Oxycodone vs Fentanyl: Which Is Right for Your Pain Management?

If you talk about managing pain conditions there are lots of drug names that come to mind including Morphine, Tramadol, Aspirin, Gabapentin, Ibuprofen, Oxycodone and Fentanyl. But how to decide which one is suitable for your pain conditions. For this you consult with a qualified doctor to get rid from pain conditions. If you are suffering with mild pain than any usual or over the counter drugs can work.

However, If you are suffering from severe pain then a doctor might prescribe you Oxycodone or Fentanyl to reduce pain signals in your brain and leave calming effects. Both are effective drugs in treating excruciating pain. Lots of people use these drugs to remove their pain whether it is arthritis pain, cancer or due to any specific health condition. Here is this blog you’ll see comparison between Oxycodone Vs Fentanyl their doses, function, similarities, side effects and precautions. So you can make better decisions before using these drugs as per your health condition.

Brief Comparison of Oxycodone vs Fentanyl

What Is Oxycodone?

Oxycodone is a painkiller used to treat moderate to severe pain in patients. It is a generic drug. The medicine is used to treat multiple conditions, such as injuries, discomfort after operations or surgeries, cancer pain, back pain etc. It is a prescription only drug which belongs to the Scheduled II Controlled Substance Act in the USA. Further, the drug belongs to the narcotic drug class and has an approval of the FDA to treat moderate to severe pain conditions in patients.

The medicine is recognized by its various shapes and colors having distinct imprinted initials. Oxycodone also comes in different dosage strengths and can interact with several other medications, for instance, Atazanvir, Bupropion and more.The drug is marketed under different brand names including Roxicodone, OxyContin, Oxyfast, etc. the drug’s key ingredients are stearic acid, lactose mono-hydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, oxycodone hydrochloride etc.

How Oxycodone Works?

• The prime work of Oxycodone tablets is to bind the receptor inhibited from adenylyl-cyclase and hyperpolarization of neurons. It particularly functions on the mu opioid receptor in the patient’s brain.
• In other words, the pill minimizes the effects of those chemicals that are resulting in pain in patients. The medicine generally comes in the form of oral pills and tablets which are convenient to take through the mouth for the patients.
• The drug starts functioning in the body about 10 to 15 minutes in the individual’s body and lasts for up to 6 hours. The initial dose of this drug is recommended 5 mg and the highest dose is 160 mg.
• The patients who are above 11 years old are suitable to take this narcotic drug. The medicine is not permissible to take by those who are younger than 11 years of age.

Oxycodone Dosages and Common Pill Types

Here is a list of few Oxycodone doses:

• Oxycodone 10 mg ( Round Oral White Pill )
• Imprint: R P 10

• Oxycodone 15 mg ( Round Oral Green Pill)
• Imprint: 15 M

• Oxycodone 30 mg (Round Oral Blue Pill )
• Imprint: V 48 12

What Is Fentanyl?

Fentanyl is also a generic drug which is sold under different brand names including Subsys, Lazanda, Actiq and Fentora. It is an opioid drug used in treating moderate to severe pain. It is a powerful medication as compared to other opioid drugs like morphine, heroin and oxycodone. The drug falls under the schedule II controlled substance act. Fentanyl can be consumed on prescription basis without prescription it may leave adverse effects. The drug comes in various forms including spray, sublingual tablets, transdermal patches and injection. N-Phenethyl-4-piperidone (NPP), 4-Anilino-N-phenethylpiperidine (ANPP), propionyl chloride, and phenethylamine are the key ingredients of Fentanyl drug.

How Fentanyl Works?

• The main function of Fentanyl is to bind to opioid receptors in the brain, especially the mu-opioid receptor, which blocks pain signals and creates a strong pain-relieving effect.
• The medicine reduces the feeling of pain by changing how the brain responds.
• Fentanyl is available in numerous forms including patches, injections, lozenges, and tablets. This makes it easier for patients to use based on their needs.
• The drug usually starts working in the body within 5 to 10 minutes and can last for up to 2 to 4 hours, depending on the form taken.
• The initial dose varies depending on the form and patient’s condition, but it is often starting at 25 mcg/hour in patch form.
• The drug is very powerful and is used only in patients who already take opioid pain relief regularly.
• It is not recommended for children under 2 years and must be used with caution in younger patients

Fentanyl Dosages

Following the common doses of of Fentanyl pills:

• Fentanyl 100 mcg ( Round White Pill)
• Imprint: WPI 3571

• Fentanyl 200 mcg ( White Round Pill)
• Imprint: C 2

• Fentanyl 600 mcg( White Round Pill)
• Imprint: C 6

• Fentanyl 800 mcg ( White Round Pill)
• Imprint: C 8

Similarities Between Oxycodone vs Fentanyl

Although both are different drugs however, they some similarities which are as follows:

• Both medicines are used for pain management in patients.
• These two drugs are categorized under the Schedule II Controlled Substance Act.
• Both medicines’ work is similar to brain neurons.
• Oxycodone and Fentanyl have FDA approval.
• Both are used after getting a prescription from a doctor.
• Those who are below 10 years are not admissible to take these analgesic drugs.
• Both are generic drugs which are sold under different brand names.

Key Differences: Oxycodone vs Fentanyl

Both are narcotic analgesic medicines but they differ in some manner, Here mentioned the differences:

• Both medicines have distinct generic compositions and ingredients.
• The manufacturing companies are also different.
• Both medicines’ active duration vary and depend on person to person.
• Fentanyl is recommended to those who are above 18 years, while Oxycodone is taken by those who are even 11 years old.
• Both the drug’s appearance, packaging style and imprints also differ.

Proper Usage of Oxycodone vs Fentanyl

Here mentioned the proper usage of guide for both medicines.

• Keep your hands dry and clean while taking medicine.
• Consume an appropriate amount of water when taking a tablet or a pill and do not resolve medicine in water glass.
• Do not chew or crush the pill or tablet in your mouth because it may release an extra amount of drug at once and leave unhealthy effects.
• Keep the medicine in an appropriate temperature which is mentioned on the product label and do not keep the tablets in extreme high and low temperature.
• Do not give or recommend these medicines to other individuals who are experiencing pain.

Side Effects of These Drugs

Following are the common side effects of both these drugs:

• Nausea
• Hair fall
• Faintness
• Muscle pain
• Sleeping problem
• Abnormal dreams
• Fever
• Hot and cold sweating
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Stomach discomfort
• Skin rash
• Dark urine
• Dizziness
• Light-headedness
• Loss of appetite
• Weakness in body
• Weight loss
• Anxiety
• Indigestion

Precautions

Following are the some precautions of both these drugs, one must keep in mind while using the drug:

• Do not use other opioids drugs while using Oxycodone and fentanyl
• Read the product label thoroughly before using the pills.
• If you’re allergic to opioids, do not use these analgesic medicines and inform the consulted doctor.
• After having these medicines try to avoid performing tasks that require extreme consciousness and focus because it might feel dizzy after consumption of the pills.
• If you have asthma or any health issues related to kidney, lungs and heart do not use these medicines.
• Do not take these medicines when you’re pregnant even in the first trimester of pregnancy because it might harm the baby.
• Do not take sudden withdrawal from these medicines without informing the doctor.
• Have these medications according to health condition and age.
• Avoid consuming alcohol throughout the medication course
• Try to keep the medicines out of the reach of children and pets and high temperatures.

Conclusion

Pain conditions may become arduous and affect your routine life. Therefore, use of drugs may be necessary to control pain. Both Oxycodone and fentanyl medicines are effective enough in treating pain. You can read the testimonial of the drugs on various websites to learn about their effectiveness. However, before using these drugs you should get complete knowledge about the medicine. In this blog we have tried our best to provide you with important information about both medicines. We hope this blog will help you in finding the right medicine as per your condition.