What Is the Difference Between OxyContin and Oxycodone?
Medically reviewed by Paria Sanaty Zadeh, PharmD
Oxycodone and OxyContin (oxycodone hydrochloride) are both prescription opioid painkillers. The main difference between OxyContin and oxycodone is how they are released into the body.
OxyContin is a controlled-released medication that allows active ingredients to enter the body slowly for a long-lasting effect. Oxycodone is a quick-release medication, so the active ingredients enter your body at once.
This article describes the similarities, differences, effectiveness, side effects, and warnings for oxycodone and OxyContin.
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Similarities and Differences Between OxyContin vs. Oxycodone
OxyContin is a form of oxycodone. They both reduce pain. The difference is that oxycodone releases the medication into the body all at once, whereas OxyContin is formulated to release medication slowly.
OxyContin and oxycodone can improve the quality of life of people with many types of pain. They treat moderate to severe pain not well managed with other pain medications.
Both OxyContin and oxycodone expose users to the risks of opioid addiction and abuse, even at recommended doses. Your body can become dependent on the drug or tolerant to higher doses of it.
However, OxyContin delivers the drug over an extended period. Because of this, there is a greater risk of overdose and death due to the larger amount of oxycodone present after the tablet is taken.
Uses for OxyContin and Oxycodone
OxyContin and oxycodone are both opioids. Opioids are powerful pain relievers, aka analgesics. They act on your central nervous system, where they bind to opioid receptors in your brain, spinal cord, and other organs in the body.
Some of the most commonly prescribed opioids include oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), morphine, and methadone.
Opioids release large amounts of dopamine and block the transmission of pain signals from the nerves that branch off your spinal cord and extend to all body parts.
Oxycodone is approved for both acute and chronic pain relief. It is usually taken to relieve acute pain but can also be used to manage chronic pain, as prescribed by your healthcare provider.
OxyContin and oxycodone can both be effective in relieving the following types of pain:
Chronic moderate to severe pain that occurs in conditions like osteoarthritis, back pain, nerve pain, and some other health conditions
Acute moderate to severe pain that occurs in a traumatic injury like a broken bone or severe burn, with a major surgery like a knee replacement, or some types of cancer
OxyContin provides continuous, around-the-clock pain relief when treatment is needed for an extended period. It is usually taken for chronic or constant pain. It is not intended for acute pain following surgery or on an as-needed basis.
OxyContin has the following advantages:
Reduced gastrointestinal effects
Reduced adverse effects due to peak blood levels
Longer effectiveness in your blood
Convenience of taking fewer doses
Improved compliance due to fewer doses
Less change in blood levels in a day
Oxycodone Brands
Oxycodone is sold under several brand names:
Oxycontin
Roxicodone
Roxybond
Xtampza ER
Oxycet (containing acetaminophen, oxycodone)
Percocet (containing acetaminophen, oxycodone)
Percodan (containing Aspirin, oxycodone)
Rate of Release
The difference between oxycodone and OxyContin is the rate of release into the body—how quickly (onset) and how long (duration) the drug is released in the body.
Immediate-release formulas help deliver fast and short-term pain relief, while extended-release (ER) formulas provide long-term pain relief.
OxyContin takes about an hour to work. It is a controlled-release formulation of oxycodone. A controlled-release drug is released into your body in specified amounts over a certain period. The effect allows you to have a consistent dose of pain relief throughout the day.
Oxycodone is delivered in an immediate-release formulation with an onset of about 10 to 30 minutes. It is made to dissolve without delaying or prolonging the absorption of the drug.
The immediate-release formulation of oxycodone has the following advantages:
Allows for the rapid onset of the drug for quick pain relief
Suitable for use on an as-needed basis for sudden, short-term, or breakthrough pain
Useful in emergencies
Related: How Long Does Oxycodone Take to Work?
Dosage
Oxycodone comes in tablets, capsules, and an oral solution. OxyContin is a tablet form of oxycodone intended to be taken by mouth.
The form you receive and the strength will depend on your pain levels and medical history. For acute pain, you may need oxycodone for a few days or less. Oxycodone is used for chronic pain only when other pain management options have failed.
How often you take oxycodone varies depending on the dosage form:
Form | Normal Dosage |
Tablet | Once every four to six hours with or without food |
Capsule | Once every four to six hours with or without food |
Solution | Once every four to six hours with or without food |
Concentrated solution | Once every four to six hours with or without food |
Extended-release tablet (OxyContin) | Once every 12 hours with or without food |
Extended-release capsule (Xtampza ER) | Once every 12 hours with food |
Oxycodone can be used in adults and children.
OxyContin can be used by both adults and children. However, it is limited to children age 11 years or older who are already receiving and tolerate a minimum daily opioid dose of at least 20 milligrams (mg) of oxycodone orally or its equivalent.
When prescribed to children, oxycodone is intended to manage pain that is severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock, long-term opioid treatment for which alternative treatment options are inadequate.
Immediate-release oxycodone | OxyContin | |
Uses | Severe, acute pain, like after surgery | Severe pain for around-the-clock relief |
Forms | Immediate-release oral tablet, capsule, or oral solution | Extended-release tablet |
Onset | 10 to 30 minutes | One hour |
Tablet/capsule can be open, cut, or crush | Yes | No |
Strengths | Immediate-release oral tablet: 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg Immediate-release oral capsule: 5 mg Immediate-release oral solution: 5 mg/5 mL Immediate-release oral concentrate: 100 mg/5 mL | Extended-release tablet: 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg, 80 mg |
Frequency | Taken once every four to six hours | Taken once every 12 hours |
Treatment | Short-term treatment | Long-term treatment |
Side Effects of OxyContin and Oxycodone
The side effects of OxyContin and oxycodone are similar because they have the same active ingredient. Common side effects of these drugs may include the following:
Nausea
Somnolence (sleepiness)
Vomiting
Pruritus (itchy skin)
Asthenia (lack of energy and strength)
Sweating
Serious adverse reactions to these drugs can be severe and life-threatening. They include the following:
Respiratory depression (decreased respiratory rate)
Difficulty swallowing
Respiratory arrest (cessation of breathing)
Severe hypotension (low blood pressure)
Adrenal insufficiency (insufficient cortisol production by adrenal glands)
Seizures
Learn More: What Is Opioid-Induced Constipation?
Interactions and Warnings for OxyContin and Oxycodone
OxyContin and oxycodone carry boxed warnings, the most serious type of safety-related warning that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gives a medication. These medications can cause life-threatening effects that can lead to hospitalization or death.
OxyContin and oxycodone have a significant potential for interactions with certain other drugs. These drugs and their interactions include the following:
Alcohol: Taking an OxyContin or oxycodone tablet with even a modest amount of alcohol increases the risk of a potentially life-threatening side effect known as respiratory depression (a breathing disorder characterized by slow and ineffective breathing). The effect can occur in either prescribed or misused amounts of the drug.
Central nervous system (CNS) depressants: Use of central nervous system depressants with any form of oxycodone may cause low blood pressure, sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death. Commonly called sedatives or tranquilizers, CNS depressants include benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and certain sleep medications.
Serotonergic drugs: Use of serotonergic drugs may result in serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition that causes too much serotonin in your body. Antidepressants, pain medications, cough suppressants, and migraine medicine in the triptan family are among the most common serotonergic drugs.
Other opioids: Taking one of these drugs with a form of oxycodone may reduce the analgesic effect of oxycodone or cause withdrawal symptoms. Examples of these drugs include Buprenex (buprenorphine), Stadol (butorphanol), Nubain (nalbuphine), and Talwin NX (pentazocine).
Having one of the following conditions is a contraindication for use of (a reason not to use) OxyContin and oxycodone:
Respiratory depression and other forms of chronic pulmonary disease
Acute or severe bronchial asthma in an unmonitored setting or without resuscitative equipment
Known or suspected gastrointestinal obstruction, including paralytic ileus (a condition in which the natural motion of the intestines that moves material along is slowed down or stopped)
Hypersensitivity (extreme allergy) to oxycodone
Having one of the following conditions may affect the efficacy and increase the risk of adverse reactions linked with using OxyContin and oxycodone:
Age over 65 years
Pregnancy (due to the risk of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome at birth)
Breastfeeding
Adrenal insufficiency
Low blood pressure (hypotension)
Seizure disorders
OxyContin tablets must be swallowed whole. Crushing, chewing, or dissolving an OxyContin tablet can damage the protective coating. This can cause the rapid release and absorption of a potentially fatal drug dose.
Risk for Abuse and Addition with OxyContin and Oxycodone
OxyContin and oxycodone are Schedule II drugs under the Controlled Substances Act. Drugs in this category have a high potential for abuse and can potentially lead to psychological or physical dependence.
OxyContin and oxycodone change how you feel pain. Feelings of euphoria and relaxation are the most common effects of these drugs on the brain. The effect is similar to that linked to heroin use. While this can benefit pain relief, it also increases the potential to abuse these drugs.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you or someone in your family has ever drank alcohol in large amounts, used street drugs, or overused prescription medication. Also tell your provider if you have or have ever had depression or another mental illness. These factors can increase the risk of overuse.
Oxycodone has the potential to be habit-forming. You could develop a substance use disorder (an addiction). Therefore, it's important to take the medication exactly as prescribed and to know how to recognize the signs of an opioid addiction.
People can build up tolerance to OxyContin or oxycodone over time. This can result in your need to use the drug more often in larger doses to get the same results. It can also result in withdrawal symptoms if you abruptly discontinue the drug.
Related: How to Recognize and Treat Opioid Abuse Before It’s Too Late
Choosing Which Is Best for You
The choice between these two drugs depends on your condition and the reason for your treatment such as the type of pain you're experiencing. Factors like your age, history with opioids, and other medications may also affect the specific drug your healthcare provider uses.
Since the active ingredient of OxyContin and oxycodone is the same, the power of these drugs is the same. The amount of drug in an Oxycontin tablet is higher than the amount of a drug in an oxycodone tablet because it provides a longer effect.
Research shows no difference between immediate-release oxycodone taken every four to six hours or controlled-release OxyContin taken every 12 hours for cancer-related pain in adults.
Summary
Oxycodone and OxyContin are opioid pain relievers used to treat moderate to severe pain.
Oxycodone is an immediate-release tablet that provides relief within minutes and lasts a few hours. OxyContin is produced in a controlled-release tablet that acts within an hour and maintains a constant drug level for up to 12 hours.
Both drugs must be used with care and medical advice. Oxycodone and OxyContin can both lead to serious health problems and even death.
While these drugs can improve pain, they carry a risk for dependency and tolerance. If you are experiencing pain and might be prescribed oxycodone or OxyContin, talk with your healthcare provider about the benefits, side effects, risks, and proper use of the medication before taking it to make sure it's right for you.
Read the original article on Verywell Health.
