What is the difference between Oxycontin and Oxycodone?

Oxycodone hydrochloride is used as an opioid pain reliever. It is included among medications sometimes. Oxycontin occurs in the form of Oxycodone when it is available by itself. Oxycontin is active for a longer time in the body compared to Oxycodone. It remains active in the body for about 6 hours, while Oxycodone takes about three to four hours. That is why Oxycontin is taken just twice in a day, while Oxycodone can be taken like three to four times a day.

Oxycodone is the active substance in the Oxycontin medication, and that is why it can be classified as the generic name for Oxycontin sometimes. However, Oxycodone is also the active substance in some other medications, too, and the medical personnel seldom refer to Oxycontin has the extended-release of Oxycodone. The modes of preparation of the two medications are quite different. Oxycontin is released slowly into the bloodstream, while Oxycodone is mixed with some chemicals in medications like Percocet.

Oxycontin and Oxycodone are medications which are used to suppress the sensation of pain in the body. They are used as painkillers, although they do not totally remove the sensation of pain in the affected areas of the body. Oxycontin and oxycodone are similar in some ways. Most times, people refer to both medications as one, probably because they have almost the same constituents or maybe because they are used for the same purpose. However, Oxycontin and oxycodone differ in terms of their preparation.

For example, oxycodone is part of other substances that are used in preparing oxycontin. Another difference is that, Oxycodone is taken every four to five hours in a day, this is not so with Oxycontin, because Oxycontin is taken just twice in a day and work for the period of twelve hours and that's why it is released slowly into the body to avoid complications and overdose.

The main difference between the two drugs is how the medicine is released. OxyContin is a time-released drug. It takes up to a full 12 hours to be released into the system. It is prepared in a way that is it is slowly released into the bloodstream. OxyContin is a version of time released oxycodone.

Oxycodone is mixed with Tylenol and OxyContin is pure oxycodone, which can have disastrous results if an addict takes it mistaking it for Percocet. While with Percocet there is a point at which the OxyContin levels off, and timed released OxyContin there is no point at which the drug levels off as can be fatal for someone who takes it incorrectly by crushing, chewing, or snorting this medication.