Experiencing pain after a major surgery or any chronic illness is very common. To tackle this pain, doctors usually recommend strong Opioid medication. These opioids act in the central nervous system and alter the feeling of pain. The family of Opioids consists of a wide variety of drugs that are used according to the level of symptoms. For people suffering from very high pain, Oxycodone and Fentanyl are both the drugs prescribed to them. Both of these are best when it comes to relieving pain, but certain factors lead to the discussion of the topic, Oxycodone vs Fentanyl. Further in this blog, we will discuss is oxycodone and fentanyl same, the difference between Oxycodone and Fentanyl, and can you take Oxycodone and fentanyl at the same time.
Understand The Difference Between Oxycodone Vs Fentanyl Based On Various Factors
What are Oxycodone and Fentanyl?
Oxycodone, sold under the brand names Roxicodone and OxyContin, is one of the widely used analgesics. It is used in cases of patients suffering from moderate to severe pain. It works directly on the central nervous system (CNS) and alters the way our body reacts to the pain signal sent by the brain. It belongs to the category of Schedule II drugs, for which it cannot be obtained legally without a prescription. There are different forms in which Oxycodone dosages are available, and we will discuss them in the upcoming sections.
Fentanyl, being a strong opioid, is recommended by the doctor for the treatment of severe pain when other medications fail to provide relief from pain. It is more potent than most of the medicines in the class of Opioids. An organic compound called Piperidine is manipulated in the laboratory to form Fentanyl. Fentanyl also belongs to the category of Schedule II drugs. It is hard to get it without a doctor’s prescription, but if you try to get it using any illegal means, there is a high risk of getting severely affected or even leading to death.
What is The Difference Between Oxycodone and Fentanyl?
Despite belonging to the same class and being used for the same purpose, there are some noticeable difference which makes Oxycodone and Fentanyl different from each other. Oxycodone and Fentanyl differ in several factors such as formulation, dosage, and side effects. This comparison helps to choose the right painkiller for your pain management.
Formulation
Oxycodone and Fentanyl are available in different forms for use. The available forms of Oxycodone are capsule, extended release, immediate release, tablet, and solution. Likewise, the available forms of Fentanyl are injection, nasal spray, tablets, capsules, and patches. As we discussed, Fentanyl and Oxycodone come in various forms; it’s important to know how to use every form of these drugs to avoid any mishappenings.
Fentanyl
- Patches: Patches are only recommended in cases of people who are highly opioid tolerant. Always change your patches every 3 days after removing the old patch, and do not use more than one patch, which can lead to a fatal overdose.
- Tablets, lozenges, and nasal spray: These are used only when the pain is unbearable and on the advice of doctors.
Oxycodone
- Extended-release tablet: Swallow the entire tablet at once without chewing, breaking, or soaking the tablet. Make sure to take as much as required to avoid overdosing.
- Immediate-release tablet: This is taken with or without food every 4 to 6 hours or as directed by the physician.
Dosages of Oxycodone vs Fentanyl
The dosages of Oxycodone and Fentanyl are subjective, since they depend on the patient’s level of pain and tolerance for the opioids. The dosage level that we will discuss is not fixed and can be changed by the Physician.
Oxycodone Doses
- Extended-release tablets/capsule: The exact dose depends upon the physician, but the manufacturer suggests taking one tablet for every 12 hours twice daily.
- Solution: 5 to 15 mg every 4 to 6 hours is usually recommended and can vary according to the tolerance level of the patient.
Fentanyl Doses
The injectable form of Fentanyl is administered in the following ways:
- Preoperative: 50 to 100 mcg IV/IM for a single dose of Fentanyl is given 30 to 60 minutes before surgery
- General anesthesia: For a single dose of Fentanyl, 0.5 to 2 mcg/kg/dose IV is administered.
- Postoperative pain control: For severe pain after operation, it is recommended 50 to 100 mcg IV/IM every 1 to 2 hours as needed.
- For relieving moderate to severe acute pain: 1 to 2 mcg/kg of Fentanyl is needed every hour.
Side Effects
Oxycodone and Fentanyl have a wide variety of side effects, ranging from mild to severe. The common side effects of both drugs include: drowsiness, nausea, constipation, muscle stiffness, and sleep disorders. In addition to these common effects, each drug has its adverse effects that are seen in case of people taking it. For people taking Oxycodone, there is a risk of heart attack, depression, and breathing disorders. In case of people taking Fentanyl, they are more prone to danger than those taking Oxycodone. Even a small amount of overdose can cause sudden death in people.
Additionally, Oxycodone and Fentanyl also have different withdrawal symptoms timing. In the case of Oxycodone, the symptoms are noticed after 12 hours of the last intake. But since Fentanyl is not easily removed from the body, its symptoms may take more than a day to start.
Can You Take Oxycodone And Fentanyl At The Same Time?
A physician will never prescribe Oxycodone and Fentanyl together. Combining both these drugs is fatal, and it’s not worth taking the risk. Oxycodone and Fentanyl, both being pain relievers, have very high sedating effects each, and combining them will enhance these effects. As we have discussed above, a little bit of overdose of Fentanyl can cause death, so combining it with Oxycodone will also add to the overdose of Fentanyl, which is very risky.
Which Is Stronger, Oxycodone or Fentanyl?
The topic of Oxycodone vs Fentanyl strength is important to discuss to prescribe doses to the patients accordingly. Although both Oxycodone and Fentanyl belong to the Schedule II category of drugs, there is a very significant difference between Oxycodone and Fentanyl if compared according to their strength. Oxycodone is administered to the patient with acute symptoms and is generally avoided in people with low tolerance to opioids. If a person knowingly or unknowingly takes a higher dose, then they will only face some side effects.
Fentanyl is believed to cause sudden death in an individual, even with as little as 2 mg. It is 50 to 100 times more potent than Morphine and 30 to 50 times more potent than Heroin. Even the slightest overdoses of Fentanyl are fatal, so you should be very careful with Fentanyl. Therefore, all these factors make Fentanyl a stronger drug than Oxycodone.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Oxycodone and Fentanyl the same?
No, Oxycodone and Fentanyl are both different types of drugs, even if they work in the same way on the body. They mainly differ in their potency, because Fentanyl is considered to be the most potent drug of the Opioid class.
Can Oxycodone or Fentanyl be taken for pregnancy pain?
No, it should never be taken during pregnancy or even during childbirth. Both of these drugs are highly dangerous for both the fetus and the mother and even pose a risk of miscarriage.
Conclusion
From the above blog, we can conclude that Oxycodone and Fentanyl are effective in relieving pain and are widely used by people for their pain. While Oxycodone can be on a bit safer side to use, with Fentanyl, one needs to be utmost careful with every dose. It’s highly advisable to use both of these strictly according to the prescribed dosages and be safe.