Prescription opioids are similar substances that are often used for the same purposes, but they are not identical. When you understand the similarities and differences between hydrocodone vs. oxycodone, you can work with your doctor to ensure that you get the medication that’s best for you.
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Comparing Hydrocodone vs. Oxycodone
Let’s start by looking at some of the characteristics that are shared by both oxycodone and hydrocodone:
- They are both semi-synthetic opioids. This means that they are lab-created drugs that are derived from substances that are naturally produced by the opium poppy plant.
- Both of these opioids are ingredients in medications that doctors usually prescribe to treat moderate to severe pain.
- The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has classified both of these drugs as Schedule II controlled substances. This means that the U.S. government considers them to have high potential for abuse and dependence.
- The misuse of these and other prescription opioids contributed to the dramatic increase in opioid overdose deaths that began in 1999.
Now let’s review some of the key differences between hydrocodone vs. oxycodone:
- When taken in equal amounts, oxycodone is usually more potent (or stronger) than hydrocodone.
- Across the globe, oxycodone is prescribed more often than hydrocodone. A two-year study found that oxycodone was the most frequently used prescription medication in the entire world.
- Due to their strength and the frequency with which they are prescribed, oxycodone abuse is more common than hydrocodone abuse.
- Brand name medications that contain oxycodone include OxyContin, Roxicodone, and Percocet. Meds that contain hydrocodone include Vicodin, Norco, and Lortab.
Signs of Addiction to Hydrocodone vs. Oxycodone
There is no significant difference between addictions to hydrocodone or oxycodone. If you have been experiencing signs such as the following, you may have developed an addiction to one or both of them:
- Frequently using more hydrocodone or oxycodone than you intended to
- Developing tolerance to the opioids, which means you need to use increasingly larger doses to experience the effects that you’re seeking
- Spending substantial amounts of time seeking, acquiring, using, and recovering from the effects of hydrocodone or oxycodone
- Using hydrocodone or oxycodone is ways that you know to be particularly hazardous, such as taking them in combination with alcohol or other addictive substances
- Failing to meet your responsibilities at home, in school, or at work as a result of your opioid use
- Finding it difficult to experience happiness or joy without using opioids
- Continuing to use hydrocodone or oxycodone even after incurring some type of harm – such as health damage, job loss, or legal problems – as a result of prior use
- Developing painful physical and psychological symptoms when you try to stop using hydrocodone or oxycodone
When you develop an addiction to hydrocodone or oxycodone, your cravings for these drugs can cause you to engage in a range of maladaptive behaviors, such as:
- Ending your involvement in sports, hobbies, or other important activities because of your opioid use
- Lying to family or friends about the amount and frequency of your opioid use
- Visiting multiple doctors and/or exaggerating your symptoms to get additional prescriptions for hydrocodone or oxycodone
- Trying to buy, borrow, or steal hydrocodone or oxycodone that was prescribed to someone else
- Stealing money or items, or participating in other illegal activities, to fund your opioid use
Symptoms of Hydrocodone or Oxycodone Overdose
One of the many dangers of compulsive opioid use is the ever-present risk of overdose. Common signs of hydrocodone or oxycodone overdose include:
- Constricted (pinpoint) pupils
- Extreme confusion or disorientation
- Vomiting
- Dangerously slow or shallow breathing
- Slow or faint heartbeat
- Little to no muscle control
- Loss of consciousness
- Snoring or gurgling sounds
- Blue, gray, or purple coloration of skin near lips and fingertips
- Skin that is cool or clammy to the touch
Overdoses involving hydrocodone, oxycodone, or other opioids can quickly be fatal. If you are with someone who exhibits these signs, here’s how you can help:
- Call 911 immediately.
- If you have naloxone (Narcan), administer it to the person who has overdosed after you have called 911.
- If you can awaken the person, help them into a seated position.
- If you can’t awaken them, roll them onto their side to prevent them from choking if they vomit.
- Cover them with a coat or blanket to keep them warm.
- Stay with them until the emergency responders arrive.
- Tell the emergency responders everything you know about what drugs the person took, how much they ingested, and what symptoms they exhibited.
If it is given in time, Narcan can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. However, even if a person is revived after receiving Narcan, they may still be in crisis and should be evaluated by a qualified professional. This is why, even if you have Narcan, you should call 911 before administering the medication.
Find Opioid Addiction Treatment in the Bay Area
If you have become trapped in the darkness of opioid addiction, Live Oaks Wellness can help you find your path to successful recovery and a much more promising future.
Treatment options at our opioid rehab center in Marin County, California, include:
- Detoxification to help you get through withdrawal safely, and with as little discomfort as possible
- Residential care to help you build the skills that will support your continued recovery
We also offer comprehensive dual diagnosis programming for patients whose struggles with opioid addiction are accompanied by anxiety, depression, or other co-occurring mental health concerns.
In every program at Live Oaks Wellness, you can expect to receive evidence-based services and close personal support from a team of skilled treatment providers. We understand the many ways that opioid addiction can erode your quality of life, and we are committed to providing the focused care that aligns with your unique needs and goals.
Don’t let compulsive opioid abuse prevent you from living the productive and satisfying life you deserve. To learn how Live Oaks Wellness can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free addiction assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.
