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Oxycodone vs. Oxycontin: What’s the Difference?

distraught and confused young woman talking to addiction specialist and discussing oxycodone vs. Oxycontin and what's the difference?

Opioids are very effective for treating mild to severe pain, and there are several different types of opioid pain medication on the market today. If your doctor is advising you to take an opioid for pain relief, you should be familiar with the differences between oxycodone vs. oxycontin. Both medications are used to treat pain but have very different uses and timetables.

Evoke Wellness at Coconut Creek is a fully accredited addiction treatment facility that works with people with opioid use disorder. Our goal in treating patients is to support them throughout the recovery process from start to finish and beyond. Our programs include residential and outpatient treatment programs along with after-care support through alumni programs.

If you feel you can benefit from our opioid rehab program, send us a message online or call 866.693.3871 today to stop the addiction before causing serious harm.

Understanding Opioid Abuse

Taking opioids for pain is relatively safe when you follow the prescription and avoid using alcohol or other drugs while on the medication. Unfortunately, many people do just that. Our society’s relaxed approach to drugs and alcohol has led to a common practice of mixing medications with other intoxicating substances.

It is very common for people to mix opioids with:

  • Alcohol
  • Marijuana
  • Benzodiazepines
  • Antihistamines
  • Barbiturates
  • Stimulants
  • Muscle relaxers
  • Other opioids

Another common practice is to double up their prescription. In doing so, they are creating a new level of tolerance, which can lead to severe withdrawal symptoms and opioid cravings. Common opioid abuse withdrawal symptoms include increased cravings for more opioids, muscle pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramping, depressed breathing, anxiety, depression, and paranoia.

Oxycodone abuse is a severe problem in the U.S. and affects several million teens and adults each year. In fact, a recent report shows that one in five teens have tried opioids within the last year, and three in ten think there is no risk of abusing opioids1. If you have developed an addiction to any opioid, there are several programs available that can help stop the abuse while still reducing your pain levels. They use a combination of medication-assisted treatment and behavioral therapies to address physical withdrawal symptoms and psychological cravings and triggers that prompt them to keep using.

Evoke Wellness at Coconut Creek welcomes anyone with an opioid use disorder and is ready for a positive change. Our team will evaluate you and develop a treatment plan based on your unique symptoms and their severity.

Oxycodone vs. Oxycontin: What Is the Difference?

Oxycodone and Oxycontin are both opioids that are very effective in reducing chronic pain. These drugs are not interchangeable as they affect your body in very different ways.

Some of the main differences between oxycodone vs. oxycontin include:

  • Oxycodone – This opioid is used to treat moderate to severe pain and can be taken every 4-6 hours as necessary. It is a short-acting opioid that comes in immediate-release (IR) tablets. The brand names that contain oxycodone include Oxypro, Longtec, Reltebon, and Zomestine.
  • Oxycontin – Oxycontin is the brand name for extended-release oxycodone. It provides longer-lasting pain relief than standard oxycodone and can last for up to 12 hours. This type of opioid is for chronic pain sufferers who experience severe pain on a daily basis.

Taking these medications is safe when you work with your doctor as your pain levels change, and don’t take more than prescribed. Doing so will increase your tolerance level and can lead to a serious addiction if you continue taking a higher dose.

Start Recovery for Oxycodone Abuse at Evoke Wellness at Coconut Creek

The facilities at Evoke Wellness at Coconut Creek are open to people with opioid use disorder who need help stopping opioid abuse. Each program takes into consideration the person’s reasons behind the abuse to develop a more effective recovery experience. Patients participate in group and private therapy sessions with a professional addiction therapist while receiving medication to ease opioid withdrawals and cravings.

To stop oxycodone abuse safely, call 866.693.3871 today or reach out online to schedule a consultation to begin the recovery process.

Footnotes
1Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Prescription Monitoring Program – “Oxycodone: Protect Your Teens”

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