Oxycodone vs. Hydrocodone: Both hydrocodone and oxycodone are effective at easing acute and chronic pain. Oxycodone is a semi-synthetic narcotic analgesic that is found in drugs like Oxycontin and Percocet. It’s only legally available with a prescription and is used in several different forms, including a liquid, concentrated tablet, or capsule. It is meant to be taken exactly as directed by a doctor because it can cause intense feelings of euphoria and relaxation. Usually, the effects of oxycodone can be felt within 10 to 30 minutes of taking it and they typically last about three to six hours, depending on the person. Hydrocodone is mostly sold under the brand name Hysingilia. It is an opioid used to treat severe pain of a prolonged duration, if other measures are not sufficient. It is a relatively powerfully narcotic used for the treatment of pain. The following are the differences between oxycodone and Hydrocodone.
So What is the Difference between Oxycodone and Hydrocodone?
1. Active ingredients
Hydrocodone, the active ingredient in drugs like Norco and Vicodin, and Oxycodone, the active ingredient in Percocet and Oxycontin are two most popular opioid or narcotic prescribed for pain relief.
2. Speed of Pain relief
Both medications’ standard release versions take effect in 30 minutes to an hour. Oxycodone is intended for the treatment of short term pain although it is sometimes used for chronic pain and its immediate release version provides pain relief within 10 to 15 minutes while hydrocodone does not have an immediate release version, it does offer a controlled release formula that last up to 12 hours for severe pain management.
3. Side effects
The incidence of side effects such as nausea, vomiting, itching, or drowsiness were similar, however, constipation was more likely to be experienced by people taking hydrocodone and no results of constipation has been identified in oxycodone patients.
4. Formulations
Hydrocarbon can be combined with other drugs such as ibuprofen to relieve pain, decrease inflammation, and reduce fever while oxycodone is available in an immediate and controlled release forms and in combination with acetaminophen, aspirin, and ibuprofen.
5. Drug interactions
Oxycodone reacts and may cause constipation and if combined with other drugs that affect the activity of particular liver enzymes or discontinuing such drugs may result in a fatal overdose whereas when Hydrocodone is combined with other drugs, it suppresses the central nervous system.
6. Effect when Breastfeeding
Small amounts of oxycodone are secreted into breast milk, and may have serious effects on the newborn while hydrocodone is an opioid narcotic and its maternal use of oral narcotics during breastfeeding can cause drowsiness, central nervous system depression and may even be fatal.
7. Risk of addiction
Because oxycodone has the potential to create sense of euphoria when someone takes it, it has a slightly higher risk of addiction and appears to have a higher abuse liability potential compared to hydrocodone and are widely distributed, while the hydrocodone is not widely available or used internationally and its level of addiction is much less.
8. Function in the body
Structurally, oxycodone comes down to one extra oxygen atom as compared to hydrocodone and it serves to be semi-synthetic and is mainly synthesized from thebaine and thus only serves to relieve pain, whereas the hydrocodone is also semi-synthetic but derived from codeine and hence retains cough suppressant properties.
9. Safety of use
Both these drugs pose a certain risk to the user especially children below the age of 18 years and those younger than 11 years. Oxycodone for instance, may cause breathing problems when overdosed between 24 to 72 hours while hydrocodone may cause unwanted effects when taken in huge amounts by children, adults and pets.
10. Cost
The cost for hydrocodone oral liquid is around 255 dollar for a supply of 200 milliliters, depending on the pharmacy offering this medicine while a 40 tablet oxycodone costs approximately 4 dollar.
