Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: NORCO versus ROXILOX.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: NORCO versus ROXILOX.
NORCO vs ROXILOX
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
NORCO is a combination of hydrocodone, a mu-opioid receptor agonist that inhibits ascending pain pathways and alters pain perception, and acetaminophen, which inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, particularly in the CNS, leading to decreased prostaglandin synthesis and antipyresis.
Roxilox is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) enzymes, reducing prostaglandin synthesis and thereby alleviating pain and inflammation.
One tablet (5 mg hydrocodone/325 mg acetaminophen, 7.5 mg/325 mg, 10 mg/325 mg) orally every 4-6 hours as needed for pain. Maximum acetaminophen dose 4000 mg/day; maximum hydrocodone dose 60 mg/day.
10 mg orally once daily, with or without food.
None Documented
None Documented
Hydrocodone: terminal elimination half-life is 3.8 to 6.0 hours (mean 4.5 hours) in adults; prolonged in hepatic or renal impairment. Acetaminophen: half-life 1.5–3 hours.
Terminal elimination half-life 4.5 hours; prolonged to 18-24 hours in severe renal impairment (CrCl <30 mL/min)
Hydrocodone: primarily renal (approximately 60% as unchanged drug and metabolites, including norhydrocodone, hydromorphone, and conjugated metabolites). Biliary/fecal excretion accounts for <10%.
Renal (70-80% unchanged), biliary/fecal (15-20%), remainder metabolized
Category C
Category C
Opioid Analgesic
Opioid Analgesic