Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: DEMEROL versus OXYCONTIN.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: DEMEROL versus OXYCONTIN.
DEMEROL vs OXYCONTIN
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Meperidine is an opioid agonist that binds to mu-opioid receptors in the central nervous system, mimicking endogenous endorphins to produce analgesia, sedation, and euphoria. It also has additional weak actions at kappa and delta receptors.
Oxycodone is a full opioid agonist with relative selectivity for the mu-opioid receptor, although it can bind to other opioid receptors at higher doses. The principal therapeutic action of oxycodone is analgesia. Like all full opioid agonists, there is no ceiling effect for analgesia with oxycodone. Clinically, dosage is titrated to provide adequate analgesia and may be limited by adverse reactions, including respiratory and CNS depression.
50-150 mg IM, IV, or SC every 3-4 hours as needed for pain; oral 50-150 mg every 3-4 hours.
10 mg orally every 12 hours; titrate based on pain severity and prior opioid exposure.
None Documented
None Documented
2.5-4 hours; prolonged in hepatic impairment (7-11 hours) and elderly.
4.5-5.0 hours (immediate-release); controlled-release OXYCONTIN has an apparent half-life of 4.5-8.7 hours. Terminal half-life is ~3.5-4 hours for immediate-release, reflecting context-sensitive elimination.
Renal (90% as metabolites and unchanged drug; ~5% unchanged) and biliary/fecal (minor).
Primarily renal (90% as metabolites, 10% unchanged). Also biliary/fecal (10%).
Category C
Category C
Opioid Analgesic
Opioid Analgesic