Hydrocodone vs Oxycodone: Key Differences, Risks, and Safer Alternatives

Both hydrocodone and oxycodone are powerful prescription opioids often used for managing both moderate and severe pain. While both powerful opioids, these drugs also come with a high possibility of dependency, misuse, and addiction. This article focuses on the differences and similarities between the two drugs along with their risks for anyone considering these pain medications.

Differences between oxycodone and hydrocodone: risks and available treatment options.

Introduction: The Growing Concern of Opioid Use

The misuse of prescription pain drugs, oxycodone and hydrocodone, has raised severe alarm over the opioid epidemic. While both drugs are capable of relieving pain, their potential to be misused, become addictive, or result in overdose looms dangerously.

Chronic-sharp pain, injury, or post surgery pain joints and muscle related pain often leads to the prescription of these medications. However, questions regarding whether hydrocodone is a safer option over oxycodone or vice versa is something patients and their families often ask.

In this blog, we will provide a comprehensive answer to this question.

What is Hydrocodone?

Hydrocodone is an opioid that is partially made from codeine. It is usually prescribed with Tylenol and sold under the brand names Vicodin, Norco, and Lortab.

Purpose: Used to manage moderate to severe pain.
Formulations: Usually prescribed with acetaminophen and at times, as cough syrups.
Schedule Classification: In the US, Hydrocodone was rescheduled as a Schedule II controlled substance due to increased risks of abuse.

Hydrocodone helps relieve pain by changing the sickness and relaxing the person through opioid receptors in the brain.

What is Oxycodone?

Like hydrocodone, oxycodone is also a semi-synthetic opioid, but its precursor is thebaine, another derivative of the opium poppy plant. Oxycodone comes in both immediate and extended release form.

Purpose: It is usually prescribed for severe pains that are unresponsive to other forms of treatment.
Common Brand Names: OxyContin (extended-release), Percocet (combined with acetaminophen), and Roxicodone.
Potency: Oxycodone is perceived to be slightly stronger than hydrocodone. It also carries a higher chance of euphoria, making it even more dangerous.

Hydrocodone vs Oxycodone: Similarities

While their differences are notable, both hydrocodone vs oxycodone share many similarities:

Pain Relief: Both are effective for short term pain relief.
Method of Action: Both drugs act on the central nervous system and bind to opioid receptors.
Addictive Potential: Both are classified under Schedule II drugs and are prone to misuse.
Side Effects: Drowsiness, respiratory depression, and nausea.
Withdrawal Symptoms: Anxiety, muscle soreness, and irritability.

Hydrocodone vs Oxycodone: Key Differences

Feature	Hydrocodone	Oxycodone
Origin	Derived from codeine	Derived from thebaine
Potency	Considered slightly less potent	Often considered stronger, more euphoric
Combination Drugs	Commonly paired with acetaminophen	Available alone or combined with acetaminophen/aspirin
Medical Use	Often used for moderate pain	Typically used for severe pain
Formulations	Pills, syrups (less common)	Immediate and extended-release tablets, capsules
Abuse Risk	High	Slightly higher due to potency

Which is Stronger: Hydrocodone or Oxycodone?

In general, Oxycodone is perceived to be stronger than Hydrocodone. It does carry a slightly higher risk for addiction and misuse, mainly due to its potency and the euphoric high it can produce. Regardless, both drugs are dangerous if misused, and can lead to fatal overdoses.

In most situations, it’s up to the doctor to decide, after assessing the patient’s pain intensity, overall health, and how well the patient is coping with treatments.

Misuse Problems

Both hydrocodone vs oxycodone are useful for pain management, however, their risks can quickly outweigh the benefits if they are not used as prescribed.

1. Dependence / Addiction

Dependence and Addiction commonly go hand in hand. In this case the resulting change in brain neurochemistry after repeated use can result in Dependence and Addiction. With this type of dependence, the patient becomes accustomed to using the drug and becomes difficult to stop using it, even in instances when pain has reduced.

2. Overdose

Both medications can result in reduced breathing rate, leading the users to hypoxia in which there brain can not get sufficient oxygen, and which in turn can lead to irreversible brain damage or even death. The rate of opioid related overdose has been extremely high in the United States of America.

3. Drug Interactions

Drinking alcohol or benzodiazepines, or any kind of depressants while on these drugs can result in greatly increasing chances of overdose.

4. Tolerance and Escalation

Due to the addictive nature of these medications, patients often require to become adjusted to it, which in turn means they have to take higher doses in order to achieve the same effect.

Signs of Misuse of Hydrocodone and Oxycodone

Identifying the indicators of opioid misuse is important. Some common flags include:

Taking more than the prescribed dose
Intense cravings and obsessive thoughts about the drug
Doctor shopping (looking for multiple prescriptions)
Withdrawing from the medication causes symptoms
Psycho-behavioral changes like social withdrawal and increased aggression

Opioid Pain Medicine Prescribing and Dispensing Safeguards

If hydrocodone or oxycodone is prescribed, the patient should:

Use the drug strictly per directions of a healthcare professional
Alcohol or other sedatives should not be taken with these medications
Never share prescriptions with others
Discuss non-opioid pain relief alternatives with their doctor

Further Suggested Strategies for Prescribing Restricted Opioid Pain Medicines

Non-Opioid Medications: Ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or naproxen
Physical therapy: Certain movements and exercises aimed at reducing chronic pain
Nerve blocks or injections: For more focused relief of pain
Mind-body approaches: Includes but not limited to meditation, acupuncture and CBT
Some prescribed non-opioid medications: Certain antidepressants or anticonvulsants

Curing Opioid Addiction

Professional help is necessary to treat hydrocodone or oxycodone addiction, but with the right assistance, recovery is achievable.

Supervised Detoxification
Ensures safety during withdrawal for severe symptoms, reducing the risk for more serious complications.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
MAT programs use opioids such as buprenorphine and methadone and the antagonist naltrexone to control withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
Therapy and Counseling
Therapy such as CBT and group therapy as well as family therapy help with the psychological aspects of addiction.
Aftercare Support
Further support through outpatient programs and 12-step programs as well as halfway and sober houses assists the individual in sustaining sobriety.

The Bottom Line: Comparing Uses of Hydrocodone, Oxycodone

While both agonists are classified as opioids and are used to relieve moderate to severe pain, their use is accompanied by severe consequences. Out of the two, oxycodone is more potent, but both are associated with addiction, overdose, and other severe impacts of abuse.

Like other potent prescribed medications, both patients and their families should seek clarification on the need for these medications and exhaust all other options first.

Short of help should not be difficult to seek. Treatment centers are equipped with the necessary professionals to help through the detox, therapy, and support phases associated with opioid addiction.

Final Thoughts

A medical evaluation and comparison of hydrocodone vs oxycodone should not be the only reason to understand the two. The consequences of pain management should be evaluated. It should never come with the risk of addiction or overdose. Opioid addiction is a major problem, but arming yourself or your loved ones with the necessary facts and interventions quells the risk of opioid addiction.