Hydrocodone and Oxycodone: How They're Different, How They're the Same, and Why It Matters

While it's not as common as it was 10 or 20 years ago due to changes in the law and rising awareness around opioid abuse, doctors still prescribe narcotic painkillers for patients. Narcotics can be misused, but for people with cancer, chronic pain, or those recovering from major surgery, opioids can offer pain relief when other medications don’t work.

Still, the high potential of developing a substance abuse problem should not be ignored. If a doctor prescribes hydrocodone or oxycodone to you or a loved one, we can help you understand the differences and similarities between the two.

Hydrocodone vs. Oxycodone

Hydrocodone and oxycodone are both Schedule II semi-synthetic opioids prescribed to relieve moderate to severe pain, and chemically, they are very similar. While opioids work well as pain relievers or analgesics and bring feelings of extreme relaxation and euphoria, they also have significant dangers of addiction and death.

Understanding Hydrocodone

Hydrocodone is a prescription opioid medication that is commonly used to treat moderate to severe pain. It acts on the central nervous system, binding to specific brain and spinal cord receptors and altering how the body perceives pain.

Patients prescribed hydrocodone can take it in either tablet or liquid form. The medication slows down nerve signals, providing users with pain relief but also making them susceptible to drowsiness, constipation, and other side effects.

When combined with acetaminophen to improve the user’s pain relief, hydrocodone is labeled under other names, including Vicodin, Norco, and Lortab.

The Effects of Oxycodone

Oxycodone is another powerful opioid used to treat pain from moderate to severe levels. While similar to hydrocodone, oxycodone is often considered slightly stronger in terms of pain relief. Also, commonly combined with acetaminophen, oxycodone goes by popular brand names such as OxyContin and Percocet.

Oxycodone comes in immediate-release and extended-release tablets for fast or long-lasting relief. Despite its effectiveness in treating pain, oxycodone poses a risk for addiction.

Important Facts to Know About Hydrocodone and Oxycodone

While both hydrocodone and oxycodone share the goal of providing pain relief, individual responses may vary. It’s important that patients seek medical advice from their healthcare provider to ensure proper dosage and minimize potential risks.

Oxycodone and Hydrocodone Side Effects

In addition to what are considered positive side effects of taking oxycodone and hydrocodone, like pain relief, possible negative side effects of the drugs include:

• Heartbeat irregularities

• Hives

• Dry mouth

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Swelling of the face, including lips and tongue

• Difficulty breathing

Both drugs also pose the risk of more severe side effects, such as slowed breathing (respiratory depression), especially at higher doses. A less commonly discussed side effect is opioid-induced hyperalgesia, a condition where long-term opioid use can increase sensitivity to pain rather than reduce it.

Adding Acetaminophen to Hydrocodone and Oxycodone

Both hydrocodone and oxycodone are sometimes combined with acetaminophen, an over-the-counter pain reliever. In the case of oxycodone acetaminophen, it is commonly known by its brand name Percocet®. Hydrocodone acetaminophen is commonly known by brand names Lortab®, Norco®, and Vicodin®.

According to the FDA, when hydrocodone or oxycodone are combined with acetaminophen, it presents a higher risk of liver damage and overdose than when each opioid is taken alone.

Key Differences Between Hydrocodone and Oxycodone

One primary difference between hydrocodone use and oxycodone use is the side effects. Tiredness is a more common effect of taking hydrocodone, and constipation is a more common effect of taking oxycodone.

As for which is more effective in providing pain management or at providing feelings of euphoria and pleasure, the two drugs are remarkably similar. Factors like a person's substance use and substance abuse history, their weight, the release form of the hydrocodone or oxycodone (i.e., instant-release or time-release tablets), and the dosage have more to do with how the drug is experienced than a strict difference between the two.

While both drugs carry a high potential for addiction, the extended-release forms of oxycodone may present a greater risk due to their high potency. Additionally, oxycodone tends to have slightly higher incidences of side effects like dizziness and nausea.

Hydrocodone or Oxycodone Addiction and Abuse

Both drugs can cause physical dependence, meaning your body requires more of the drug over time to achieve the same pain relief. Addiction, on the other hand, involves compulsive drug-seeking behavior despite harmful consequences, impacting not only physical health but also mental well-being and daily life.

Warning Signs of Opioid Misuse

Misusing opioids can rapidly escalate into addiction, making early identification of these symptoms vital to stopping abuse in its tracks. Some warning signs to be on the lookout for include:

• Taking the medication in larger amounts or for longer than prescribed

• Feeling unable to control usage or cravings for the drug

• Doctor shopping or trying to get prescription drugs from multiple sources

• Mood swings, increased irritability, or secretive behavior

What Opioid Addiction Looks Like

Addiction to hydrocodone or oxycodone can be devastating to a person’s health and daily life. It can damage relationships, lead to job loss, and even contribute to mental health disorders such as depression or anxiety. Addiction often turns into a cycle of seeking the next dose at the expense of personal and professional responsibilities.

Some signs of dependency or addiction to opioids include:

• Preoccupation with finding and taking the drug

• Profuse sweating

• Increased heart rate

• Insomnia

• Anxiety

• An inability to stop using the drug

• Seeking other, more powerful opioids out

Treatment Options for Hydrocodone and Oxycodone Use Disorders

Addiction treatment for individuals with opioid use disorder can include Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), non-opioid pain management, therapy, resiliency training through yoga, meditation, and more. If you or a loved one are suffering from addiction, Caron can help.

Our treatment centers are filled with world-class staff who have unparalleled expertise in handling everything from withdrawal symptoms to co-occurring disorders and more. Take the first step toward healing and contact Caron today to learn about our opioid addiction treatment options and start your journey to recovery.