Oxycodone vs Tramadol for Pain Relief

What Is Oxycodone?

Oxycodone is an opioid medication available in the United States since the mid-1990s. It works by binding to and activating opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord, blocking pain signals from being sent to the brain. Oxycodone is one of the most commonly prescribed opioids for long-term pain management. It provides analgesia with a slower onset than other short-acting opioids like hydrocodone or morphine. Because of its potency, oxycodone has a high risk for misuse, dependency, and addiction. If you become dependent upon oxycodone, medically-assisted detox is the first step on the road to recovery.

Oxycodone is available in several formulations, including immediate-release (IR) and extended-release (ER) forms. It is relatively fast-acting, with IR products taking effect within 30 minutes and ER products within an hour. The IR form of oxycodone only remains effective for up to six hours.

What Is Tramadol?

Tramadol is a synthetic opioid developed in Germany in 1962 and approved by the FDA in 1995. Like oxycodone, it works by binding to and activating opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord, blocking pain signals from reaching the brain. It also raises the levels of serotonin (which affects every human behavior) and norepinephrine (which helps your body respond to stress) in your brain.

Tramadol is generally considered less potent than other full-strength opioids but can still provide effective relief for moderate-to-severe levels of discomfort. Even though it is considered less potent than oxycodone, it is still considered a controlled substance with potentially serious risks and can only be safely used under a physician’s supervision.

Tramadol works more quickly than oxycodone and lasts longer, although its effects will diminish over time, like oxycodone’s.

It is available as both IR and ER capsules or tablets. One of the advantages of taking tramadol is convenience. Patients only need to take ER tablets and capsules once a day to obtain day-long relief.

Scheduling & Classification of Oxycodone & Tramadol

Drug classification and scheduling began with the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), which was voted into federal law in 1971 to create an effective system for controlling the availability of potentially dangerous substances by limiting access through regulation. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies drugs into five schedules (categories) based on their medical use and potential for abuse and dependency.

Oxycodone is listed as a Schedule II drug because, while it has bonafide medical uses, its potency creates a high potential for abuse that can lead to severe psychological and physical dependence.

Tramadol is a Schedule IV drug with less potential for abuse and addiction.

Similarities Between Oxycodone & Tramadol

Oxycodone is an opioid, while tramadol is a synthetic opiate agonist. As opioids, they control pain similarly and share many positive and negative attributes, including how well they work and the side effects they produce.

Both tramadol and oxycodone require you to gradually lower the dose when it’s time to stop the medication to avoid experiencing withdrawal symptoms. And both are controlled drugs with special requirements to get a prescription filled.

Is Oxycodone Stronger Than Tramadol for Pain Relief?

When it comes to pain relief, both oxycodone, and tramadol are effective interventions. However, oxycodone tends to be stronger as a narcotic painkiller. Oxycodone works by binding opioid receptors in the brain and nervous system to reduce the perception of pain. Tramadol is an opioid-like medication that has a similar structure and mechanism to morphine but is weaker than other opioid medications like oxycodone.

While oxycodone is often regarded as the more potent drug, it also carries a higher risk of abuse and addiction due to its opioid properties. Similarly, tramadol can pose serious side effects like seizures or fatal respiratory depression when taken in large doses or combined with alcohol or other drugs, thus contributing to its potential for abuse and addiction.