Can Oxycodone and Melatonin Provide Pain Relief?
Two drugs are becoming popular among patients day by day for pain relief, and even doctors believe these medications can be very helpful in managing pain. They are Oxycodone and Melatonin. One has to be prescribed to use these medicines, yet both provide effective pain relief for pains like cancer and fibromyalgia. Many believe both drugs can be taken together, and some also ask if they can mix the two drugs together for better pain relief. This blog will help patients find all the answers to their questions, from understanding if both medications can be taken together to what their side effects are.
Oxycodone and Melatonin: A Detailed Comparison Of Two Powerful Painkillers
What Is Oxycodone?
Oxycodone is an analgesic opioid medication used for pain relief in moderate-to-severe pain. One can find Oxycodone in many forms, such as oral tablets, both immediate-release and extended-release, capsules, and solutions that give long-lasting pain relief. OxyContin, Roxicodone, OxyNorm, and even in combinations like Percocet. Being a Schedule II drug, one can only have Oxycodone with a prescription because, as an opiate, it is highly addictive. It is extracted and made in a lab with a natural compound called thebaine, which is found in poppy plants. Overdosing on opioids like Oxycodone can be fatal, and it can lead to serious side effects, worsening the pain issues of the patient.
What Is Melatonin?
Melatonin medication is basically a sleep supplement of our natural melatonin hormone produced in our brain. These supplements usually mimic the effects of the natural hormone that relaxes a person and helps them have a sound sleep. It works well in the cases of fibromyalgia and insomnia. While used as an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine for sleep, it has to be prescribed by a doctor for pain relief. Melatonin might be a good alternative for chronic pain relief because sleeping effects can suppress the feeling of pain effectively. It helps with pains like inflammation or stress due to oxidation. Melatonin is found as tablets, capsules, gummies, liquids, and even sublingual films.
How Do Oxycodone and Melatonin Work?
Oxycodone and Melatonin work quite the same, but they target different areas of our nervous system. For Oxycodone, the mechanism involves binding with mu-opioid receptors and releasing dopamine receptors to stop the pain signals from reaching the brain, helping one feel calm and relieved. Melatonin binds with melatonin M1/M2 receptors, which stop pain signals in the spinal cord, and at the same time activate sleep-inducing chemicals in the brain, providing relaxation to the patient and helping them sleep properly. Oxycodone proves to be effective for moderate pain caused by strains and injuries, and also severe pain like surgical pain. Melatonin works on chronic pain, like cancer-related discomfort.
Differences Between Oxycodone and Melatonin
Both Melatonin and Oxycodone are two different drugs, which are and should be taken separately for one purpose, that is, pain relief. Let us take a look at how these two painkillers differ.
| Categories | Oxycodone | Melatonin |
| Drug Type | Oxycodone is an opioid analgesic painkiller. | Melatonin is a natural supplement for sleep issues. |
| Drug Class | It is a Schedule II controlled substance. | It is not a controlled drug and is seen as a natural health remedy. |
| Mechanism of Action | Oxycodone binds with opioid receptors to release dopamine neurotransmitters into the brain. | Melatonin reacts with M1/M2 receptors to release sleep-inducing chemicals in the brain. |
| Duration | The immediate-release tablets last for 4-6 hours, and the extended-release tablets last for almost 12 hours. | Tablets last only for 4-5 hours; other forms like solutions and gummies last even less. |
| Uses | Used for treating moderate-to-severe pain. | Mostly used for sleeping issues, but works well in suppressing pain. |
Can You Take Oxycodone and Melatonin Together?
Many patients ask: Is Oxycodone and Melatonin safe to take together? Taking Melatonin and Oxycodone together is not a wise choice. Even under strict supervision and constant monitoring, a healthcare official would not recommend this combination. Both drugs are CNS depressants; their use already affects our nervous system in many ways, but together it can be fatal. One can go through an increased sedation, which will make the patient feel too much drowsy. This drowsiness and dizziness can lead to one walking without balance, blurred vision, and all sorts of side effects that can affect one’s well being a lot.
Side Effects Of Oxycodone and Melatonin
Opioid drugs like Oxycodone have side effects that can be detrimental to health, but using Melatonin without restraint can also lead to some serious side effects. Some of these Oxycodone and Melatonin side effects are mentioned below.
Oxycodone Side Effects:
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Stomach Pain
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Blurred Vision
- Weakness
- Confusion
- Headache
- Dry Mouth
- Shallowed Breathing
- Allergy
- Heart Issues
- Serotonin Syndrome
Melatonin Side Effects:
- Fatigue
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Mood Changes
- Headache
- Nausea
- Itching
- Swelling
- Low Blood Sugar
Drug Interactions Of Oxycodone and Melatonin
There are many Oxycodone and Melatonin interactions with other drugs. These drug interactions can either be mild or they can be extremely dangerous. In the case of Oxycodone, any interaction can be highly additive as it has a potential for abuse. Melatonin can have less serious consequences; still, these interactions must be avoided.
Oxycodone Interactions:
Melatonin Interactions:
- Cymbalta
- Benadryl
- Prozac
- Xanax
- Seroquel
- Lexapro
- Zoloft
- Lyrica
- Zyrtec
Conclusion
Oxycodone and Melatonin, two medications with no similarities, but they both provide the best pain relief any patient could possibly ask for. But one needs to remember that these two are CNS depressants, and using them without any administration could be very dangerous. And mixing the two drugs is absolutely fatal. Both should be used diligently for pain relief.