I was prescribed 20mg oxycontin yesterday and was told to take 1 every eight hours. So far I don't think it wins as well as the Percocets I had 6, 10mg percs a day. Now if what I have read is true on how the time release works and it only administers 20 mg of oxycodone over 8-12 hours why would my doc switch me from take 20 mg of percocet every 5 hours to getting a 20 mg dose over 8-12 hours? Seems like a downgrade to me...
How exactly does the time release work for oxycontin?
Question posted by smokescreen343 on 28 Sep 2011
Last updated on 4 August 2015
Added 28 Sep 2011:
Works t wins
This question has also been asked and answered here: Oxycodone vs OxyContin - What's the difference?
Answers
DzooBaby
28 Sep 2011
It does release 20mg over a 12 hour period. 20mg is a pretty normal starting dose and would be appropriate for you. If you were taking a 10mg percocet every 4 hours or 6 times a day that is 60mg a day so divide by 3 for every 8 hours and you get a dose of 20mg. Remember that you take this every 8 hours whether or not you have pain and also remember that it does take a few days for a consistent blood level to be obtained so you are not going to feel full relief for a few days. Give it a good week before you know for sure where you are at as far as pain control. OxyContin is usually much more effective for chronic pain because it stays ahead of the pain and you get steadier, more consistent relief. Hang in there a few more days and you should start seeing some improvement.
smokescreen343
28 Sep 2011
Thak you very much for clearin that up for mereally appreciate it. My doc told me to let him know if they aren't working for me so I'll give it a week like you said then I'll let him know if they aren't working. It's just the only thing is I'm not getting the releif I was getting with the percocet. I'm back to being in a boat load of pain even 3-8 hours into taking the first one and the the second one is the same thing but like you said I'll give it a week. Thanks for your response. Much appreciated!
DzooBaby
28 Sep 2011
It might help you to have something short acting for the breakthrough pain until you get your drug levels up. You might ask him about it. Once you have taken the long acting for a week or so though you want to have that cover your pain for the most part with only an occasional use of short acting for breakthrough.
betterdays39
10 Nov 2012
WOW THATS THE OPPOSITTE OF MY PROBLEM THE PAST 4 MONTHS. THE PERCOCET I WAS GETTING 4 10MG PERCS A DAY AND COULDNT GET THE OXYCONTIN TILL THIS MONTH SO THE DOCTOR SWITCHED ME FROM 40MG OF PERCS A DAY TO 2 20MG OXYCONTIN WITH 2 10MG PERCS FOR BREAKTHROUGH AND SO IT WAS A 20MG/DAY STEP UP WHICH IS GOOD. BUT I FEEL MUCH BETTER WITH THE OXYCONTIN 20MG THAN THE percocets daily.
the 4 percs i got daily before i would take 3 so i could function and not be in pain so it left me 1 pill till the morning so i felt like crap all day. now i get the 20mg oxycontin with2 percs for breakthru and i feel so much better all the way around. it just took my body a while to get used to the meds.
slfisher70
4 Aug 2015
Percocet is made with Oxycodone which is short acting. Oxycotin is the long acting version without the acetaminophen. Give it a week, they do make higher dosage of Oxycotin as well.
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