Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: OXYCONTIN versus ZYDONE.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: OXYCONTIN versus ZYDONE.
OXYCONTIN vs ZYDONE
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
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.
Hydrocodone is a mu-opioid receptor agonist; acetaminophen produces analgesia via central COX inhibition and activation of descending serotonergic pathways.
10 mg orally every 12 hours; titrate based on pain severity and prior opioid exposure.
Oral: 1 to 2 tablets every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain. Each tablet contains hydrocodone bitartrate 5 mg and acetaminophen 500 mg (Zydone 5/500). Maximum acetaminophen dose: 4000 mg/day (8 tablets).
None Documented
None Documented
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.
Terminal elimination half-life of hydrocodone is 3.8-4.5 hours in healthy adults; prolonged in elderly or hepatic impairment (up to 6-8 hours). Clinical context: dosing interval typically every 4-6 hours, adjusted for renal/hepatic insufficiency.
Primarily renal (90% as metabolites, 10% unchanged). Also biliary/fecal (10%).
Approximately 60% of hydrocodone and its metabolites are excreted renally as glucuronide conjugates; ~10% as norhydrocodone, hydromorphone, and other metabolites. Fecal excretion accounts for less than 5%. Total renal elimination: ~65-70%.
Category C
Category C
Opioid Analgesic
Opioid Analgesic