Before describing the difference between oxycodone and OxyContin, here is a brief introduction to what exactly oxycodone is. Oxycodone hydrochloride, or simply oxycodone, is an agonist opioid – a highly potent opium-derived pain reliever that is prescribed for managing moderate to severe pain of any kind that does not respond to ordinary analgesics (i.e., painkillers). The US drug Enforcement Administration classifies oxycodone as a Schedule II controlled substance (i.e., a substance having abuse potential).

Oxycodone hydrochloride is the name of the active ingredient in oxycodone, which is available in many oral formulations, for example: as a single-ingredient drug, in the form of combination drugs, in short-acting, immediate release form, and in long-acting, controlled extended-time release form. Now here is the difference between oxycodone and OxyContin.

The name oxycodone refers to the single-ingredient, short-acting, immediate release form. In contrast, OxyContin is the trade name of a long-acting, extended release form of oxycodone manufactured by Purdue Pharma. This means that oxycodone, being short-acting, needs to be taken every 4 to 6 hours. OxyContin, on the other hand, being long-acting and releasing slowly over an extended period of time, needs to be taken just once or twice a day. However, the active ingredient in both oxycodone and OxyContin is the same – oxycodone hydrochloride.

Oxycodone is recommended for managing intermittent pain, given as and when required, whereas OxyContin is prescribed for controlling continuous, around-the-clock pain. Oxycodone is also useful for managing episodes of ‘breakthrough pain’, which is the pain that may come up in a patient on OxyContin drug during the interval between two doses. This helps the patient get through till the time for the next dose of the long-lasting, extended release OxyContin.

Another point of difference between oxycodone and OxyContin – while it makes no difference whether oxycodone is chewed or crushed before swallowing, OxyContin may never be cut, broken, crushed, dissolved or chewed before swallowing, as it will cause dangerous levels of overdosing.

That’s all about the difference between oxycodone and OxyContin.