Is Oxycodone the same as Oxycontin?
Oxycodone same as Oxycontin?
Oxycodone and Oxycontin are both opioid pain-relieving medication that belongs to the family of opiate or narcotic drugs. Opioid medications are either manufactured directly opiate substances extracted from the synthetic or poppy plant derivatives of them. Many commonly recommended narcotic pain drugs are classified as Schedule II controlled substances by the FDA.
It means that these have some significant medical effects. They are also a substance with considerable potential to be abused. Individuals who use or abuse them for prolog periods are at the risk of developing an addiction or physical dependence on them.
There are several different types of pain medication that affect people in different ways. What works best for you may not work for someone else. So, due to this, there are different types of medications to treat moderate to severe pain. Oxycodone is one type of pain medication that comes in immediate and extended-release forms. The immediate form is known as Oxycodone is available as a generic medication. On the other hand, the extended-release form is available as a brand drug known as Oxycontin.
This blog will help you to understand the difference and similarities between these two drugs and how they work. There are various websites available where you can of drugs from other pharmacies.
About Oxycodone
Oxycodone is a potent drug that the FDA approves for the management of acute to chronic pain. It belongs to the family narcotic drugs, and professionals reserve this drug for people living with mild to severe pain. It is a narcotic prescription drug.
Other prescription narcotics are also available for pain treatment, such as morphine, hydromorphone, or codeine. Among other narcotic drugs, codeine is the least potent drug, and hydrocodone is the most powerful drug. To compare the difference between pain medicines, experts convert the dose of the medicine to the equivalent dose of morphine.
When an individual switch from one type of narcotic to another, your healthcare professional must prescribe an equivalent dosage. The dose of Oxycodone to morphine is equal to approximately 1 to 1.5 percent.
For people who find difficulty in swallowing the pills, you can buy Oxycodone in the liquid form. There are some drugs available that combine with Oxycodone, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. It is available in an immediate form so that people can take it every four to six hours.
Oxycodone is not for the use of an ‘as-needed basis for pain. It should be only used on those people who are tolerant to opioid drugs as they have taken opioid drugs for at least one week. This drug contains a warning about the risks of misuse, abuse, or addiction.
Dosage of Oxycodone
Adult dose for acute pain
The initial recommended dose of adults for acute pain is Oxycodone 10 mg orally every four to six hours. To avoid any dosing error, include total doses in mg and mL.
Monitor the patients closely for respiratory issues for the first 24 to 72 hours of initiating therapy.
Equivalence of Oxycodone Hydrochloride to Oxycodone base:
- Oxycodone 10mg = Oxycodone base 9 mg
- Oxycodone 15 mg = Oxycodone base 13.5 mg
- Oxycodone 20 mg = Oxycodone base 18 mg
- Oxycodone 30 mg = Oxycodone base 27 mg
- Oxycodone 40 mg = Oxycodone base 36 mg
Overview of Oxycontin
Oxycontin is an opioid pain medicine that contains the medicinal ingredient Oxycodone, but it is available in the extended form. The extended form of this drug offers long-lasting pain control than immediate for Oxycodone, which has a shorter effect on pain.
The extended form Oxycontin provides continuous delivery over 12 hours. So, people usually take it twice a day. The FDA approved this drug for managing serious pain to require 24 hours of pain relief. People buy Oxycontin online for severe and continuous pain, for no other drugs give comfort.
As with Oxycodone, the information of Oxycontin contains an abuse, misuse, and addiction warning.
Supply of Oxycontin
Oxycontin 10 mg film-coated extended form tablets (round, white-colored, bi-convex tablets debossed with OP on one side and ten on the other)
Oxycontin 15 mg film-coated extended-release tablets (round, grey-colored, biconvex tablets imprinted with OP on one side and 15 on the other)
Oxycontin 20 mg film-coated extended-release tablets (round, pink-colored, bi-convex tablets imprinted with OP on one side and 20 on the other)
Oxycontin 30 mg film-coated extended-release tablets (round, brown-colored, biconvex tablets imprinted with OP on one side and 30 on the other)
Oxycontin 40 mg film-coated extended form tablets (round, yellow-colored, bi-convex tablets imprinted with OP on one side and 40 on the other)
Oxycontin 60 mg film-coated extended form tablets (round, red-colored, biconvex tablets imprinted with OP on one side and 60 on the other)
Oxycontin 80 mg film-coated extended-release tablets (round, green-colored, biconvex tablets imprinted with OP on one side and 80 on the other)
What is the primary difference between Oxycontin and Oxycodone?
Oxycontin and Oxycodone are the terms given to different medical formulations of the same opioid drug. They essentially have the same substances.
Oxycodone is an opioid drug that is the main ingredient in several pain medications, including oxycontin. At the same time, oxycontin is the extended-release version of Oxycodone. It slowly released into the body. So, you do not need to take it as often.
The terms Oxycontin and Oxycodone are used interchangeably as they have the same substance with a minor difference. Both these work by binding the specific receptors in the brain that are referred to as opioid receptors.
If you take these drugs repeatedly, they can increase the dopamine levels associated with feelings of satisfaction. So, there is a risk of physical abuse and dependence on these medications.
Is Oxycontin better than Oxycodone?
Experts reserve extended form Oxycontin for patients with severe pain that requires around-the-clock treatment. Patients with acute and chronic pain that moderate to severe may be recommended for immediate form Oxycodone. As an addition, some health care providers recommend Oxycodone combination formulation such as
- Oxycodone and ibuprofen
- Oxycodone and acetylsalicylic acid
- Oxycodone and acetaminophen
These combination medications offer additional relief or anti-inflammatory effects without increasing the amount of the opioid. People also buy Oxycodone online for sudden and controlled pain, ongoing pain, pain associated with postherpetic neuralgia, or pain due to cancer.
Oxycodone replaces morphine and hydromorphone for pain related to cancer, as researchers have not demonstrated any proof of a significant difference in the pain relief and side effects. However, it is suggested that Oxycodone is a superior treatment for pain due to cancer and some other conditions of pain such as bone pain.
Whereas, Oxycontin has significantly improved pain among the patients living with severe chronic osteoarthritis. Your health care professional may prescribe Oxycontin for adults or children aged 11 years and older or patients tolerant to opioids.
Conclusion
Oxycontin and Oxycodone contain the same active ingredients that are the prescription narcotic Oxycodone. The main difference between these two medications is how the tablets release the effect.
Oxycontin pills release Oxycodone continuously throughout the day; on the other hand, the release of Oxycodone is immediate. An individual can take it when necessary for moderate to severe pain. But people for the around-the-clock pain relief take Oxycontin pills.
Both these drugs, Oxycontin and Oxycodone, have the potential for abuse, misuse, and addiction. So, health care professionals will closely monitor the patients taking these opioid pain medications for immediate relief.
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