Pain management is an essential part of healthcare, especially when managing chronic and post-surgical pain. Among the most common prescription medications such as OxyContin and morphine. Both drugs are powerful pain relievers, but aren’t interchangeable. They have distinct differences in formulations, action duration, and potential side effects. In this article, we can explore the key differences between OxyContin vs morphine, or some queries such as is morphine and OxyContin the same thing, does OxyContin have morphine in it, and which is stronger, morphine or OxyContin, that can help to choose the most appropriate treatment option.
What Are OxyContin And Morphine?
OxyContin is the brand name of Oxycodone, that synthetic opioid drug. It’s designed to relieve pain for over 12 hours, and it treats moderate to severe pain that is most suitable for chronic pain like cancer, bursitis, neuralgia, arthritis, and severe back injury. The drug’s effect is similar to heroin use.
Morphine comes from the opium poppy, is a natural opioid drug. It’s available in various forms: oral tablet, injection, and extended release. The drug is commonly used to treat both short and long-term pain and relieve moderate to severe acute and chronic pain.
How Do They Work?
OxyContin is a synthetic opioid that works by binding to opioid receptors and responding to pain signals between the body and the brain. The drug lasts about twice as long and is taken every 12 hours for around-the-clock pain relief.
Morphine is a semi-synthetic opioid like Dilaudid and Heroin. It works by interacting with the opioid receptors in the central nervous system (CNS), which prevents the brain from receiving pain signals by attaching to these receptors. As a result, this leads to a relaxed, euphoric, and dreamlike state, enhancing the risk of opioid abuse and addiction.
Difference Between OxyContin And Morphine
Both OxyContin and morphine come under the opioid category. But they have some differences like potency, administration, duration of action, and side effects that require individual pain management. This comparison might be helpful to better navigate the treatment of pain.
Effectiveness:
Both drugs have different potencies, but some studies have found that OxyContin and morphine provide similar levels of pain relief for chronic pain, like cancer. OxyContin starts work about 30 to 60 minutes and stays in the system 4 to 6 hours, while morphine starts its work about 30 to 60 minutes and stay in 4 to 6 hours. While their efficacy is comparable, OxyContin relieves pain faster than morphine.
Chemical Composition:
Chemical composition is a very important difference between OxyContin and morphine because their chemical composition are different. Morphine is a natural opioid that occurs naturally in opium poppy plants, while OxyContin is manufactured by synthesizing thebaine, which makes it a semi-synthetic opioid. Ingredients of OxyContin are lactose, povidone, Eudragit RS 30D, glycerol triacetate, stearyl alcohol, talc, and magnesium stearate.
Addictiveness:
Both Morphine and OxyContin are classified as Schedule II controlled substances because they have a high potential for opioid abuse, dependence, and addiction. Thus, this drug is only obtained by prescription and requires careful consideration of its potential risks.
Administration:
OxyContin is available in oral form; take it every 12 hours. The starting dose is OxyContin 10 mg, which may need to be adjusted or changed as directed by the healthcare provider. Morphine is available in Immediate-release and extended-release forms, and its administration
- For epidural dose: with a single dose of 0.2 to 1 mg that offers relief for up to 24 hours.
- For opioid-naive adults: the initial oral morphine dose is 15 mg to 30 mg every 4 hours as needed.
- For pediatric patients (50 kg weight): starting dose is 15 mg every 4 hours, with a maximum initial dose of 30 mg.
Similarities Of OxyContin And Morphine
Every opioid drug is a powerful pain-relieving medication, such as Oxycodone, Percocet, Vicodin, Norco, OxyContin, and Morphine. They have similar mechanisms and risk of side effects, addiction, dependence, overdose, or withdrawal. The following information is related to the similarities of OxyContin and Morphine.
Side Effect
Both OxyContin and Morphine are prescription drugs. Thus, always use these drugs after a doctor’s consultation, take the drugs exactly as prescribed on the label, and don’t share the dose with others, even if both have the same issue, otherwise, it might be dangerous and lead to unwanted side effects. Such as fatigue, nausea, vomiting, itchy skin, confusion, headache, dry mouth, drowsiness, constipation, lightheadedness, increased sweating, and blood pressure and heart rate issues.
They have some serious side effects that require immediate medical care, these symptoms are allergic reactions (hives, facial swelling), trouble urinating, and breathing difficulties. A certain patient can use OxyContin or Morphine for a longer time, which leads to some harmful side effects like tolerance/dependence, opioid use disorder (OUD), decreased fertility, sleep problems, constipation, liver, kidney, and other organ damage, overdose, coma, and death.
Drug Interactions
OxyContin or Morphine are very strong opioid drugs. They may need careful attention while taking them. Both drugs interact negatively with other drugs and lead to unwanted overdose symptoms. Thus, before using these drugs, ensure about drug intercation and avoid them.
- Antibiotics
- Other opioids (Oxycodone, Vicodin, Norco, Percocet)
- Antipsychotics
- Anticonvulsants (Lamictal, Gabapentin, Zonisamide)
- Muscle relaxers (Soma, Zanaflex, Lorzone)
- Benzodiazepines(Xanax, Ativan, Valium, Klonopin)
- Sleep medications (Ambien, Restoril, Lunesta)
- SSRIs, SNRIs, and other antidepressants
- Antifungal medications, such as ketoconazole
Can You Take OxyContin And Morphine Together?
In certain cases, a healthcare provider prescribed two opioid pain relievers. One for long-term pain (OxyContin) and another one for short-term pain (Morphine). Thus, it is possible to take OxyContin and Morphine together, but only under strict medical supervision. Both are strong opioid drugs, and they work similarly by binding receptors in the brain and reducing pain. Taking them together increases the risk of side effects respiratory depression, extreme sedation, coma, and death. If you are taking both drugs, then carefully manage your doses and monitor for interactions or side effects with the doctor’s guidance. Don’t try to self-medicate, combine opioids without professional guidance.
Which Is Stronger, OxyContin or Morphine?
OxyContin is stronger than morphine based on potency because it is more effective at the lowest dose. Oxycodone (OxyContin) is 1.5 to 2 times more potent than morphine when taken orally. Oxycodone 10 mg is equivalent to 15 to 20 mg of morphine. Which is better depends on the patient’s condition, opioid tolerance, and individual metabolism and should always be determined by a healthcare provider.
Conclusion
OxyContin and Morphine are very sensitive tools for pain management. They have used it for different pains. Thus, if we choose the better option, it depends on the patient’s specific medical condition, pain management needs, and response to opioids. Both carry risks of dependence and side effects. So, always consult with the doctors to determine the safest and most effective treatment.