This article explains how hydrocodone oral forms and oxycodone oral tablets are similar and different. You can view detailed articles about hydrocodone oral forms and oxycodone oral tablets if you’d like more information about these drugs.
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Cost of hydrocodone and oxycodone
As with the cost of other medications, the cost of hydrocodone oral forms and oxycodone oral tablets can vary. Their price may be affected by:
- whether they’re covered by health insurance, if you have coverage
- the pharmacy they’re purchased from
Coupons and cost savings
To view drug prices when Optum Perks coupons are applied, see this coupon page for hydrocodone oral forms and this coupon page for oxycodone oral tablets. You can also check with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
The options described in this article may also help you save on your prescription.
Download the free Optum Perks Discount Card to save up to 80% on some prescription medications.
Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.
Generic versions
Both hydrocodone oral forms and oxycodone oral tablets are generic medications.
A generic medication is an identical copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. (An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.)
Hydrocodone comes in a brand-name version called Hysingla ER. Oxycodone comes in a brand-name version called Roxicodone. And Oxycontin is the brand-name version of Oxycodone-ER*.
Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name version.
* Note that ER means extended release. Extended release means the drug is slowly released into your body over a long period of time.
Uses of hydrocodone and oxycodone
Here’s a summary of hydrocodone oral forms’ and oxycodone oral tablets’ approved uses:
Doctors will only prescribe hydrocodone oral forms or oxycodone oral tablets if your pain is long term and so severe that it doesn’t respond to other, non-opioid treatments. Neither drug should be prescribed for as-needed use to treat pain.
If you’d like to know more about taking either medication for your condition, ask your doctor. They can recommend whether hydrocodone oral forms or oxycodone oral tablets are options to consider.
Dosage of hydrocodone and oxycodone
Below is dosage information for the condition that both hydrocodone oral forms and oxycodone oral tablets are prescribed to treat. To find detailed dosage information for all conditions that hydrocodone oral forms and oxycodone oral tablets treat, see these articles about hydrocodone oral forms dosage and oxycodone oral tablets dosage.
Below are dosages provided by the drugmakers of hydrocodone oral forms and oxycodone oral tablets. If your doctor prescribes either medication, you should follow the dosage they prescribe. They’ll advise the dosage that’s best for your condition. Do not adjust your dosage without first talking with your doctor.
Hydrocodone’s dosage
Below is a summary of hydrocodone oral forms’s recommended dosage in adults. This includes hydrocodone oral tablets and oral capsules. Strength is measured in milligrams (mg).
Oxycodone’s dosage
Below is a summary of oxycodone oral tablets’s recommended dosage in adults. Strength is measured in mg. (Note that with oxycodone ER, ER means extended release. Extended release means the drug is slowly released into your body over a long period of time.)
Side effects of hydrocodone and oxycodone
Hydrocodone oral forms and oxycodone oral tablets may cause mild or serious side effects. Some of the more common mild side effects of each drug are listed below. Serious side effects of hydrocodone oral forms and oxycodone oral tablets are also listed.
Keep in mind that your side effects may differ from those listed below. They can vary based on your overall health, any other medications you take, and your age.
This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of these medications. To find more information, you can view the prescribing information for hydrocodone oral forms and oxycodone oral tablets. You can also check out these articles about hydrocodone oral forms side effects and oxycodone oral tablets side effects.
Mild side effects
Below are some of the mild side effects reported with hydrocodone oral forms and oxycodone oral tablets:
* An allergic reaction is possible with hydrocodone oral forms and oxycodone oral tablets. Allergic reactions to hydrocodone oral forms were reported in studies and after the drug was approved. Allergic reactions to oxycodone oral tablets were reported after the drug was approved.
Serious side effects
Below are serious side effects reported with hydrocodone oral forms and oxycodone oral tablets:
† An allergic reaction is possible with hydrocodone oral forms and oxycodone oral tablets. Allergic reactions to hydrocodone oral forms were reported in studies and after the drug was approved. Allergic reactions to oxycodone oral tablets were reported after the drug was approved.
* For details about this side effect, see the “Warnings for hydrocodone oral forms and oxycodone oral tablets” section below.
With a lot of drugs, serious side effects are possible, but they’re not common. If you have serious side effects from hydrocodone oral forms or oxycodone oral tablets, call your doctor right away. If your symptoms are severe or you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.
Suicide prevention
If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:
If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.
If you are not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.
Questions about hydrocodone oral forms and oxycodone oral tablets
Below, you’ll find answers to some common questions about hydrocodone oral forms and oxycodone oral tablets.
How do hydrocodone and oxycodone compare with other medications for pain, such as Dilaudid?
Hydrocodone, oxycodone, and Dilaudid are all opioid medications. Because of this, they are very similar. These medications are prescribed to treat severe pain that doesn’t respond to other treatments. They cause similar severe side effects, and all have several boxed warnings. Each medication has a risk of misuse, addiction, and abuse. (To learn more about these warnings, see the “Warnings” section in this article. The warnings discussed for hydrocodone and oxycodone also apply to Dilaudid.)
One key difference is that Dilaudid is available in an injectable form and an oral form. Hydrocodone and oxycodone are only available in oral forms. In some cases, Dilaudid injection would be prescribed instead of hydrocodone or oxycodone. For example, if you are in the hospital with severe pain and can’t take medications by mouth, you’ll likely be prescribed Dilaudid injection.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’d like to learn more about how these medications compare.
Between hydrocodone and oxycodone, is one a better treatment for pain?
Doctors may prescribe either hydrocodone oral forms or oxycodone oral tablets to treat severe pain. In studies, hydrocodone oral forms and oxycodone oral tablets were both effective for this purpose.
That said, these medications differ in a few ways. For example, they:
- Come in different forms: Oxycodone is available in both an immediate-release and extended-release form. Hydrocodone only comes in extended-release forms. (Extended release means that the drug is slowly released into your body over time.)
- Are used in different age groups: Extended-release oxycodone may be prescribed to children over ages 11 years in certain cases. Hydrocodone is not approved for use in children of any age.
Keep in mind that your results from taking hydrocodone oral forms or oxycodone oral tablets may differ from those seen in studies.
Your doctor can help determine whether one option is better for your condition. They’ll recommend this based on your specific needs and health factors.
Talk with your doctor if you’d like to learn more about which drug is right for you.
Warnings for hydrocodone oral forms and oxycodone oral tablets
Some medications may not be recommended for you if you have certain factors affecting your health. These are referred to as a drug’s warnings.
Some people should not take hydrocodone oral forms or oxycodone oral tablets, and others should take either medication with caution.
Warnings for hydrocodone oral forms and oxycodone oral tablets are summarized below. Before taking either medication, talk with your doctor about your health conditions, past surgeries, and any medications you take. Your doctor can recommend whether either drug is safe for you.
Boxed warnings for hydrocodone and oxycodone
Hydrocodone oral forms and oxycodone oral tablets have boxed warnings about numerous risks. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Because of these risks, there are strict rules and regulations in place for how hydrocodone or oxycodone may be prescribed and dispensed. All opioid medications, including hydrocodone and oxycodone, have a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) program due to these risks. Your doctor and pharmacist can tell you more about the REMS program and what it entails if you’re prescribed hydrocodone or oxycodone.
To learn more about these warnings, read below. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Risk of misuse and addiction: With misuse, a drug is taken in a manner other than how it’s prescribed. With addiction, you continue taking a drug despite it causing harmful outcomes. Your doctor will closely monitor you for symptoms of misuse or addiction during treatment. They may prescribe a treatment other than hydrocodone or oxycodone if you have opioid use disorder or have experienced it in the past.
Risk of respiratory depression: With respiratory depression, you experience slow, shallow breathing. This is a serious, potentially life threatening side effect. Your risk of respiratory depression is higher if you have a lung or breathing condition, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Call 911 right away or seek emergency medical help if you have symptoms of respiratory depression, including difficulty breathing or bluish-colored lips or extremities.
Risk of accidental ingestion: Accidentally taking hydrocodone or oxycodone can cause a fatal drug overdose. This risk is especially high in children, and it can occur with a single accidental dose. Be sure to store your hydrocodone or oxycodone prescription in a secure place where other people cannot access it.
Risk of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome: Taking oxycodone or hydrocodone during pregnancy increases the risk of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). NOWS can cause a baby to experience opioid withdrawal after birth. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. Your doctor may suggest birth control options to use during treatment with oxycodone or hydrocodone.
Risk of serious harm if taken with certain drugs: There are numerous medications that interact with oxycodone or hydrocodone in a manner that can cause serious harm. In rare cases, these interactions can lead to life threatening side effects, including coma. This interaction can be fatal in rare cases. For example, taking hydrocodone or oxycodone with other drugs that cause central nervous system (CNS) depression increases the risk of severe CNS depression. Examples of other medications that can cause CNS depression are benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax). Before taking oxycodone or hydrocodone, tell your doctor about any other medications you take.
Other warnings
In addition to the boxed warnings above, hydrocodone oral forms and oxycodone oral tablets have other warnings. These are summarized in the table below.
You can view more detailed articles about hydrocodone oral forms and oxycodone oral tablets if you’d like to know more about warnings for these drugs. You can also view the prescribing information for hydrocodone oral forms and oxycodone oral tablets.
What to ask a doctor
If you’re trying to decide whether hydrocodone oral forms or oxycodone oral tablets are better for you, talk with your doctor. They can recommend the best option.
Here’s a list of questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- What factors determine whether you’ll prescribe hydrocodone or oxycodone for me?
- Can hydrocodone or oxycodone interact with any other drugs I’m taking?
- How long should it take before I feel a difference by taking oxycodone or hydrocodone? Does either medication begin working quicker than the other?
- If I’ve previously taken oxycodone or hydrocodone and had intolerable side effects, am I likely to experience the same side effects if I take the medication again?
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
