Hydrocodone and Percocet are the two common medicines, which help to reduce severe pain occurring in the patient’s body. They are made of different dosages and ingredients for the treatment. Hydrocodone is a generic drug, whereas Percocet is a branded drug. These medicines are used for the treatment of severe or chronic pain that is caused due to many reasons. This blog, ‘Hydrocodone vs Percocet’ is all about a brief comparison between two medicines for treating pain.
Brief Overview of Hydrocodone Medicine with its Properties
Hydrocodone is widely used for the treatment of long-term pain. It is similar to other medicines such as Fentanyl, Oxycodone, Methadone, Morphine, etc., to treat pain in patients.
People use this medicine to reduce severe pain and other problems, which affect their bodies. It contains an active ingredient called Dihydrocodeine. The molar mass of Hydrocodone medicine is 299.368 g/mol.
Properties of Hydrocodone Medicine
The physical properties of Hydrocodone medicine are as follows:
- Its melting point is 198 degrees Celsius.
- Hydrocodone drug is soluble in water, acetone, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and ethanol, but insoluble in ether.
- The refractive index and density of Hydrocodone drug are 1.63 and 1.29 g/ml, respectively.
Brief Overview of Percocet Medicine with its Properties
Percocet is widely used to treat moderate to severe pain in patients. It is a combination of Oxycodone and Acetaminophen generic variant medicines.
This medicine is used for the treatment of cough and fever. Its molar mass is 315.364 g/mol.
Properties of Percocet Medicine
There are several physical properties of Percocet medicine. These include the following:
- The melting point of Percocet drug is 219 degrees Celsius.
- It is soluble in ethanol and chloroform, but insoluble in water.
- Its refractive index is 1.67.
- The density of the Percocet drug is 1.41g/ml.
Comparison Between Hydrocodone and Percocet Medicines
There are several comparisons between Hydrocodone and Percocet medicines, which include the following:
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Approval
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved both Hydrocodone and Percocet medicines in different years. Percocet medicine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the year 1976.
Brand Names
Hydrocodone drug is marketed under different brand names. Read the following brand names of these medicines:
- The brand names of Hydrocodone medicine are Hysingla ER, Zohydro ER, Robidone, etc.
- Percocet is a brand-name drug that contains chemical compounds such as Acetaminophen and Oxycodone as its main ingredients. Other similar brands include Primlev, Xolox, Prolate, Oxycet, Nalocet, etc.
Dosages
Hydrocodone and Percocet medicines are available in several dosage strengths and forms. Read the following information in brief.
Hydrocodone Dosages
- The dosages of Hydrocodone medicine are used for the treatment of adults and children. They are available in the form of extended-release oral capsules and tablets.
- The dosage strength of an extended-release tablet is 20mg, whereas the dosage strength of an extended-release capsule is 10mg.
- You can find Hydrocodone 10-325 mg Pill, Hydrocodone 10-500 mg, Hydrocodone 10-650 mg, 10-660 mg, 5-325 mg.
Dosages Of Percocet
- There are several dosages available in the form of oral tablets. They are used in treating adults and children.
- The dosage strength of oral tablets is 5/325mg, 10/325mg, 7.5/500mg, 10/650mg, 2.5/325mg, and 7.5/325mg.
Function
The working of both medicines for the treatment of long-term pain is different. Read the following information about the function of Hydrocodone and Percocet medicines.
- The function of Hydrocodone is to protect the central part of the nervous system from severe pain in patients. It works as an opioid receptor in the brain.
- Percocet medicine blocks the pain signals in the central part of the nervous system. This improves the quality of life of the patients.
Half-Life
Hydrocodone medicine has an average half-life of 8 hours, whereas the average half-life of Percocet medicine is 7.9 hours in the human body.
Interactions with Other Medicinal Drugs
You must keep in mind that Hydrocodone and Percocet medicines can interact with other medicinal drugs. Read the following drug interactions of these medicines:
- Hydrocodone medicine can interact with 573 medicinal drugs. These are Alefacept, Oxybutynin, Omaveloxolone, Ozanimod, Phenindamine, Propanolol, Rasagiline, etc.
- Several drugs can interact with 632 medicinal drugs. These include Benazepril, Baclofen, Bromocriptine, Chlophedianol, Posaconazole, Probenecid, Prazosin etc.
Side Effects
Hydrocodone and Percocet medicines also cause common and severe side effects due to their prolonged use.
Hydrocodone Side Effect
There are several side effects of Hydrocodone medicine, which include the following:
- Diarrhea
- Light-headedness
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Sore throat
- Back pain
- Tightness in chest
- Slow heartbeat
- Muscle pain
- Skin darkening
- Breathing problem
Side Effect Of Percocet
Percocet medicine causes several side effects in people. These are as follows:
- Jaundice
- Unusual weakness or tiredness
- Stomach pain
- Sweating
- Sleeping problems
- Shivering
- Twitching
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Blurred vision
Conclusion
This blog describes the comparison between Hydrocodone and Percocet medicines (Hydrocodone vs Percocet). Both medicines consist of different dosages for the treatment of severe pain in patients.
However, Hydrocodone and Percocet also cause side effects. You must take the doctor’s advice, before taking these medicines.