Asking the experts here-strengths of pain meds - Pain Management Message Board

atwork · 08-08-2008, 09:51 AM

I am getting ready for a PM appointment Monday. I have been on Vicodin for two years and only take 3 -4 a day. I think they are 7.5/750.
Stupid question but what is stronger?
Percoset
Vicodin (Lortab)
Oxycodone

The oxy kinda scares me. I have heard alot of negative and it being the last resort drug and stuff.

I want to go informed-help!
Blessings,
Michelle

lifeaftr40 · 08-08-2008, 11:14 AM

Percocet is Oxycodone wuth Tylenol
Oxycodone does not have tylenol
Lortab is Vicodin
People react different to different meds

forginon · 08-08-2008, 11:25 AM

Michelle,

lifeaftr40 has offered good info.

Hydrocodone is one of the active ingredients in Vicodin, LorTab, Norco, etc. It also has tylenol mixed in.

Oxycodone is one of the active ingredients in Percocet, which also has tylenol. Oxycodone is the sole active ingredient in OxyIR, OxyContin, etc. It is the same oxycodone that is in Percocet.

Oxycodone is 50% stronger than hydrocodone.

Morphine is relatively equal in potency to hydrocodone, but is prescribed alone w/o tylenol mixed in. Many think of it as stronger than hydrocodone, but clinical studies show otherwise.

Above morphine and oxycodone are even more potent opioids.

For you, if you are in need of something stronger, I would recommend Norco, which is hydrocodone 10mg and tylenol. This is stronger than your Vicodin, but uses ingredients that have worked for you at some point at least, right?

If absolutely necessary, the next step up is probably Percocet with 5mg oxycodone and tylenol.

You want to be careful going up in potency with short acting opioids because tolerance develops very quickly, leaving you in need of ever stronger meds. If you have chronic pain then it is good to get on a long acting med. This helps keep your blood level of opioid stable and avoids the ups and downs of short acting meds.

What kind of pain do you have and how bad is it?

steve

Wren9 · 08-08-2008, 11:54 AM

In general, oxycodone is a bit stronger than hydrocodone -- but some people prefer hydrocodone. For me hydrocodone seems to have a "warmer" quality and oxycodone has a speedier quality, and hydrocodone feels better on my pain. But all commercial hydrocodone preparations contain Tylenol, which limits the dose, whereas most pure opioids due to not have a ceiling dose once tolerance to respiratory depression has been achieved.

hydrocodone

Vicodin: contains 5 mg hydrocodone and 500 mg APAP (acetaminophen, aka Tylenol)

Vicodin ES: contains 7.5 mg hydrocodone and 750 mg APAP

Norco (10/325): contains 10 mg hydrocodone and 325 mg APAP

oxycodone

Percocet: contains 5 mg oxycodone and 500 mg APAP

Oxy IR: contains 5 mg oxycodone (no APAP) -- IR stand for immediate release

Roxicodone 15 and 30: oxycodone that comes in 15 and 30 mg strengths (no APAP)

Oxycontin: Extended-release oxycodone (no APAP)

Generally in order of strength, it would go like this (from lesser to greater):

Vicodin, Percocet, Oxy IR (because it does not have Tylenol, can be prescribed in higher doses than Percocet), then Oxycontin.

-Wren

Edit to add: I was posting at same time as Steve (I kept the window open for a while) -- so sorry to duplicate info. Steve had really good advice, especially the bit about morphine being equipotent to hydrocodone -- that is true -- and of course, there will be individual preferences finding one "better" than the other -- that is relative.

atwork · 08-08-2008, 03:59 PM

You guys are awesome.
Hydocodone works for me now. I know I am building a tolerence and have started a pain journal to track my usage. The doctor prescribes Viodin with generic ok and of course that is exactly what my insurance covers. He presrcibes 90 at a time which lasted a month till now.
I have nerve pain (take Lyrica), lower back from a fusion two years ago and something on the top of my leg/hip that is as yet undiagnosed. When all meds wear off I would say I am 7-8 on the pain scale. I try of course to NEVER get that way but somedays......you know how it is. I see a new doc Monday morning and she will probably send me for Xrays on the leg.
Pain is constant and like many of you my family has lost interest in the day to day of it and want to move on with life so I come here (usually the back pain board) and share with my fellow sufferers. I don't hold it against them but they don't and can't understand so I let it go.
Thank you so much for the information. It sounds like I am on the lower end of meds right now so I do have some time to move up.
I work in an orthopedic research department so I watch anxiously as they work on new projects and get to read and hear about new ideas in helping us with this constant issue.
Blessings to you all and I pray for a peaceful pain-free weekend for all of us!

-Michelle