Both hydrocodone and oxycodone belong to a group of pharmaceutical narcotics called semi-synthetic opioids, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. What this means is that they both originate from the poppy plant, and are chemically processed to enhance their effects and purity. Their shared origin and processing methods give them similar characteristics that make the two useful in long-term management of severe pain. They do, however, have some critical differences.
Differences in Use
Both hydrocodone and oxycodone were originally designed to be used for licit purposes, but their extreme potency and effects makes them both widely demanded drugs of abuse. There are a few differences in how the two are used both licitly and illicitly. Both of the drugs are pain relievers, but oxycodone, unlike hydrocodone, is also often used as a cough suppressant says Drugs.com. The slow release it provides makes it ideal for extended relief from the symptoms of a severe cough. Oxycodone is also frequently prescribed in combination with other drugs, which is not typical with hydrocodone, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Although both narcotics can be used as drugs of abuse, it is hydrocodone that is abused far more frequently. Hydrocodone is one of the most demanded pharmaceutical substances that are used illicitly. According to the DEA, the most frequently submitted opioid pharmaceutical to drug evidence and forensic laboratories in the United States in 2008 was hydrocodone. The agency also reports that from 2004 to 2009, the number of submissions of hydrocodone into evidence and laboratories rose by 109 percent.
Differences in Side Effects
The side effects that hydrocodone and oxycodone cause are extremely similar. They frequently cause nausea, vomiting, constipation, lightheadedness, drowsiness, decreases and increases in pupil size, itching and changes in mood, reports NLM. They do, however, have some side effects that differ from each other. The organization reports that oxycodone, for example, can cause loss of appetite, dry mouth, flushing, sweating, weakness, headaches, and red eyes. None of these are frequently reported side effects for hydrocodone. Similarly, hydrocodone users report difficulty thinking, raspy, dry throat, difficulty urinating, and rashes, according to NLM. Another difference is that the number of symptoms caused by serious complications is much higher for oxycodone. Some of them include problems with breathing, swelling of the face, seizures and loss of consciousness.
Differences in Overdoses
As with side effects caused by the two drugs, the signs of overdose for both drugs are extremely similar. As with most opiate overdoses, they can cause extreme breathing problems, loss of consciousness, excessive sleepiness, slowed or stopped heartbeat, and discolorations of the skin, says NLM. The typical overdose associated with oxycodone may cause dizziness and limp, weak muscles. Hydrocodone, on the other hand, frequently causes seizures.
