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Original poster

Codeine vs oxycodone

40 replies

oganesson · 09/09/2023 23:28

I'm having my wisdom teeth removed at the end of this month and my oral surgeon gave me the choice of taking codeine or oxycodone for pain relief.

I've only tried codeine but found it quite ineffective. While living in the States for some time, I was given hydrocodone for a headache and it was much stronger and long lasting

Is it similar to oxy?

OP posts:

SD1978 · 10/09/2023 06:02

I would take the OxyContin- or have done as it's called over here on two occasions, because it works and it's effective. The dentist will prescribe you a very short course, which you can choose to take if you have severe pain.

embolass · 10/09/2023 06:07

Nurse here. OxyContin and oxycodone are the same. It is a controlled drug. Used in hospitals for post surgical pain, chronic pain and to relieve other pain symptoms. When prescribed and used in hospitals it is very safe, small doses are given and patients are monitored by staff.
Paracetamol, ibuprofen and codeine is a much more appropriate and effective combination.

olympicsrock · 10/09/2023 06:07

I’m a doctor.
When taking pain relief think of a pain relief ladder. So you take the simple things first with no side effects and then add in other stronger ones as needed.
so the first thing is to take regular paracetamol 1g 4 times in 24 hours with ibuprofen 400mg in 24 hours.

If this is not sufficient - Add in an opioid ( either codeine phosphate or dihydrocodeine) up to 4 times a day .

If regular paracetamol plus ibuprofen plus codeine is not enough add in a morphine level pain killer
oromorph and oxycodone immediate release are fast onset short acting pain killers for severe pain. Plenty of people take them in hospital for severe acute pain and do not get addicted because they only take them for a very short time frame.

So I would ask the dentist for both and try the less strong one first but still have the stronger one as backup.

UntidyFairy · 10/09/2023 06:20

I had a tooth out and think I took nurofen maybe once - really wasn't as bad as expected

I had 2 wisdom teeth removed and took paracetamol for the rest of the day. Didn't need anything after that. I think oxycodone would have been taking a sledgehammer to a walnut.

sashh · 10/09/2023 06:38

addictedtotheflats · 10/09/2023 00:09

After a google hydrocodone is dihydrocodeine and yes is similar to codeine

It's more like heroin.

OP I'd opt for codeine and I would get some paracetamol, if the codeine isn't cutting it then you can add paracetamol and it increases the effectiveness of the codeine.

I was told this by a GP so it might be worth discussing with your surgeon.

I had a tooth out and think I took nurofen maybe once - really wasn't as bad as expected

I had a tooth out and I was the same, however the OP is having an operation. When my housemate had his out in hospital and had a lot of pain, bruising, only able to eat ice cream.

I have a first aid kit that is quite extensive and includes some cold packs, you scrunch them and they cool down, my housemate went through a few so it might be worth getting a few in.

Good luck.

drspouse · 10/09/2023 07:29

FromEden · 10/09/2023 05:25

Oxycontin is (or was?) the brand name for oxycodone. They are the same thing

Having watched PainKiller, it isn't. It's a slow release version which was designed to induce withdrawal.

Greybeardy · 10/09/2023 09:15

Greybeardy · 10/09/2023 05:54

Codeine doesn’t work well for everyone for a few reasons. Firstly it’s a prodrug that’s converted to active metabolites in the body - genetic variations in enzymes means not everyone can metabolise it so don’t get the same benefit. Secondly other medications can interfere with its metabolism and reduce the effect. Hydrocodone is dihydrocodeine and may work better than codeine because it’s not a prodrug. Oxycodone (aka OxyContin) seems pretty hefty but perhaps the dentist has something that’s particularly made them think it’ll be necessary. All of them are addictive but wisdom teeth can be flipping painful. They shouldn’t be prescribing bucket loads of which ever drug you end up picking.

just realised this was not my best middle of the night post!... correcting the glaring mistake: hydrocodone is dihydrocodeinone, so not the same as dihydrocodeine, but dihydrocodeine is one of it's active metabolites. It does rely on the same enzymes as codeine to work well so may not give great pain relief to everyone. Dihydrocodeine though doesn't rely on enzymes to convert it to an active drug so some people do get on better with it.
either way, best to chat with the dentist if you're not sure what's the best pain relief for you.

Chiaseedling · 10/09/2023 09:38

Oxy 😱 have you seen Dopesick or the same one on Netflix - Painkiller?!
dh had his wisdoms out years ago by GA as at least one was impacted and he def did not have oxy (and we know a lot more about it now from these programmes).

SwirlyShirly · 10/09/2023 09:44

Watch "Pain Killer" on Netflix and you'll have your answer.

Seddon · 10/09/2023 10:38

The doses of oxycontin in the era covered by Painkiller were astronomical. From memory, they used to start people on 40mg and go up into the hundreds. People were absolutely wasted.

My mum was recently prescribed 10mg post surgery. I was given 5mg for a broken bone.

Casmama · 10/09/2023 14:28

I think it's a bit odd to choose the strength of pain killer before you know how much pain you will be in.
It good advice to start low and add in stronger meds only if you need to.

drspouse · 11/09/2023 17:22

Casmama · 10/09/2023 14:28

I think it's a bit odd to choose the strength of pain killer before you know how much pain you will be in.
It good advice to start low and add in stronger meds only if you need to.

I suspect (though IANAD) the idea would be to start with low dose for that patient weight and specific procedure and titrate up from there.
After a recent surgery, this is more or less what they did. I got the idea they were giving me a standard dose, but checking it was working and then I did have some morphine (while an inpatient) and then it was expected I'd titrate downwards once home off the stronger tablets.

Throwncrumbs · 11/09/2023 17:31

oganesson · 09/09/2023 23:28

I'm having my wisdom teeth removed at the end of this month and my oral surgeon gave me the choice of taking codeine or oxycodone for pain relief.

I've only tried codeine but found it quite ineffective. While living in the States for some time, I was given hydrocodone for a headache and it was much stronger and long lasting

Is it similar to oxy?

That’s why the US has a problem with oxycodene addiction. Given for a headache or tooth ache is ridiculous and asking for trouble.8

drspouse · 11/09/2023 20:12

I would say opiates for a headache were overkill but after oral surgery for a few days? that's not just a toothache.

IHateWhatsAppDotCom · 11/09/2023 20:30

What??? I cannot believe what some are recommending here.
Tow word, highly addictive.

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