Oxycodone vs. OxyContin

Some people may search for information on
 OxyContin® vs. oxycodone, wondering if there is any difference between these two medications. Oxycodone hydrochloride is an opioid pain reliever. It is an active ingredient in many different prescription medications, including OxyContin. It is available by itself (such as in OxyContin or short-acting OxyIR®) or in combination with other active ingredients (such as in Percocet®).
 
While most oxycodone products are taken every four to six hours as needed for pain, there are also long-acting oxycodone medications designed to be taken only twice a day. These medications include OxyContin and generic versions of OxyContin. These extended-release medications are designed to release the medication slowly over a 12-hour period.
 
In some ways, "oxycodone" can be considered a generic name for OxyContin, as oxycodone is the active ingredient in the product. However, oxycodone is also the active ingredient in many other medications, so it is probably better to use a term such as "oxycodone extended release" to describe the generic versions of OxyContin.
 
(Click Difference Between Oxycodone and OxyContin for more information on OxyContin vs. oxycodone, including detail on how oxycodone may be considered a generic version of OxyContin.)
 
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD