Codeine and oxycodone are both opioids and narcotics. While they are derived from different substances, both can be addictive and have a high potential for abuse.
Article at a Glance:
- Codeine and oxycodone are both opioids.
- Codeine is derived from morphine, while oxycodone is not.
- Both drugs are often prescribed as combination pills with other medications.
- Both drugs can be addictive and have a high potential for abuse.
Comparing Codeine & Oxycodone
Many different opioids exist. Of these, oxycodone is one of the most commonly prescribed, while codeine is less common. Overall,about 31%of narcotic prescriptions in the United States are for oxycodone, while onlyabout 1.9%are for codeine. To understand the discrepancy between the two drugs, it is important to understand not only their similarities but also their differences.
Similarities Between Codeine and Oxycodone
Codeine and oxycodone are both opioids and have the following in common:
- Both codeine and oxycodone are opioids:Both codeine and oxycodone are opioid narcotics and are available by prescription only in the U.S.
- Both codeine and oxycodone are addictive controlled substances:Both drugs are scheduled as narcotics by the Drug Enforcement Administration. As such, they can both cause abuse, dependence and addiction.
- Codeine and oxycodone share similar side effects:Common side effects of codeine and oxycodone can include sedation, drowsiness and depressed respiration.
- Both codeine and oxycodone are often used in combination medications:Oxycodone is commonly combined with the pain reliever acetaminophen and sold under the brand name Percocet. Similarly, codeine is often combined with cough and cold medicines and sold under brand names like Coditussin DAC.
- You can overdose on both codeine and oxycodone:As they are both opioids and central nervous system depressants, it is possible to overdose on either one of the drugs.
- Both codeine and oxycodone can cause withdrawal symptoms: If you have been taking either codeine or oxycodone over the long term, suddenly stopping can send you into withdrawal.
Differences Between Codeine and Oxycodone
For all their similarities, there are several differences between codeine and oxycodone, including:
- Oxycodone may be more addictive than codeine: While all oxycodone products areSchedule IIcontrolled substances, codeine-based productsrange from Schedule II to Schedule V. The higher the schedule number, the lower risk of abuse, dependence and addiction.
- Codeine is often used for cough, while oxycodone’s use is limited to pain: Codeine is a component in many different narcotic cough medications. However, oxycodone is generally used for pain.
- Oxycodone and codeine are derived from different chemicals: The source of the drugs can help account for the differences between them. Codeine isderived from the natural opioid morphine, whileoxycodone is a semi-synthetic drug, meaning it is man-made.
Does Oxycodone or Percocet Contain Codeine?
Oxycodone and oxycodone-containing drugs like Percocet do not contain codeine. The reverse is also true: codeine does not contain oxycodone or Percocet. Oxycodone and codeine are two separate and distinct opioids.
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What Is Codeine?
Relative to other opioids,codeine is somewhat mild. For this reason, its products are sometimes designated as Schedule V, which are at the lowest risk of abuse. As such, codeine is less potent than many of the other prescription opioid pain relievers on the market.
Codeine is frequently prescribed in combination drugs. The drug can also be prescribed to treat pain, and it also is used in many cough syrups.
| Drug Properties | Codeine |
|---|---|
| Brand names | Available as a generic. However, some combination medications that include codeine have brand names like Tuxarin ER (codeine with chlorpheniramine) |
| Type of pain it can treat | Mild-to-moderate pain |
| Drug type | Opioid |
| Short-acting or long-acting | Short-acting |
| Drug schedule | Schedule II, III, or V depending on the specific preparation |
| Side effects | Disorientation, dizziness, slow heartbeat, sedation, fatigue, constipation |
| How long it takes to start working | 30 minutes to 1 hour |
| How long it takes to have its peak effect | 1 hour to 1.5 hours |
| Duration of effect | 4 to 6 hours |
Is Codeine a Controlled Substance?
Codeine is a narcotic and controlled substance. Codeine products range from Schedule II to Schedule V. However,the specific schedule depends on the ingredientsin the codeine product:
- Schedule II:Codeine products where codeine is the only ingredient
- Schedule III:Codeine products with acetaminophen (Tylenol), butalbital, aspirin, carisoprodol, papaverine and/or noscapine
- Schedule V:Codeine products with promethazine, chlorpheniramine and/or guaifenesin
What Is Oxycodone?
Oxycodone is a semi-synthetic opioid pain medicine that ismildly potent compared to other opioids. It’s prescribed in most cases for pain ranging from moderate to severe, and it can be prescribed as a single-ingredient medication as well as a combination medication. For example, oxycodone is often combined with acetaminophen to make it a more effective pain reliever.
| Drug Properties | Oxycodone |
|---|---|
| Brand names | Oxaydo, Oxycontin, Roxicodone, Xtampza ER. The drug is also available in combination products like Percocet (oxycodone and acetaminophen) |
| Type of pain it can treat | Moderate-to-severe pain |
| Drug type | Opioid |
| Short-acting or long-acting | Available in both short and long-acting formulations |
| Drug schedule | Schedule II |
| Side effects | Disorientation, dizziness, slow heartbeat, sedation, fatigue, constipation |
| How long it takes to start working | 10 to 15 minutes |
| How long it takes to have its peak effect | 30 minutes to 1 hour for quick-acting formulations; 4 to 5 hours for long-acting formulations |
| Duration of effect | 3 to 6 hours for quick-acting formulations; up to 12 hours for long-acting formulations |
