Is oxycodone stronger than hydrocodone?

ashli · Silver Member Joined: 11 Jun 2001 Posts: 257

Hi! Is oxycodone stronger than hydrocodone? For arthritis pain, how serious is the risk of addiction with a dose of 1 or 1/2 hydrocodone (Vicodin) per day? Some times even when I take drug I feel a pain. Should I use oxycodone instated hydrocodone.

feldberg · Newbie Joined: 29 Mar 2005 Posts: 22

Hi! Oxycodine is much stronger narcotic derivate than hydrocodone. The risk of addiction varies with the dosage (small), with the length of time the drug is used and the personality of the patient. You should talk with your doctor what pain relief drug is better for you, because possible addiction.

neilslade · Newbie Joined: 18 Nov 2006 Posts: 3

Don't know where the poster above gets his info

search the web-- here's what actual double blind studies show:

hydrocodone and oxycodone are similar in analgesic effect, but research shows that oxycodone is generally as effective at 66% of the dosage of hydrocodone-- i.e.

5mg oxycodone= 7.5mg hydrocodone

However, one study, for example in dental application after molar removal , show that oxycodone is significantly more effective.

neilslade · Newbie Joined: 18 Nov 2006 Posts: 3

PS

constipation is somewhat more likely with hydrocodone as a side effect

rr0320 · Newbie Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Posts: 7

I've personally been prescribed both for pain relief and they are very similar. It is usually believed that oxycodone is stronger, but it is not. Chemically, they are very similar drugs and both have the potential for physical dependency and addiction. As such, with long term use patients typically must increase their dose to continue pain relief. This is true for all opiate based narcotics. The body grows tolerant and more is needed to be beneficial. Now with that said, if you can use another medication, like Ultram or Ultracet daily and the codone only for severe pain you will have greater benefits. Tramadol is the pain relief property in Ultram & Ultracet and is believed to not cause dependency and addiction, but new research shows this to be untrue. The added benefit of tramadol though is that it can cause almost an anti depressant effect on a person, so it can help elevate the mood of patients. It also has less tendency for tolerance problems and doesn't cause the euphoric rush of common opiates like the codone family. Oxycodone will cause constipation, like all opiate medications and using a fiver supplement is a good idea. Another positive of oxycodone is that it can be prescribed without the acetaminophen, which hydrocodone cannot. This is safer for the liver in the long term. Another downfall to oxycodone is that discontinuation from long term use can cause physical withdrawal, which can be like having a terrible flu! Tapering can ease this and if you do not plan to take more then 10-15mg a day it shouldn't be that bad. If the relief must be long term and you do not want a drug that causes a 'high' you may want to consider Methadone. It has a bad rep, because it is used for heroin W/D, but it is a very useful pain management medication and widely used in hospice care. It does require a written script, like oxycodone, but it doesn't cause severe tolerance or mental addictive issues. HOWEVER, it does cause SEVERE W/D if you discontinue it...even with a taper. This is why it is widely used in hospice care or for people that need VERY long term pain mgt. Good luck and I hope that helps a little.

Guest · Guest

longknife · Newbie Joined: 28 Jul 2007 Posts: 8

Hi Ashli,

I was prescribed hydrocodone for pancreatic cancer pain.

It only controlled this very severe pain for about 4 hours.

My doctor switched me to oxycontin, and the pain was controlled for almost double that amount of time.

Hope this helps.

longknife

Guest · Guest

Longknife,
Oxycontin is a whole different beast. It is synthetic heroin to be frank. The highest addictions rates have been associated with this medication. Oxycodone is a Perk. Completely different and is only slightly up the ladder as far as pain killers go. Although you take fewer oxycodones to get the same effect as more Vicodin(Hydrocodone) ,you are ata greater risk for addiction. I am sorry to read you are or have been battling pancreatic cancer. As far as you taking oxycontin, it is completely normal to need this strong of a narcotic to cope with the immense pain that goes along with the treatment and the survival of this beast. Stay strong and fight on. To everyone else on this sight I hope this helps. Please, only use pain medication if you really need it. Recreational use can lead to liver damage, mental disorders, sever addictions and even death.

Guest · Guest

A reply to Guest's remarks about Oxycontin being synthetic heroin and much stronger than Percocet: contrary to what many people think, Oxycontin is the exact same drug as oxycodone, only with a time-release coating. Oxycodone (or oxycodone combos such as Percodan/Percocet, which combine oxycodone w/ asprin or Tylenol) is faster acting and immediately digested and released into the body, while Oxycontin is released slowly into the body over a longer period of time. Oxycodone (or Percocet) is for immediate relief of pain, or breakthrough pain, while Oxycontin is used for chronic, long-lasting pain. The main advantage with Oxycontin is that you don't have to remember to take many pills over an entire day at consistent time intervals, as with the immediate-release pills. This is the only difference between OxyCONTIN and OxyCODONE. Everyone: please be careful when giving people advice about medications if you don't know exactly what you're talking about, because it sounds like Guest was guessing and/or making assumptions, which can be very dangerous when you're dealing with powerful drugs such as opioids.

Guest · Guest

To the guest with inaccurate info: You too should do your research before posting some one else is wrong. Oxycodone HCL is a time released drug, Oxycodone is not. You really should be careful about what you write as well.

Is oxycodone stronger than hydrocodone?

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