Yes, Percocet is still prescribed in the United States. It remains an FDA-approved medication, and the brand name is still manufactured by Endo USA with labeling updated as recently as December 2025. That said, the way doctors prescribe it has changed significantly over the past decade. Tighter regulations, new clinical guidelines, and a growing preference for non-opioid pain management mean Percocet is used far more selectively than it once was.
What Percocet Is and How It’s Used
Percocet combines two pain relievers in a single tablet: oxycodone, an opioid, and acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol). The oxycodone targets pain signals in the brain while the acetaminophen works through a different pathway, and together they provide stronger relief than either drug alone. It comes in several strengths, with the oxycodone component ranging from 2.5 mg to 10 mg per tablet.
The medication is approved for pain severe enough to require an opioid. In practice, that typically means short-term use after surgery, a serious injury, or a dental procedure. It is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance, the most restrictive category for drugs that have accepted medical use, meaning every prescription requires specific handling and cannot include refills.
Why Prescribing Patterns Have Shifted
Percocet prescriptions peaked during the height of the opioid crisis and have dropped considerably since then. Several forces drove this change.
The 2022 CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids makes the current position clear: non-opioid therapies are preferred for both chronic and subacute pain, and opioids should not be considered first-line or routine therapy. For acute pain, the CDC recommends that clinicians maximize non-opioid options first and only consider opioids when the expected benefits outweigh the risks. When opioids are warranted, the guidance calls for immediate-release formulations at the lowest effective dose, taken only as needed rather than on a fixed schedule, and for no longer than the expected duration of severe pain.
The FDA also tightened safety requirements. All immediate-release opioids, Percocet included, now carry a boxed warning (the most serious type) about the risks of misuse, abuse, addiction, overdose, and death. Additional label updates warn about dangerous interactions with certain antidepressants and other medications that can trigger a condition called serotonin syndrome, as well as hormonal effects including reduced testosterone levels.
Acetaminophen Limits Changed the Formulations
In 2011, the FDA mandated that all prescription combination products containing acetaminophen could include no more than 325 mg per dose, down from a previous maximum of 750 mg. Manufacturers had until March 2014 to comply. This change was driven by the risk of liver damage from acetaminophen, which can occur when people unknowingly stack doses by taking Percocet alongside over-the-counter cold medicines or headache remedies that also contain acetaminophen.
Older Percocet formulations that contained 500 mg or 650 mg of acetaminophen are no longer produced. Every current version pairs its oxycodone dose with 325 mg of acetaminophen. If you’re prescribed one of these combination products, pay close attention to any other medications you’re taking to avoid exceeding safe acetaminophen limits.
Brand Name vs. Generic Availability
Most people who receive an oxycodone-acetaminophen prescription today get a generic version. The brand-name Percocet still exists, but its manufacturer, Endo USA, has discontinued some packaging sizes and has other strengths on back order with no estimated release date. The 10 mg/325 mg tablets remain listed as available in 100-count bottles, while the commonly prescribed 5 mg/325 mg and 7.5 mg/325 mg strengths have faced supply disruptions.
Generic oxycodone-acetaminophen is widely available from multiple manufacturers and is pharmacologically identical to brand-name Percocet. From a patient’s perspective, the generic works the same way, and most pharmacies will automatically dispense it unless a prescriber specifically requires the brand.
When Doctors Still Prescribe It
Percocet and its generic equivalents still have a role in specific situations. Post-surgical pain that isn’t adequately controlled by over-the-counter options, severe acute injuries like fractures, and certain dental or emergency scenarios are the most common. The key difference from a decade ago is duration: current guidelines emphasize prescribing only enough for a few days rather than weeks, and doctors are encouraged to recommend tapering if a patient ends up taking opioids around the clock for more than a short period.
For chronic pain conditions like arthritis or back pain, opioid-acetaminophen combinations are no longer a go-to choice. The evidence shows that non-opioid approaches, including anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, nerve-targeting drugs, and certain antidepressants, often work just as well without the addiction risk.
Non-Opioid Alternatives Gaining Ground
Many surgical centers have adopted multimodal pain protocols designed to minimize or eliminate opioid use after procedures. These protocols layer several non-opioid strategies together: an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen or celecoxib, acetaminophen on its own, a nerve-calming medication, a muscle relaxant, and sometimes a steroid to reduce swelling. A study of patients recovering from shoulder replacement surgery found that this type of protocol significantly reduced the amount of opioids prescribed compared to traditional approaches.
These protocols don’t mean opioids are never used. They mean opioids like Percocet become a backup for breakthrough pain rather than the default starting point. If you’re facing a surgery or procedure, it’s worth asking your care team whether a multimodal approach is an option for your recovery.