OxyContin vs Oxycodone

The active ingredient in OxyContin is oxycodone but OxyContin (a brand name derived from "oxycodone continuous") has a time-release mechanism, which means the drug is released in the body over a period of time and patients have to take the drug less often. Regular oxycodone is an immediate-release drug, an opiod narcotic used to treat moderate to severe pain.

Comparison chart

Improve this chart	OxyContin	Oxycodone
Use:	Relief of moderate to severe pain	Relief of moderate to severe pain
Active ingredient:	Oxycodone	Oxycodone
Dosage:	10mg every 12 hours initially	5-15mg every 4 to 6 hours
Form:	Time release	Immediate release
Cost:	$87.78 per month with insurance	$18 per month with insurance
Side effects:	Include nausea, vomiting, constipation, loss of appetite, dizziness, headache, tiredness, dry mouth, sweating and itching	Include nausea, vomiting, constipation, loss of appetite, dizziness, headache, tiredness, dry mouth, sweating and itching
Pregnancy:	Safe for pregnancy; not safe for breastfeeding	Safe for pregnancy; not safe for breastfeeding
Overdose:	Potentially fatal. Same symptoms as oxycodone. Greater risk of overdose	Potentially fatal. Symptoms include extreme drowsiness, muscle weakness, confusion, clammy skin, shallow breathing, fainting and coma

Oxycodone 50mg pills

1 Usage
2 Dosage
3 Warnings
4 Efficacy
5 Side Effects
6 Cost
7 Pregnancy
8 Overdose
9 See Also
10 References

edit Usage

Oxycodone is used to treat chronic moderate to severe pain, as well as managing breakthrough or acute excessive pain in patients who are treated for chronic pain. OxyContin has similar pain-killing effects but it's used to treat chronic pain. OxyContin is not effective for immediate pain relief (for example in an emergency room).

edit Dosage

The initial adult dose of oxycodone is 5mg to 15mg taken orally every 4 to 6 hours. This can be increased up to 30mg every 4 hours.

Children who weigh over 50kg can take 5mg of oxycodone every 6 hours, which may be raised to 10mg every 3 to 4 hours over time.

OxyContin is only available in time-release form. Its initial dosage is 10mg every 12 hours, increasing to up to 640mg per day in patients with cancer pain. The average daily dose is 105mg per day.

edit Warnings

Oxycodone and OxyContin should not be combined with alcohol, as this can lead to death. It should also not be combined with sedatives, tranquilizers, sleeping pills or muscle relaxers.

edit Efficacy

A study by the NCBI suggests that oxycodone and OxyContin are equally effective in treating moderate to severe pain. Specifically, the study concluded that

Controlled-release oxycodone given every 12 hours was comparable with immediate-release oxycodone given four times daily in efficacy and safety, and it provides convenient, twice-daily, around-the-clock treatment for selected patients with persistent back pain that is inadequately controlled by nonopioids or as-needed opioid therapy.

edit Side Effects

Side effects of oxycodone include nausea, vomiting, constipation, loss of appetite, dizziness, headache, tiredness, dry mouth, sweating and itching.

OxyContin has the same side effects.

Side effects of oxycodone.Red color denotes more serious effects, requiring immediate contact with health provider.

edit Cost

Everydayhealth reports that oxycodone costs, on average, $18.12 per month for those with insurance. OxyContin costs an average of $87.78 per month with insurance. Oxycodone is a generic active ingredient and there are many manufacturers that sell this drug. On the other hand OxyContin is a brand name drug by Purdue Pharma and like all brand name drugs costs significantly more than generics.

edit Pregnancy

Oxycodone and OxyContin are FDA pregnancy category B and so are not expected to harm an unborn baby. You should not breast feed while taking oxycodone or OxyContin.

edit Overdose

Overdose symptoms of oxycodone include extreme drowsiness, muscle weakness, confusion, cold and clammy skin, pinpoint pupils, shallow breathing, slow heart rate, fainting and coma. Overdose can be fatal.

OxyContin has the same overdose symptoms. However, the danger of overdose is more significant in OxyContin than in oxycodone, as there are more milligrams of oxycodone per pill. If OxyContin is chewed, it can release 12 hours worth of medicine in a few minutes.

edit See Also

edit References

Comments: OxyContin vs Oxycodone

Comment anonymously

Anonymous comments

After reading this article I am more confused than ever. I have severe back and neck problems. I had 3 level fusion & plating in my neck and I have 1 more level that needs to be fused. I also have 4 levels of bad discs in my lower middle & upper back. I was taking Oxycontin CR 80 MG Tabs 2 tabs 3 times daily. Now I am taking only 1 tab 3 times daily plus I have also always had up to 4 Hydrocodone/apap tabs 10/325 mgs. to take as a backup if I needed them. During this whole time, since 2001 when I was first hurt, I have been told that Oxycontin & Oxycodone are the same thing & they are only available from 1 company & there is no other way to get them. When I was taking 6 tabs per day my scripts were running about $2500.00 per month for just the Oxy. Ya think somebody would say something about there being a cheaper form of it available!!!
75.✗.✗.35 on 2013-02-20 05:15:03