Codeine vs Hydrocodone For Pain: Difference, Side Effects and Effectiveness

If you hear Codeine vs Hydrocodone, it can feel personal when pain has disrupted your life. Although both medications come from opioids, actual people experience them in different ways. Codeine is frequently known as milder and is used for coughing or mild pain. On the other hand, hydrocodone is stronger and typically used for moderate to serious pain.

Yet you may be thinking about the question, Is codeine in hydrocodone? The answer is no, but they share a base that acts on the brain in related ways. So, understanding these differences helps you feel knowledgeable. And also knowing how each drug works and why doctors choose one over the other can give you trust when discussing pain relief options that fit your body.

Briefly know Codeine vs Hydrocodone for Pain Management

The two drugs Codeine vs Hydrocodone are both prescription opioid medications that can be used to treat similar conditions. But they vary in some important ways from each other. The content provides an overview of how these medicines are used with the important differences between them, and the risks related to opioid use. Before comparing further let us look at hydrocodone and codeine individually.

What is Codeine Medication For Pain?

Codeine tablet is an opioid that is advised for soft pain and cough. It is known as low power narcotics and relatively slow. If you take codeine you may feel an enhanced pain tolerance and that might make the pain still feel there. This is the reason for many doctor advice to take it in combination with acetaminophen to make improve medical effects.

What is Hydrocodone For Pain?

The Hydrocodone pills are another painkiller medication that is mostly used as mixing with acetaminophen. Hydrocodone medicine is a powerful prescription painkiller drug, that mean it is more powerful than codeine. It is also addictive and the development of physical abuse is not uncommon with this medication. It is a Schedule II controlled substance.

What’s the Difference Between Hydrocodone and Codeine?

The difference between codeine and hydrocodone has many characteristics which difference individual them. And also a quick comparison of both opioid medications. But the key difference is shown in the following:

• Strength: In terms of strength, hydrocodone is more potency than codeine. Your healthcare provider use to change factor to help them to control for how much opioids to give a patient. The conversion factor of codeine is 0.15 and on the other hand, hydrocodone has 1.
• Uses: The uses of codeine are for restless legs syndrome, that doctor mostly advise, and hydrocodone is not used for this reason.
• Digestion: The digestion of the drug codeine changes to morphine in the brain. On the other side Hydrocodone splits down into norhydrocodone and hydromorphone.
• Risks: Codeine and hydrocodone both have risks of opioid addiction, but hydrocodone comes in extended-release form, which can lead people to misuse it by crushing the pills.
• Origin: In origin, codeine comes naturally of opioid obtained from the poppy plant, while hydrocodone is a synthetic.

Comparison Between Codeine versus Hydrocodone

The difference between hydrocodone and codeine drugs can help you decide which is the best opioid is right for you.

In the table below is a quick comparison:

Factors	Codeine	Hydrocodone
Drug Class	Natural opioid	Semi-synthetic opioid
Drug Schedule	Schedule II to Schedule V	Schedule II
Brand Names	Tylenol with codeine	Vicodin
Common Uses	Pain relief, cough suppressant	Pain relief, coughing
Dosage	15 mg to 30 mg every 4 hours	10 mg every 12 hours

What are The Side Effects of Hydrocodone and Codeine?

Side effects are very common if you use any medication, which can vary depending on how a person takes it and how gonna they use it. So, the side effects of codeine are constipation, nausea, and drowsiness, which can be serious in certain individuals. For long-term use, it may lead to physical dependence. On the other hand, the side effects of hydrocodone are mood changes and unusual drowsiness. But some common and serious side effects, such as impaired hearing, very low blood pressure, and reduced ability to drive safely.

Effectiveness of Hydrocodone and Codeine

Check which is more effective, hydrocodone or codeine, depending on the chemical component. A hydrocodone tablet is generally more effective and powerful than codeine for curing common to serious pain. It is roughly six times stronger than codeine on a weight basis. 5 mg of hydrocodone is similar to 30 mg of codeine. Although both are opioids, hydrocodone mostly provides better pain relief with fewer side effects, even though similar to those of codeine.

Which Is Stronger, Codeine or Hydrocodone?

In case of relief from pain from moderate to serious pain, hydrocodone is much stronger and more potent than codeine. Codeine is only used for short-term to medium pain. According to some approximate calculations, codeine is only 15 % as strong as hydrocodone, which is about six times more potent. Hydrocodone is known as a semi-synthetic opioid because it is more effective for serious pain than the natural opiate codeine.

Withdrawal Symptoms of Codeine and Hydrocodone

The withdrawal symptoms of both hydrocodone and codeine can occur from physical dependence. This happens when your brain and body become used to the existence of these drugs. At some point, the physical dependence on a medicine can make you uncomfortable, and which has withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking it.

The withdrawal symptoms are similar, which include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Anxiety
• Trouble sleeping
• Hot or cold flashes
• Sweating
• Muscle cramps
• Watery discharge from the eyes or nose
• Diarrhea

Drug Interaction For Codeine and Hydrocodone

After combining hydrocodone or codeine with other substances can have possibly fatal results. That might raise the risk of respiratory depression and overdose, as well as some other side effects. Both opioids affect the central nervous system. They can be dangerous to mix with other drugs that have similar effects. Risks occur with other drugs such as:

• Muscle relaxants
• Barbiturates
• Benzodizepines
• Antiseizure medications
• Antidepressants
• Antipsychotic drugs
• Alcohol
• Sedatives

Conclsuion

The conclusion for this topic, both Codeine vs Hydrocodone medications can be used to treat pain from various conditions. Though hydrocodone is more potent than codeine, it may be more acceptable for less severe pain. The Hydrocodone pill can be used for more serious pain that needs an extended-release formulation. These two are often used when pain has not cure to other treatments with weak painkillers. It is most important to take advice from your doctor to decide which opioid drug is best for you.