Oxycontin vs Percocet

Pain is part of our lives. There are different kinds of pain. Sometimes there is emotional pain which can make us depressed for awhile. There is also physical pain which most of us do not want to feel. However, we cannot control how the body functions as pain is part of being a human.

Certain diseases will let people experience pain. One of these is cancer. Most of the cancers in terminal stages require pain intervention as the patients experience excruciating pain from their disease. So pharmaceutical companies have developed medications for moderate to severe, chronic pain medications. An example of these are Oxycontin and Percocet.

Oxycontin and Percocet are drugs that contain Oxycodone, an opioid drug, that is used to relieve pain. Other examples of opioid drugs are morphine, heroin and codeine.

Oxycontin and Percocet are brand names of the generic drug Oxycodone. Oxycodone was first developed in 1916 in Germany.

Oxycontin and Percocet are both helpful in relieving pain. However, it varies in length. Oxycontin can last up to 12 hours while Percocet can only last up to 5 hours. So in terms of frequency, Percocet should be taken more than Oxycontin around the clock to alleviate pain while Oxycontin can be given twice a day only since its effects lasts for 12 hours.

Percocet contains acetaminophen or Tylenol, but Oxycontin does not have any of that ingredient. Acetaminophen is an antipyretic and an analgesic. Oxycontin, on the other hand, contains pure Oxycodone making it last longer than Percocet.

Oxycontin is available in 10, 20, 40 or 80 mg. of Oxycodone. Percocet is available in 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 mg. dosages.

Oxycontin is manufactured by Purdue Pharma while Percocet is manufactured by Endo Pharmaceuticals. Percocet is being advised to be removed from the market by the FDA in 2009 because of the high increase of deaths in people using it primarily for the liver damage because of the acetaminophen component. A high level of consumption of acetaminophen is considered hepatotoxic or very toxic to the liver. Percocet is given to handle moderate to severe or acute pain only. Oxycontin can be given for chronic pain that is moderate to severe because it does not have acetaminophen.

The side effects of both drugs are just the same, such as; happiness or euhoria, memory loss, fatigue, nausea, headaches, amongst others. These drugs should be tapered for withdrawal. It should not be stopped abruptly as it may cause withdrawal syndromes.

Summary:

1.Oxycontin and Percocet are brand names of the generic drug Oxycodone.
2.Oxycontin contains pure Oxycodone while Percocet also contains acetaminophen.
3.Oxycontin lasts for 12 hours while Percocet lasts for only 5 hours.
4.Oxycontin is manufactured by Purdue Pharma while Percocet is manufactured by Endo Pharmaceuticals.
5.Oxycontin is available in 10, 20, 40 or 80 mg. of Oxycodone. Percocet is available in 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 mg. dosages.

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