Besides the differences in milligrams of Oxycodone and Acedamediphine sometimes Asprin, what are the differences between these pain killers...
What are the differences between Vicodin, Lortab, Percocet, Percodan, and Oxycodone pain medicines?
Question posted by tattude on 24 Nov 2009
Last updated on 26 April 2023 by Daveyboy70
This question has also been asked and answered here: Vicodin vs Percocet: What's the difference?
7 Answers
Daveyboy70
26 April 2023
About twenty-five years ago, I was in a car accident and a year later I was in a work related accident that caused several back and neck injuries. It got so bad I couldn't continue working. My Doctor then put me on one pill a day, Oxycontin 5mg. The next year he said something that shocked me because by then i was taking 3 10mg per day of Oxycontin. He asked me if I knew I was a heroin addict! I didn't even know what heroin was, but I knew it was bad. He told me that Oxycontin was basically heroin. I really was that dumb. I had no clue. I just knew it helped with my pain. Anyhow, about five years later, I was taking 6 40mg and 10 10mg Percocet every day. At one point, I was on 360mg of oxycontin + ten 10mg Percocet every day. Then all of a sudden, he had a patient who overdosed. My doc took me off all my pain meds because he was now very afraid he would get in trouble. I can understand his fear, but it left me in complete misery.
Finally, I found a good and caring doctor who now, even after ten years, prescribes me 4 10mg Norco hydrocodone a day. It does not help much for pain because I was used to ten times as much, but it kept me from thinking of ways to end it all. I hope you get my drift. I am lucky I at least have some relief now.
wgene_1
15 Dec 2012
Since my back surgery 20yrs ago I have been in a lot of pain off & on. We found that Vicodin/Hydrocodone HP(8.5-850 mg) & Soma 350 mg really has been doing a fantastic job... I've tried other pills but had no luck...
wildwind13
16 Nov 2012
Id like to know why Percocet does nothing for me? They give me the 7.5mg and I get no help with my hip pain. I can down 30mg of Lortab and it just touches the pain. I understand that I have been on the Lortab for a 1yr but when im giving another drug for brake pain and it does nothing I want to go to the ER and tell them to hit me like Im at a bar even thought I dont drink.
Lisa01
17 Nov 2012
If you have consistent, chronic pain in your hip you should go to a pain management Dr. If you're been taking the lortab for a year, your body has just become accustomed to it and is requiring a higher dose to achieve the same pain relief. It sounds like you'd be better off with a long acting, extended release medicine with a immediate release medicine for the breakthrough pain. Just my thoughts.
Lisa
catspaw1955
30 Sep 2012
well vicodin, lortab, are hydrocone, they are not as strong as percocet, percodan, and they are oxycodone, wich is much stronger. catspaw1955
Psychmajor
8 Dec 2009
"The vicodin and lortab are the same as far as the hydrocodone but the tylenol could be different" thats wrong. Lortab is 7.5 and hydro is 5 or 10 mg buut your right about the tylenol
perc and oxycodone are the same pills (oxy is the generic) that comes in a few different milligrams and im not sure about percodan cuz iv never filled that
DadsWatchinU
8 Dec 2009
I have serious concerns about phyco buddy here!
barbles2413
7 Dec 2009
I read all you the responses and comments and let me say you sound much better than when you frist asked the question. I would just like to mention that therapy can also be very helpful for back pain. As long as it is prescribed by your doctor. I know it is enpensive but maybe your doc can give you some exercises you can do on your own Good Luck
mpvt
7 Dec 2009
There are a lot of problems when using opiates for chronic pain the obvious being addiction. After time almost all opiate pain killers lose there effect or better yet you grow a tolerence. Methadone is the only opiate that I'm aware of that is almost impossible to build a tolerence to but you normally need to have a huge tolerence to opiates before you should even think about using methadone, the drug is just that powerful. As a matter of fact I have lowered my dose significantly over the years.
Large amounts of opiates can leave you prone to infections, colds seem to last longer ect.
A lot of times doctors also order benzodiazapines such as xanax or kolonipin which can be dangerous as they work with the opiates and can cause respitory depression and even failure.
Surgery, if the doctors can give you a very good recovery is worth doing. Having to take pain killers the rest of your life will at some point cause you problems or worse. So you need to exhaust all options before you decide to go on opiate pain killers for life...
DadsWatchinU
8 Dec 2009
I agree with Dave 100% but exception: surgery part... please get 2nd opinion, b-4 considering surgery. So many neck & back surgeries result in no relief or worse yet, more pain... that said, Dave is right on about the pain meds, pls read very carefully what he is saying..he has lived it and many of us on this site either have addiction problems or family members with addictions problems that started very innocently with a single pain pill...
barbles2413
8 Dec 2009
I agree with the above response. There are many times alternatives to surgery. Get a second opinion and then decide. If you have non-envasive options take them first. Good Luck and feel better soon.
mpvt
24 Nov 2009
Vicodin and lortab contain a relatively weak opiate called hydrocodone. The other 3 all contain oxycodone which is around the middle of the opiate scale. Percocet contains tylenol, percodan contains asa and oxycodone is all by itself.
All of these drugs are useful for short term pain although there is oxycontin which is a sustained release version of oxycodone and is used extensively for long term chronic pain. So vicodin and lortab are both the same opiate and differ in strength of tylenol and hydrocodone. Same with the oxycodone drugs...
tattude
24 Nov 2009
Thanks for the quick response. I have had back problems for years. My doctors keep giving me the pills above, and whenever I read the bottles, they all say pretty much the same things. I did notice the difference in milligrams and oxycodone vs hydrocodone. The two that help my back the most when I have flare ups are the Percocet and Percodan. Is that normal? Meaning the effect of those is supposed to be a little stronger?
Thanks again
DadsWatchinU
25 Nov 2009
I think if you re-read what Dave wrote you will find your answer to your last response... oxycodone. That is what is in both the PERKS... soooo that is why they seem to help more, but pls understand, they have much more potential for addiction..MUCH more, so if your back problem can be managed with the vicodine pls do not make the jump, suck it up, take some pain if u can, I dont mean horriable pain, I mean if its managble, try some natural supplemets, I go to gnc, great options to assist w/pain, i am not deminishing you pain believe me, I do understand, more than I want to, but drug dependency can easliy turn into drug addition that is irrevesable, so tread softly, & I wish you success in finding relief & comfort, Dave pretty smart guy huh? Shoot out to Dave!!!
tattude
1 Dec 2009
Thanks to both of you. I've tried all sorts of remedies. I'm trying NOT to go under the knife, my mother has has 11 back surgeries and my doctor has recommended surgery for me. I can take pain, but not at work. I try to take the pills at work, which is okay now since I'm used to them. I used to feel really weird and wasn't able to work to the best of my ability. Now, I can take these meds and work without feeling funny, it just takes the edge off enough for me to make it through the day. Last thing on my to-do-list is becoming dependent on any drugs, maybe surgery is my only option from drugs??? We'll see, thanks again.
tattude
7 Dec 2009
Actually, most of my question was answered, but not all.
I understand that Percs, and Rox's are Oxycodone and Vics, loris are hydrocodone of varying mg.
But, what is the difference between a Loritab 5mg and a Vicodin 5mg?
or
What's the difference between Percocet 10mg and Perotan 10mg?
mpvt
7 Dec 2009
The vicodin and lortab are the same as far as the hydrocodone but the tylenol could be different. Percot is tylenol while percodan is asa...
tattude
7 Dec 2009
Gotcha, think that about sums it up.
I've been trying all sorts of alternatives. I'm just trying to stay away from surgery, so I will look into any alternatives. I have tried some crazy ones already, some work for a while and other not at all. End result is my back is still messed up and in pain. trying to find LONG term help, or maybe, just maybe life long help?
tracey_knies
2 March 2011
My NP wrote a prescription for me and it was for Percocet 5/325 and to take one to two every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain. I have a kidney stone and they are wanting me to try and pass it on my own so I don't have to have it removed surgical but the pain in my right side which goes from my back to my front abdomen and it feels like someone is stabbing me over and over. So when they called we left to go pick up the prescription. Came back home and I was doing well with taking Tylenol but then the bottom fell out. So I went to get a Percocet and the pill was pink so I looked at the label and it read Hydro-Codon... generic for Lortab-10. Well I called the pharmacy and they said they made the mistake but they are from the same family of opiates. So my question is what is the difference between hydocodon and oxycodon? I was told there really about the same. Just checking... and thank you Also, I think the pharmacy should give me the original prescription filled at no cost and I will give them back the one they messed up. What would you do??
lexicat64
26 March 2011
I have a severely messed up neck from a car accident @ 7yrs ago-migraines and nausea to boot. I've been taking vicodin for a year while going thru traction and massge w/chiropractor to avoid surgery. I take between 1.5-2.5 tablets/day but can tell an increase is on the way because I started w/.5 twice/day. What's the max per day long term that is acceptable? Is it a good idea to switch back and forth, month to month between vicodin and percidan or some other pain med to keep from having to increase daily dose?
Jburdi
7 May 2011
Percocet will definitely help control pain more effectively. The problem is that addiction comes without realizing it. You must control the amount you take as your body will become immune and you may feel the affect be lessened. Do not be tempted to take more. Talk to your health care professional. If possible, take less than the amount prescribed as a problem will develop and you will need professional help in correcting it.
You will know when you begin crossing over into addiction when you find yourself taking the meds without the pain being present or to get the feeling you once did when you began taking Percocet. It can be very dangerous and you will be unable to control this yourself.
balbanese
27 Feb 2012
This is a very accurate answer.
balbanese
13 March 2012
This is a good, accurate answer. Go with it.
pluffmud
20 April 2012
What many people do not realize is tha:t
1.If you are experiencing chronic pain, then take your pain meds as needed per your Rx. Do not skip doses as you will need MORE medication to overcome the pain.
2.If your pain meds do not relieve your pain, then tell your physician so that he/she may prescribe something stronger.
3.IF you are in pain, you will not develop a psychological dependence on the medication
4.Never take pain medicine when you are NOT in pain
5.The opiates fill the pain receptors on the nerve endings in your brain,allowing certain neurotransmitters to reuptake more slowly, blocking the pain sensation, and when you receive enough opiates, the receptors are filled, and your pain will be relieved
6.Sometimes after longtime opiate use, when the underlying cause of pain can be corrected, you may experience a physical withdrawal. Ask your doctor for a small prescription (12ea) of a benzodiazapine like Valium or Xanax to take the edge off while you back off of the pain meds. Be prepared for an anxious jittery feeling for a couple of days (easy compared to the pain you were suffering)
7.IF you are psychologically dependent, you will CRAVE opiates to the exclusion of all else, regardless of the pain you are experiencing and very quickly need more and more opiates
8.I have taken opiates off and on for over 25 years for migraines and back pain. I NEVER think about taking them when I am not in pain.
9.Twice, I have experienced PHYSICAL withdrawal, and that was easy to deal with compared to the pain.
10.For healing purposes, it is IMPORTANT to take your pain meds as directed, and let your physician know if you are not getting relief
ksy34
15 Oct 2012
then what and why is there a vicoprofin 10 hydrocodone and 200mg og ibprofin?
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