Oxycodone and hydrocodone are prescription pain medications. Both can treat short-term pain caused by an injury or surgery. They may also be used to treat chronic, or long-term, pain.
A doctor may also prescribe these drugs to treat other conditions, including chronic cough, pain from cancer, and arthritis.
Both medications can be taken alone. You may also find combination versions of each drug.
For example, acetaminophen, another type of pain medication, may be added to oxycodone to make a specific opioid medication. This type of combination medication can calm mood, which gives the medication time to work.
Hydrocodone is often combined with antihistamines to create a syrup that suppresses the cough reflex and relieves the pain associated with coughing.
Oxycodone and hydrocodone are powerful pain medications. Both are available only with a prescription and monitoring from a doctor. Both interfere with your central nervous system’s pain signals. They prevent the nerves in your body from sending pain signals to your brain.
The differences between the two are primarily in the side effects they cause.
Who they’re for
Oxycodone is used to treat moderate to severe pain. People who take the medication usually do so on an around-the-clock basis until a doctor ends their prescription or tells them to stop taking it. In other words, oxycodone should not be taken on an as-needed basis the way you would take over-the-counter pain relievers.
Hydrocodone is also used to treat moderate to severe pain caused by a chronic condition, injury, or surgery. Like oxycodone, it should only be taken as prescribed by a doctor. This is important because of the risk of addiction.
Perhaps because of the way it’s prescribed, hydrocodone appears more likely to cause dependence than oxycodone. In 2020, hydrocodone was the most commonly misused prescription pain medication in the United States.
Drug class and how that class works
Until the fall of 2014, hydrocodone and oxycodone were in two different drug schedules. A drug schedule is a number assigned to a medication, chemical, or substance. The schedule number indicates the likelihood the substance could be misused as well as the drug’s accepted medical use.
Today, both hydrocodone and oxycodone are Schedule II drugs. Schedule II drugs have a high potential for misuse, but a doctor’s careful monitoring can help prevent this.
Forms and dosing
Frequently, both oxycodone and hydrocodone are combined with other pain medications or chemicals. Pure oxycodone is available in a brand-name drug called OxyContin.
You take OxyContin tablets orally, usually every 12 hours. The tablets come in several different doses. The dose you use depends on the severity of your pain.
Pure hydrocodone is available in an extended-release form. It’s designed to release into your body slowly, not all at once. This allows the medication to work over a long period.
The brand name for this drug is Zohydro ER. You can take a capsule orally every 12 hours. This medication can be used to treat long-term pain.
Effectiveness
Both oxycodone and hydrocodone are powerful pain medications. They are highly effective at treating pain.
In the event of an emergency, researchers have found the two medications treat pain equally. In a
Participants experienced equal pain relief 30 and 60 minutes after taking the medication. However, those who were given hydrocodone experienced constipation more frequently than participants who used oxycodone.
A 2009 study found that the combination of oxycodone and acetaminophen was
Cost
Both oxycodone and hydrocodone are sold as brand-name drugs and as generic alternatives. Generic medications are cheaper than their brand-name counterparts. For that reason, you may wish to try the generic versions.
Before you do that, consult your doctor. Some generic versions of medications have different ratios of active and inactive ingredients.
To be classified as generic by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the drug must include the same strength of active ingredients but may not have the same amount of inactive ingredients.
If you need to use the brand name but the cost is too high, prescription drug insurance and prescription coupons may help reduce your total cost. Talk with your pharmacist about the savings you’re eligible to receive.
The most common side effects of oxycodone and hydrocodone are similar. These side effects include:
- shallow or light breathing
- drowsiness
- dizziness
- nausea
- vomiting
- lethargy
- dry mouth
- itching
- impaired motor skills
Oxycodone is more likely to cause dizziness and drowsiness as well as fatigue, headaches, and feelings of euphoria. Hydrocodone is more likely to cause constipation and stomach pain.
Severe, though less common, side effects include:
- seizures
- feeling like you might pass out
- rapid heart rate (leading to possible heart failure)
- painful urination
- confusion
Do not use these powerful pain medications without first consulting your doctor about your health history and any preexisting conditions you may have.
People with asthma or breathing difficulties may need to avoid these pain medications entirely. Also, because of the risk of increased constipation, people with blockages or difficulty with constipation may not want to take oxycodone or hydrocodone.
Do not take these medications if you have kidney or liver disease. These drugs can make these conditions worse. Additionally, do not drink alcohol while taking these medications.
The combination of alcohol and pain medications can cause extreme dizziness or drowsiness. The combination can also damage your liver.
If you’re pregnant, talk with your doctor about the risks of these medications.
A 2011 study found an association between opioid treatment and certain birth defects. Some side effects of opioid medication could cause problems for you while you are pregnant.
These side effects include behavior changes, difficulty breathing, constipation, and lightheadedness.
If you’re breastfeeding, do not take these medications. They can pass through breast milk and harm your baby.
Even at low levels and when taken exactly as prescribed, these medications can cause dependence. Misuse of these drugs can lead to addiction, poisoning, overdose, or even death.
Do not leave these pills in a place where children can reach them.
Both hydrocodone and oxycodone are effective at easing short- and long-term pain. They both cause very similar side effects. The differences between the two drugs are minimal, so the best way to pick which drug is right for you is by talking with your doctor.
Based on your medical history, your doctor can weigh the pros and cons of the two medications.
Some researchers and medical professionals find that hydrocodone is less powerful than oxycodone. In that case, your doctor may prefer to start you on a smaller dose to see how your body handles the medication.
If the first option you try doesn’t work or causes adverse side effects, you and your doctor can talk about changing medications or doses to find something that works for you.