Both Hydrocodone and Oxycodone are generic medications. They are prescription-only drugs, and are used to relieve pain in individuals. However, they might differ in the other conditions they help to treat. In choosing which one of these medications is best for you, a healthcare provider will consider your age, symptoms, and medical history.
Ongoing pain symptoms affect an individual’s ability to function at home, school or work. Treating it generally involves therapies and antidepressant medications. Two commonly prescribed drugs are hydrocodone and oxycodone. They both belong to the same class of drugs and are therefore, somewhat similar, but not exactly alike.
Difference between oxycodone and hydrocodone
What is Oxycodone?
Oxycodone is a semi-synthetic opioid used medically for treating moderate to severe pain. It is commonly abused and is a highly addictive medication drug. It belongs to a class of drugs known as Opioids (narcotic analgesics).
It is generally taken by the mouth and is available in immediate-release and controlled-release formulations. It is also available in brand-name variants like Oxycontin, Roxicodone etc. This drug has been approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US.
What is Hydrocodone?
Hydrocodone is a generic medication and is also called dihydrocodeinone. It is a semi-synthetic opioid used for treating pain and is also used as a cough suppressant. It belongs to a class of drugs called Opioids (Narcotic analgesics).
It is taken through the mouth. This drug has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is a controlled medication drug in the United States and is classified as Schedule II Controlled Substance.
Uses of Hydrocodone & Oxycodone
Hydrocodone
Hydrocodone is used to treat moderate to severe pain caused due to chronic condition, surgery or injury. It should only be taken after getting a prescription from the doctor due to the risk of addiction.
Perhaps, hydrocodone appears more likely to cause addiction as compared to oxycodone. In 2020, hydrocodone was the most commonly misused prescription pain medication in the US.
Oxycodone
Similar to hydrocodone, oxycodone is used to treat moderate to severe pain. Individual’s consuming this medication drug usually do so on an around-the-clock basis until their prescription gets ended by the doctor.
It helps reduce pain by activating opioid receptors in the nervous system. Oxycodone should not be taken on an as-needed basis, the way you would take over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers.
Difference in the Doses & Dosages of Oxycodone & Hydrocodone
Oxycodone
Oxycodone is a prescription-only medicine and is available in different forms like immediate-release, extended-release and oral suspension form. They have different dosage strengths which are as follows:
- Immediate-Release Tablets
- 5 mg
- 10 mg
- 15 mg
- 30 mg
- Extended-Release Tablets
- 10 mg
- 15 mg
- 20 mg
- 30 mg
- 40 mg
- 60 mg
- 80 mg
- Oral Solution
5 mg/5 ml
Oxycodone tablets are generally taken orally every 12 hours. The tablets are available in several different doses. The dose one uses, depends on the severity of the pain.
Hydrocodone
Hydrocodone is available in different forms and has different dosage strengths. They are mentioned below:
Immediate-Release Tablets
- 5 mg
- 7.5 mg
- 10 mg
Extended-Release Tablets
- 20 mg
- 30 mg
- 40 mg
- 60 mg
- 80 mg
- 100 mg
- 120 mg
Oral Solution
- 5 mg/5 ml
Pure hydrocodone is available in extended-release form. It is designed to release slowly inside the body. This allows the drug to act and stay for longer duration inside the human body.
Side Effects of Hydrocodone & Oxycodone
The side effects are common for both hydrocodone and oxycodone. They are as follows:
- Drowsiness
- Shallow or light breathing
- Dizziness
- Vomiting
- Itching
- Dry mouth
- Lethargy
- Impaired motor skills
- Nausea
Some severe side effects include:
- Feeling of passing out
- Seizures
- Confusion
- Painful urination
- Rapid heart rate leading to heart failure
Is Oxycodone More Potent than Hydrocodone?
Oxycodone and hydrocodone are both powerful pain medications. They are very effective in treating pain which may be caused due to several reasons. Oxycodone can be stronger than hydrocodone on a milligram-to-milligram basis. However, in a research conducted in 2005, researchers found that oxycodone and hydrocodone were equally effective in treating pain.
Yet, those who were given hydrocodone experienced constipation very often than the individuals who took oxycodone. The people who consumed oxycodone, experienced side effects such as flushing and mood changes.
A study in 2009 found that the combination of oxycodone and acetaminophen was 1.5 times more stronger than hydrocodone and acetaminophen combination when consumed at equal doses.
Conclusion
Both hydrocodone and oxycodone are effective for short and long-term treatments of pain. However, they can cause similar side effects. The differences between the two drugs are nominal. Therefore, the best way to choose which drug is right for you is by consulting a licensed medical healthcare professional.
If one medication you try doesn’t work or causes adverse side effects, you and your doctor can talk about changing the drug to find something that works for your medical condition.