. I feel slightly dizzy when it happens and it throws me off a little bit. I have tried to research it and learned that these medicines act on the inner eardrum some how, could that have something to do with this? I am unable to go to my doctor as I am out of town for the next 2 weeks and the local pharmacist only said it's not going to make me go deaf... but I was just worried if it could be some other problem or if that was just a random side effect and nothing to stress about. Id really like to know because I am in alot of pain but don't want to take it if it is not safe. Also, I dont know if it matters, I recently had a ct scan (2 months before) for headaches and they said it was just tension and that everything looked ok up there and haven't had any headaches in a month. Thanks for your help!

[sandee1818]

I sent you a message:)

[Ashelen]

I'm hesitant to answer this because no one can guarantee the safety of any medicine, no matter how well-known or understood that medicine...

however...opiates by themselves don't do "damage" persay...aside from the obvious stress on your liver and addictive potential, they don't get in there and  permanently damage your systems. They do screw with your endorphin production but I really don't think it has anything to do with what you described.

yes, they do affect your inner ear in a sense and dizziness is a very common side effect. I've heard of the hearing anomaly more with codeine than percocet, but I suppose it's possible that percocet could cause it too....

Anyway what I'm really saying is...call another pharmacist. they should be open right now and you can get a good answer as to whether it's safe to continue or not, and then tomorrow morning first thing call your doctor and ask.

I get dizzy when I take percocet too, but I've never had the hearing issue so I just don't feel comfortable saying "ignore it and keep taking them", you know? I , too, doubt that you have to worry about permanent hearing damage - that's just not something you hear about in conjunction with percocet, even as a rare side effect. codeine, yes, percocet...not so much.

but I'd say...call your doctor first thing and take one if you absolutely need it in the meantime.

sorry I can't help you more..best of luck! i'll be interested to hear what the doctor says about it!

[TMB223]

Anybody? I really dont want to take anymore until I know if its ok. Is there anything that can go wrong when taking opiates responsibly as prescribed? Is there any real damage that can be done?