Several Opioid painkillers are available in the market for either short-term use or long-term use. Most healthcare experts prescribe Oxycodone and Hydromorphone for short-term pain relief, which are among them. We know that taking two medicines at the same time is dangerous. The question is which is the better pain reliever among them. This question’s answer will come after the Oxycodone Vs Hydromorphone comparison. In this blog discuss these drugs, their mechanism, and how they differ from each other. Understand all aspects and risks of the drug and consider a safe and effective option, either Oxycodone or Hydromorphone.
Oxycodone vs Hydromorphone: Which is The Stronger Medication For Pain Relief
What is Oxycodone?
Oxycodone is manufactured in various forms, tablets, capsules, and solutions, but it’s used for one purpose: to treat moderate to severe pain. It belongs to a semi-synthetic opioid that is derived from thebaine. But as with every medication, it has some benefits and consequences. The drug is highly addictive and causes dependence changes, so it is classified as a controlled substance and is available by prescription. Selling or buying Oxycodone without a prescription is illegal in various countries, so always get it safely and legally.
What is Hydromorphone?
Hydromorphone is another opioid painkiller found in the market in a wide variety of forms, like tablets, both immediate and extended release, liquid, injections, and even rectal suppositories. It is also used for treating moderate-severe pain, sometimes prescribed after any major surgery or even during cancer treatment. Hydromorphone is a Schedule II drug, with a higher risk of abuse than Oxycodone, almost 8 times more addictive than its counterpart. This semi-synthetic opioid, derived from another opioid named morphine, is administered when other medications do not work or are intolerable. It is available under many brand names in the market, such as Dilaudid, Pallago, Exalgo, etc.
How Do Oxycodone and Hydromorphone Work?
Both Oxycodone and Hydromorphine come from the same drug class, so their functionality is similar. They are binding the mu-opioid receptors that help to prevent the pain signal from reaching the brain. They help to increase the dopamine chemical in the brain, which slows the brain activity and feel relaxed and calm. But both drugs require different metabolism. Hydromorphone is metabolised by hydromorphone-3-glucuronide in the liver, while Oxycodone gets metabolised by the cytochrome P450 enzyme, turning it into Oxymorphone in some parts and noroxycodone in others.
Can You Take Oxycodone and Hydromorphone Together?
Mixing Oxycodone and Hydromorphone can prove to be fatal, and can bring with it numerous side effects that could be unbearable. As opioid Schedule II drugs, the oxycodone and hydromorphine potency for abuse and dependency reaches a level that is already detrimental to health, but their combined use can amplify the existing pain and force the body to react to the intensity of the overdose in many ways, like slowed breathing, blood pressure at its lowest, loss of consciousness, and even death. This is only allowed by doctors when they have to counter extremely severe pain, like cancer-related pain, that too under strict monitoring, or else it is never advisable.
Are Oxycodone and Hydromorphone The Same Thing?
Patients ask this question because both provide pain relief in similar ways, yet the answer is no, and there are many differences between Oxycodone and Hydromorphone. One of the differences has already been discussed, but there are a lot more things that differ between the two painkillers that we must discuss to understand what these two medications can offer us in our pain relief management. Though common similarities exist, including that both are
- mu-opioid drugs
- classified as controlled substances
- prescribed for moderate to severe pain relief
- similar side effects
But the differences are much more evident, and we will take a deeper look at them.
What Are The Differences Between Oxycodone and Hydromorphone?
| Categories | Oxycodone | Hydromorphone |
| Origin | Oxycodone is derived from thebaine compound found in poppy plants. | Hydromorphone is derived from morphine, found naturally in poppy plants. |
| Potency | It has a high risk of abuse and overdose, leading to common or serious side effects. | It has a higher risk of abuse than oxycodone, and overdose will lead to serious side effects. |
| Brand name | It interacts with Alcohol, Benzodiazepines, Antihistamines, and certain muscle relaxants. | Dilaudid, Exalgo, Phallago |
| Use | Used in chronic pain treatment for long-term relief | Used mostly in extreme pain relief management, such as cancer-related pain. |
| Mechanism | Less affinity with mu-opioid receptors | Higher affinity with mu-opioid receptors |
| Metabolism | Metabolised by CYP450 enzymes in the liver | Metabolised by hydromorphone-3-glucuronide enzyme |
| Drug Interaction | It interacts with Benzodiazepines, Alcohol, Antibiotics, etc. | It interacts with Alcohol, Benzodiazepines, Antihistamines and certain muscle relaxants. |
Side Effects of Oxycodone and Hydromorphone
The reason behind both Hydrocodone and Oxycodone having similar side effects is that they have the same mechanism in providing pain relief. Common side effects commonly occur when starting to take any medicine because this time body tries to tolerate the medicine, and common side effects are mostly the same for every medicine.
Common Side Effects
- Drowsiness
- dizziness
- Nausea
- vomiting
- Constpation
- Headache
- Itchiness
Serious Side Effects
- Depression in the respiratory organs
- Confusion and hallucination
- Slowed and shallow breathing
- Irregular heart rate and low blood pressure
- Stiffness in muscles
- Severe seizures
Which Is Stronger: Oxycodone or Hydromorphone?
In case of comparison, which one is stronger between Oxycodone and Hydromorphine? Answered is both drugs are effective for their own specific purpose. Oxycodone is more potent for severe pain relief than Hydromorphone. Because Oxycodone is the most effective opioid painkiller for severe pain, while Hydromorphone is a better option for serious pains like surgical or cancer pain. But confusion about a better option among them, which depends on the patient’s overall health condition, which is only determined by the healthcare expert. But if one overdoses on these medicines without caution, their side effects can deteriorate our bodies completely.
Conclusion
Opioid painkillers like Oxycodone and Hydromorphone are not just drugs that cure pain; if used properly, they give patients another chance to understand how important it is to live without any discomfort. Using both medications with caution and following what the healthcare provider has advised can help one see the benefits of both painkillers. But an addiction to both pills could be extremely dangerous. We must use opioids wisely, or else one can catch unwanted symptoms of overdosing on the medicine.