If you go to a doctor with any level of pain, they would surely provide you with Opioids. These are the first line of treatment for instant relief from pain. There is a wide variety of options available in the family of Opioids, and each of them has a similar working mechanism. Hydrocodone and Codeine are two drugs from the same family and fulfill the same purpose by blocking the pain signals released by the brain, which provides relief in turn. Although both these drugs appear quite similar to each other in various aspects, this is not the case. This blog focuses on Hydrocodone vs Codeine to give you information regarding how and why these drugs differ.
Moving forward, we will cover aspects that make these drugs apart by answering certain queries, like can you mix Hydrocodone and Codeine? What are the street names of each drug? Which is more potent, Hydrocodone or Codeine? And alternatives to both the drugs.
Differentiating Hydrocodone and Codeine: Formulations, Onset, Potency, & Risk Factors
Overview Of Hydrocodone And Codeine
Hydrocodone is a widely used opioid analgesic to treat pain ranging from moderate to severe. It is even used as a cough suppressant in certain cases. Hydrocodone is mostly mixed with acetaminophen and is sold in the market under the brand names Vicodin and Lortab. It is found that Hydrocodone activates Opioid receptors in the brain, which blocks the pain signal that the brain is supposed to send, hence providing pain relief. People taking this drug face increased dependency and high addiction issues, so HYdrocodone is placed under the category of a Schedule II drug.
Codeine belongs to the group of Opioids and is primarily used to treat pain, cough, and diarrhea. This drug gets converted into morphine in the body, which binds to the Opioid receptors and activates them, which in turn blocks the pain signals. Codeine belongs to the category of Schedule III drugs, which produce slightly milder effects in comparison to Schedule II drugs. This drug has a high risk of dependency and addiction, so it must be used carefully and within limits.
Are Hydrocodone and Codeine The Same?
There are several matching features between the drugs Hydrocodone and Codeine, which may lead us into believing that both these products are identical. Both these drugs are analgesics, belong to the same class of drugs, and are even classified under the same Schedule category. These are only limited features to describe a drug, and there are several other features, such as dosages, risks, potency, and formulations. Hydrocodone and Codeine differ from each other in the remaining factors and hence are not the same drug.
What Is The Difference Between Hydrocodone and Codeine?
There are a few similarities between these drugs, but the differences are huge among them. As discussed above, various factors make Hydrocodone and Codeine apart. We will discuss all those factors in more detail.
Formulations
Both Hydrocodone and Codeine are available in the market in various forms for use. Hydrocodone is available in various forms, including tablets, solutions, capsules, and syrup. You can take Hydrocodone with or without food, but if your stomach hurts after taking it, then use a glass of milk. Codeine’s available formulation is almost identical to that of Hydrocodone, with the only additional option being injection. Make sure not to overuse these drugs and take the tablet form as a whole and not by crushing or chewing it.
Onset of Action and Half-Life
Onset refers to the amount of time within which the drug starts showing its effect, and half-life refers to the time a drug takes to become half of its original quantity in the body.
Hydrocodone
- Onset: The onset of an immediate-release tablet is 10 to 30 minutes, and for extended-release it is 6 to 30 hours after the last intake.
- Half-life: For an immediate-release tablet, the half-life is around 3.8 to 4.5 hours, and for an Extended-release tablet, it is 7 to 9 hours.
Codeine
- Onset: Codeine starts to work after 15 to 30 minutes of taking the last dose.
- Half-life: The half-life of this drug is 3 hours.
Dosage of Hydrocodone vs Codeine
The initial dosages of Hydrocodone and Codeine are low to help the body adjust to the drug. The physician later adjusts the dose depending on the conditions of an individual.
Hydrocodone Dosages
- The initial dosage for the capsule is 20 mg once a day.
- For a tablet, the initial dose is 10 mg twice a day.
Codeine Dosages
- The average dose for a Codeine tablet is 15 mg to 60 mg, which must be repeated every four hours.
- The maximum dose for a day is 360 mg.
What Is Stronger, Hydrocodone or Codeine?
Hydrocodone is considered to be more potent as compared to Codeine. It is believed that Hydrocodone is five to seven times more potent than Codeine. The reason behind this can be their mechanism of action. Hydrocodone acts faster by binding to the Opioid receptors and hence provides a faster relief from pain as compared to Codeine. This property of Hydrocodone is effective for people suffering from severe pain.
Street Name
Selling drugs without a license is considered an offence and is punishable if caught in the act. Despite these, some individuals try to sell certain high-potency drugs to addicts to earn money. Since there is always a chance of getting caught, they change the names of the drug. Those names are known as street names and are widely used by the sellers and buyers of the drugs. Hydrocodone and Codeine also have their own street names used for illegal purposes. They are:
Street names of Hydrocodone
- Hydro
- Vikes
- Norco
- Tabs
- Watson-387
- Lorris
- Codone
Street names of Codeine
- Captain Cody
- Cody
- Little C
- School boy
- Drank
- Lean
- Purple Drank
- Sizzurp or sizzup
- Syrup
- Texas Tea
- Pancakes and Syrup
- Robo
Side Effects
Various side effects are noticed in individuals taking Hydrocodone or Codeine. These side effects can range from mild to severe. Consider taking the drug if you think that your body will be able to handle the side effects of the drug.
Side Effects of Hydrocodone
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Drowsiness
- Diziness
- Anxiety
- Headache
- Dry mouth
- Sweating
- Infertility
Side Effects of Codeine
- Drowsiness
- Sedation
- Headache
- Confusion
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Itching
- Sweating
- Seizures
Additionally, both these drugs have the highest chance of getting you hooked on them and turning you into addicts. Do not increase the dose level on your own without consulting your doctor.
Drug Interactions
Interaction can occur in your body if you take Hydrocodone or Codeine with another drug which are incompatible with each other. You should be careful while taking drugs, so that you do not mix any by mistake and cause harm to your body.
Drugs that interact with Hydrocodone are:
Drug interactions of Codeine are:
- Xanax
- Diazepam
- Lorazepam
- Cyclobenzaprine
- Benadryl
- Ambien
Can You Take Hydrocodone and Codeine Together?
No physician would recommend taking Hydrocodone and Codeine together. Mixing Hydrocodone and Codeine can slow down the brain’s activity too much, which can even lead to coma. Both these substances together may also slow down oxygen intake to the lungs and slow down breathing activities. This mixture can cause overdosing on opioids, which can be life-threatening. There are no such records available that show the positive impact of mixing Hydrocodone and Codeine; hence, it is better not to take any such risks and harm your body.
Alternatives To Hydrocodone and Codeine
There are certain alternatives available for individuals who face difficulties taking Hydrocodone and Codeine. They are equally effective and help in the treatment without any difficulties.
Hydrocodone Alternatives
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen
- Gabapentin
- Pregabalin
- Tylenol
- Cymbalta
- Tramadol
- Buprenorphine
Codeine Alternatives
- Tylenol
- Paracetamol
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen
- Aspirin
- Diclofenac
- Tramadol
- Hydrocodone
- Oxycodone
Conclusion
At last, we can conclude that Hydrocodone and Codeine are highly effective for providing relief against pain. These medicines have been prescribed by doctors for ages to ease the pain. Both drugs can be severely addictive and increase dependency in individuals taking them, even as part of their prescription. You should handle them with care and take only the prescribed doses to gain the full potential of the drug and get cured faster.