For the most part, they should only be prescribed to treat acute or short-term pain caused by an injury or surgery. However, in some cases, these drugs may be prescribed to treat chronic or long-term pain due to conditions such as arthritis or cancer. Opioids work by interfering with the way pain signals are sent through your central nervous system CNS to your brain. This reduces the pain you feel and makes movement and everyday activities easier. Both Vicodin and Percocet come in brand-name and generic versions.
The brand-name versions come in tablet form. The generic versions of come in tablet and liquid forms. Both Vicodin and Percocet have been shown to be highly effective in treating pain. In a study comparing the drugs, researchers found that they both worked equally well for short-term pain management. Another study showed that they work equally well in treating acute pain caused by fractures. However, a different study found that oxycodone, the drug in Percocet, was 1.
Generic versions of drugs generally cost less than the brand-name versions. Because generic versions are available for both Vicodin and Percocet, most insurance companies require that you be prescribed the generic version.
The active ingredients in the generic versions of these drugs are the same as in the brand-name versions. Which means their effects should be the same. At the time this article was written, GoodRx. Costs for the generic versions of these drugs were similar to each other and much lower than for the brand-name versions. Because Vicodin and Percocet are both opioid pain medications, they share similar side effects.
Common side effects of Vicodin and Percocet can include:. While both drugs are likely to cause constipation, oxycodone has been associated with causing this side effect in more people compared to hydrocodone. The long-acting form of oxycodone may cause less constipation than the immediate-acting form. Severe but less common side effects can occur with Vicodin and Percocet medications.
If you have any of these side effects, call or go to the nearest emergency room right away. These side effects may include:. Both Vicodin and Percocet affect your mental and physical abilities, such as judgment and reflexes. Vicodin and Percocet are powerful drugs, so you should be aware of the risks involved with taking them.
Even if you take them exactly as prescribed, Vicodin or Percocet may become habit-forming. In other words, these drugs can cause physical or mental dependence. For this reason, doctors are cautious when prescribing them.
There is also the risk of a withdrawal response when stopping these drugs. If you take either drug for more than a few days, talk to your doctor before you stop. Your doctor can help you taper off the medication slowly.
Consequently, many people who suffer from an opioid use disorder will use hydromorphone as a substitute for heroin. Oxymorphone is sold under the brand name Opana. Although it has medicinal use in treating moderate to severe pain, it still has a high potential for abuse.
It is usually dispensed in pill form, however, it also comes as a liquid made for injection. Those who abuse oxymorphone might swallow the pills, snort them, or inject them. They can also be obtained illicitly on the street. Methadone is strictly regulated because it is prescribed to treat opioid addiction and to help reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms. Methadone can be swallowed or injected.
After all, it has a similar chemical structure to that of morphine and heroin. In addition, it can make users feel euphoric and sedated. Since methadone is used to treat opioid use disorders, some may believe that the drug is safe. Unfortunately, this is not the case. When methadone is abused, users are at risk of overdose and other adverse health reactions.
Methadone should only be used under careful professional supervision. Next on the list of the strongest opioids is Oxycodone. Oxycodone is sold under the brand names Percocet, Roxicodone, and Oxycontin.
It is one of the most common opioids that is prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain. Despite the fact that it is prescribed often, it still has a high potential for abuse due to its calming and sedating side effects. Morphine is derived naturally from the poppy plant. Even though it is not synthetic, it is still potent. The potency of morphine is similar to the potency of Oxycodone. It is usually prescribed in the place of other opioids if they are ineffective at treating pain.
Morphine can be swallowed or injected, although injection is preferred among people who abuse it due to the near-instantaneous effects it can produce. Hydrocodone is similar in potency to morphine and oxycodone. CNS depression. Impaired consciousness, coma, shock; avoid. Underlying liver disease. Biliary tract disease. Acute pancreatitis. Discontinue at the 1 st sign of rash or any other hypersensitivity. Drug abusers.
Renal or hepatic impairment. Reevaluate periodically. Avoid abrupt cessation. Pregnancy Cat. C ; potential neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome during prolonged use. Nursing mothers: monitor infants. During or within 14 days of MAOIs: not recommended. Avoid concomitant other acetaminophen-containing products. Potentiated by CYP3A4 inhibitors eg, macrolides, azole antifungals, protease inhibitors. Antagonized by CYP3A4 inducers eg, rifampin, carbamazepine, phenytoin.
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