Oxycodone vs Hydrocodone
Oxycodone (Roxicodone 30 mg)
Opioids
VS
Hydrocodone 10/500 mg
Opioids
Oxycodone (OxyContin, Roxicodone) and hydrocodone (Vicodin, Norco) are the two most-prescribed strong painkillers in the US. They're more alike than different — but oxycodone is about 1.5 times stronger per milligram and tends to produce more of a high.
Oxycodone vs Hydrocodone — side by side
| Oxycodone | Hydrocodone | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Semi-synthetic opioid for moderate-severe pain | Semi-synthetic opioid for moderate-severe pain; often paired with paracetamol |
| Strength | ~1.5x stronger per mg (CDC MME table) | Baseline reference opioid (1.0 MME) |
| How it feels | Warmth, euphoria, then drowsiness; 4–6 hours | Very similar; often described as slightly 'muddier' |
| Addiction risk | Very high — fast onset and euphoria | Very high — the most-diverted opioid in US history |
| Overdose danger | Slows and can stop breathing — worse with alcohol, benzos, sleep meds | Identical; added paracetamol adds liver-failure risk at high doses |
| Withdrawal | Flu-like misery: sweats, cramps, insomnia, cravings | Essentially the same |
| Price & legal | Schedule II (US); ~$1–2 per mg street | Schedule II (US); ~$0.50–1.5 per mg street |
The verdict
Neither is 'safer'. Oxycodone is stronger and a bit more euphoric, which is why it starred in the early pill crisis; hydrocodone has been prescribed more often, so it has hooked more people in total. Both cause the same breathing-stopping overdose, the same brutal flu withdrawal, and the same quick tolerance. The paracetamol in many hydrocodone brands (Vicodin, Norco) adds a second danger — liver damage — at high doses.
?Frequently asked questions
Which is stronger, oxycodone or hydrocodone?
Oxycodone — about 1.5 times per milligram. Ten mg of hydrocodone ≈ 6.5–7 mg of oxycodone. Doctors adjust doses so prescriptions deliver similar relief.
Is hydrocodone safer than oxycodone?
No. Both are Schedule II with the same overdose and addiction profile. Many hydrocodone products also contain paracetamol, which can permanently damage the liver at high doses.