{"id":59358,"date":"2023-07-17T16:12:20","date_gmt":"2023-07-17T20:12:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=59358"},"modified":"2024-10-25T10:36:57","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T14:36:57","slug":"oxycodone-alternatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/oxycodone-alternatives\/","title":{"rendered":"Oxycodone (Percocet) alternatives: What can I take instead of oxycodone?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pain in any form is a condition that can affect many aspects of a person’s quality of life. This can include their mental health, physical functioning, and financial aspects of their life as well. Pain is a condition that can occur in any type of person, regardless of gender, race, or socioeconomic status. There are many types or categories of pain, and the responsible treatment of pain in the United States has been a nationwide effort in the aftermath of the opioid crisis of the late 2000’s.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are three general types of pain: acute, subacute, and chronic. Guidelines for the appropriate treatment of each type of pain are tailored to the pain category. Acute pain is pain occurring in response to a stimulus. It is sudden in onset and short in duration. Acute pain is typically in response to an injury or trauma to the body, and it lasts for less than one month. Subacute pain, sometimes referred to as unresolved acute pain, lasts from one to three months, and if unresolved, can develop into chronic pain. <\/span><\/p>\n

Chronic pain is pain that lasts longer than three months. While it can be due to trauma or injury, it may also stem from a medical disease or condition, such as cancer pain. It can also be due to prolonged inflammation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pain management is complex and does not just include medication therapy with analgesics. It may also need to include physical therapy, behavioral therapy, and treatment of concurrent diseases such as depression. Opioids, like oxycodone, have existed as an effective option for quite some time, but the use of opioids, which are federally controlled substances, carries significant risk and potential for harm if not prescribed and monitored appropriately by your healthcare provider.<\/span><\/p>\n

Oxycodone is a prescription opioid, specifically a schedule II narcotic, that is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe pain where other non-opioid therapies have not been adequate. It comes in immediate-release and extended-release oral solid formulations (tablets and capsules) as well as an oral solution. Oxycodone is considered to provide similar pain relief to that of morphine but with fewer side effects.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are many reasons oxycodone may not be appropriate or the best choice for a particular patient. The most obvious would be if the person is suffering from mild to moderate pain for just a short period of time. Other pain treatment options would be more important. Patients who have an allergy to morphine or related opioid medications should not take oxycodone without expressed consent from the prescriber as there is a chance of cross sensitivity. Patients with a history of prescription or illicit drug abuse should not be prescribed oxycodone as it has a high potential for abuse and misuse. When oxycodone is prescribed, it should be done with the lowest dose possible and in small quantities in order to limit excessive amounts of the drug available for abuse by the patient or someone else.<\/span><\/p>\n

What can I take in place of oxycodone?<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are a variety of analgesic options available to treat pain. For mild to moderate pain, topical anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like <\/span>Voltaren<\/span><\/a> (diclofenac) gel actually have the <\/span>best benefit-to-harm ratio<\/span><\/a>. Other safe options include oral NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen, and acetaminophen. The type or source of the pain will also be key to determining what therapy choices a prescriber has. For lower back pain, a steroid or musculoskeletal relaxant would be appropriate to treat pain. For migraines, the drug class known as <\/span>triptans<\/span><\/a> offer significant pain relief. When pain is moderate to severe, it may require a combination of therapies. Opioids like oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine may be safe to use short-term in the treatment of moderate to severe pain, but experts do not recommend and have not been able to prove benefit from long-term opioid treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Below is a list of potentially appropriate alternatives to oxycodone. This is not meant to be medical advice. Your healthcare professional will decide what is right for you based on the type of pain you have, the source of your pain, and your medical history.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Compare Percocet (oxycodone) alternatives<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

Drug name<\/b><\/td>\nUses<\/span><\/td>\nDosage<\/span><\/td>\nSavings options<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Roxicodone <\/span><\/a>(oxycodone)<\/span><\/td>\nModerate to severe pain<\/span><\/td>\n5 mg to 15 mg by mouth every 4-6 hours<\/span><\/td>\nRoxicodone coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Oxycontin<\/span><\/a> (oxycodone ER)<\/span><\/td>\nModerate to severe pain<\/span><\/td>\n10 mg by mouth every 12 hours<\/span><\/td>\nOxycontin coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Norco (<\/span>hydrocodone\/ acetaminophen<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/td>\nModerate to severe pain<\/span><\/td>\n2.5\/325 mg or 5\/325 mg by mouth every 4-6 hours<\/span><\/td>\nNorco coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Motrin<\/span><\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n

(ibuprofen)<\/span><\/td>\n

Mild to moderate pain and inflammation, fever<\/span><\/td>\n400 mg by mouth every 4-6 hours, or 800 mg by mouth three times daily (prescription strength)<\/span><\/td>\nMotrin coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Naprosyn<\/span><\/a> (naproxen)<\/span><\/td>\nMild to moderate pain and inflammation<\/span><\/td>\n250 mg by mouth every 4-6 hours or 500 mg twice daily (prescription strength)<\/span><\/td>\nNaprosyn coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Voltaren<\/span><\/a> (diclofenac) gel<\/span><\/td>\nMild to moderate pain and inflammation<\/span><\/td>\n4 g topically per painful joint applied 4 times daily (maximum 16 g per day)<\/span><\/td>\nVoltaren coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tylenol<\/span><\/a> (acetaminophen)<\/span><\/td>\nMild to moderate pain, fever<\/span><\/td>\n1000 mg by mouth every 4-6 hours (max of 3000 mg in 24 hours)<\/span><\/td>\nTylenol coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ultram <\/span><\/p>\n

(<\/span>tramadol<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/td>\n

Moderate to severe pain<\/span><\/td>\n50 mg to 100mg by mouth every 4-6 hours<\/span><\/td>\nUltram coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Robaxin<\/span><\/a> (methocarbamol)<\/span><\/td>\nAcute musculoskeletal pain<\/span><\/td>\n750 mg by mouth four times daily<\/span><\/td>\nRobaxin coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Flexeril (<\/span>cyclobenzaprine<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/td>\nAcute musculoskeletal pain<\/span><\/td>\n5 mg to 10 mg by mouth three times daily<\/span><\/td>\nFlexeril coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Skelaxin (<\/span>metaxalone<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/td>\nAcute musculoskeletal pain<\/span><\/td>\n800 mg by mouth three to four times daily<\/span><\/td>\nSkelaxin coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Neurontin<\/span><\/a> (gabapentin)<\/span><\/td>\nNeuropathic pain (off-label), seizures, restless leg syndrome (RLS)<\/span><\/td>\n600 mg by mouth three times daily<\/span><\/td>\nNeurontin coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lyrica<\/span><\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n

(pregabalin)<\/span><\/td>\n

Neuropathic pain, seizures, fibromyalgia<\/span><\/td>\n50 mg to 100mg by mouth three times daily<\/span><\/td>\nLyrica coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cymbalta<\/span><\/a> (duloxetine)<\/span><\/td>\nDepression, anxiety, neuropathy, fibromyalgia, musculoskeletal pain<\/span><\/td>\n60 mg by mouth once daily<\/span><\/td>\nCymbalta coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Deltasone (<\/span>prednisone<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/td>\nAutoimmune disorders, inflammation, complex regional pain syndrome (off-label)<\/span><\/td>\n10 mg by mouth one to three times daily for up to 12 weeks<\/span><\/td>\nDeltasone coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Other alternatives to oxycodone<\/span><\/h3>\n