Pharmacology - Differing effects of oxycodone & hydrocodone

[Master_Khan]

There has been some discussion on various threads about the fact that some people (maybe most?) prefer oxycodone over hydrocodone, while a minority seem to prefer hydrocodone. The differences beween the two substances are well discussed in various threads as well. While reading the Opium basics sticky, swim noticed something that was interesting that he hadn't read before and which he thought was worth mentioning as it might be a suitable topic of discussion on the subject warranting this separate thread.

Opium imported into the United States is broken down into its alkaloid constituents; morphine, codeine, and thebaine.


Codeine is the starting material for the production of two narcotics, dihydrocodeine and hydrocodone. codeine produces analgesia, sedation, and respiratory depression.


Thebaine is a minor constituent of opium. Although chemically similar to both morphine and codeine, thebaine produces stimulatory rather than depressant effects. Thebaine is converted into a variety of substances including oxycodone, oxymorphone, nalbuphine, naloxone, naltrexone, and buprenorphine.

Now the chemists out there are shaking their heads because swim is pointing out the obvious, but for the rest of us lay people, we can see the order in which the breakdown from the natural to the semi-synthetic takes place and understand better why these two substances which sound so much alike and which are so often prescribed in succession have different effects. It is not surprising that those who enjoy the warm fuzzy comfort of hydrocodone should discover that it inherits those properties from its parent codeine. It is also now no mystery where oxycodone derives its more stimulatory nature from.

My apologies to those already enlightened if this came as no great revelation.

Reputation Comments on this post:

handy information for those of us with limited chemical knowledge

[LinusMundane]

SWIM appreciates the breakdown, it was well thought and in a manner SWIM can understand, and SWIM learned something that SWIM didnt know about the origin of the 2 drugs.

SWIM just wishes he felt something, anything, when he takes hydro, no matter the dose, just no effect.

[Master_Khan]

Swim thinks he has heard that some people have almost an immunity to codeine; wonder if it's an enzyme thing? Swim is just astounded when he hears that people don't feel hydro...he gets absolutely knackered on a single vicodin.

[LinusMundane]

SWIM envies SWIY because he always feels like an ass when he gets some dental work done or if he has to go to a doc he hasnt seen before for his knees and they prescribe vicodin. He struggles with telling them that it wont help because he is never sure if they are going to think he is seeking.

[M0ng00se]

Swim also seem to lack recreational effects from hydrocodone, but has a deep-felt love for Oxy

[TheNewLeft]

personally SWIM thinks that 30mg of oxy versus 40mg of hydro is pretty much indistinguishable

codeine is noticeably lighter than oxy/hydro and morphine is significantly heavier....demerol is different altogether...

but oxy and hydro for SWIM is essentially the same thing

[Lady Codone]

Although SWIM enjoys the effects of stimulants, she prefers hydro to oxy. For her, oxy's stimulation takes away from its euphoric properties and is more of an unfocused, fiendish energy than she likes. Hydrocodone--even one--is her all-time favorite opiate and does the trick every time. Luckily for her, it's pretty commonly prescribed (though never to her personally)