Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: OXAYDO versus VICODIN HP.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: OXAYDO versus VICODIN HP.
OXAYDO vs VICODIN HP
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Oxycodone is a full opioid agonist with relative selectivity for mu-opioid receptors, although it can bind to kappa-opioid receptors at higher doses. The principal therapeutic action of oxycodone is analgesia. Like all full opioid agonists, there is no ceiling effect to analgesia for oxycodone.
Hydrocodone is a mu-opioid receptor agonist that inhibits ascending pain pathways; acetaminophen inhibits cyclooxygenase and has antipyretic effects.
Oral, 5-10 mg every 4-6 hours as needed for pain; maximum 60 mg per day.
One tablet (hydrocodone bitartrate 10 mg/acetaminophen 660 mg) orally every 4-6 hours as needed for pain; maximum 6 tablets per day.
None Documented
None Documented
Terminal elimination half-life is 3.5-5.5 hours for immediate-release oxycodone; clinically dose every 4-6 hours for sustained analgesia.
Hydrocodone: 3.8-5.5 hours (mean 4.5 h). Acetaminophen: 2-3 hours. Clinical context: dosing interval every 4-6 hours for acute pain.
Primarily renal as unchanged drug and metabolites; ~90% excreted in urine (approx 10% unchanged oxycodone, rest as noroxycodone and oxymorphone conjugates) and <10% in feces via biliary elimination.
Primarily renal: hydrocodone is eliminated as conjugated metabolites (glucuronides) ~80%; unchanged drug ~5%. Biliary/fecal: minor, <10%.
Category C
Category C
Opioid Analgesic
Opioid Analgesic