Methadone vs Oxycodone: Which Is Better for Pain Management?

One of the most common medical issues nowadays is pain management. Methadone and Oxycodone are two of the most popular opioids. They are not synonymous, although they all relieve pain. Their strength, length, potential for addiction, and medical application are different. Opioids are Methadone and Oxycodone are both approved medicines from the Food and Drug Administration in America. Methadone is approved for the treatment of pain and opioid addiction. Oxycodone is approved for the treatment of pain and Abuse-deterrent formulations(ADA). Both medications were developed between 1916 and to 1930s by German researchers. Let us have for learn more information about both medications, how they work, and which one is most effective and safe.

What is Methadone?

Methadone is used to treat chronic pain and pain relief. This medicine is part of a group of drugs called opioids, that why they are used for opioid addiction treatment. It is sold under the brand name of Dolophine. Methadone is a Schedule II drug substance and also belongs to the opioid class of drugs. It combines the opioid receptors in the brain and the central chord and gives quicker pain relief within 30-60 minutes. The duration of the effect is longer than Oxycodone. This medication was invented by German researchers Max Bockmuhl and Gustav Ehrhart.

Methadone Used for

This medication is mainly used for pain relief, but doctors also prescribe it in such cases:

• Opioid Use Disorder: This is a mental health condition that you suffer from the abuse of opioids.
• Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome(NAS): NAS is sometimes used as a pharmacologic intervention during pregnancy.
• Neuropathic pain management: It is a chronic pain condition caused by damage to the somatosensory nervous system(SNS).
• Cancer pain: Methadone is also sometimes used for cancer pain.
• Adjunctive Analgesic: Methadone is also used as an Analgesic medication to enhance the effectiveness of the other pain relief interventions.

Methadone for Pain Relief

The effect of methadone pain relief is unlike most opioids. It is slow to initiate and has an exceedingly long duration of action extending to 24-36 hours. It does not have to be administered as frequently as other pain relievers, which is a great characteristic of this drug in the case of individuals who need pain management 24 hours a day.

What Is Oxycodone?

This medication is a prescription medication they are used for pain management. It binds to mu-opioid receptors in the central nervous system (CNS), and blocks pain signals and gives fast relief from pain. It acts on the body within 15-30 minutes, which is quicker than methadone. The single-dose effect of OxyContin is 4-6 hours maximum for pain relief. It is also known by another name, like OxyContin and Roxicodone. Oxycodone is also a Schedule II drug substance. It was invented by Bayer Laboratories in Germany by a team of chemists.

Oxycodone used for

This medication is mainly used for pain relief, but doctors also prescribe it in such cases:

• Cough Suppression: Oxycodone is an opioid analgesic or pain relief medicine; it acts on the central nervous system to relieve pain and prevent us from the pain.
• Cancer pain: Oxycodone is an opioid pain reliever and is also used in pain relief treatment.
• Neuropathic pain: It is a chronic pain condition caused by damage to the SNS.
• Restless leg syndrome: Oxycodone is generally used as the second-line treatment for patients with restless leg syndrome.

Oxycodone for Pain Medication

This medication has a rapid pain onset, which can take effect in 15-30 minutes and lasts 4-12 hours, depending on the form of administration. It’s available in two types: immediate-release (IR) and Extended-release (ER). Immediate-release provides quick relief, but it does not last long. But Extended-release is a slowly dispersing form of medicine that is utilised to provide lasting pain relief with a duration of 12 hours.

Methadone and Oxycodone: Key Differences

functions	Methadone	Oxycodone
Drug Type	Schedule II drug	Schedule II drug
Chemical structure	Semi-synthetic opioid (derived from natural opiates)	Fully synthetic opioid (entirely man-made)
Main Uses for	Pain relief	Pain relief
Other uses	NAS, Neuropathic pain and Cancer pain	Cough Suppression and neuropathic pain
Risks & side effects	Allergic reactions, Heart rate rhythm changes, and low blood sugar	CNS depression, and Low blood pressure
Action time	30-60 minutes	15-30 minutes
Duration of the effect	6-12 hours for pain, 24 or more for opioid disorder	3-6 hours for pain
Certified or not	Yes, from the FDA	Also from the FDA
Half-life	25-35 hours	3-4 hours shorter than methadone

Side Effects and Risks

Because methadone and oxycodone are both Schedule II drug substances, they carry some risk of addiction & dependence and also have some side effects:

Methadone Side Effects

The common and dangerous side effects of Methadone are:

Most Common Side Effects:

• Constipation
• Sweating
• Headache
• Dry mouth
• Weight gain
• Mood changes
• Vision problems
• Sexual dysfunction or irregular menstruation

Dangerous Side Effects:

• Addiction and Misuse
• slow or stop breathing, especially when a person is new
• Heart Rhythm Problems
• Low blood sugar
• low adrenal function

Oxycodone side effects

The common and dangerous side effects of Oxycodone are:

Most Common Side Effects:

• Constipation (most common)
• Headache
• Dry mouth
• Sweating
• Itching or rash
• Weakness or tiredness

Dangerous Side Effects:

• Addiction and Dependence
• slow or stop breathing, especially when a person is new
• Long-term use can lead to low adrenal function
• Gastrointestinal Issues
• Seizures

Methadone and Oxycodone: The risk of overdose

The risk of overdose is a common factor of both medications because if you take a higher dosage, that case a risk of life-threatening consequences and potentially death. Because both medicines are opioid medications that affect your Central nervous system(CNS). These are the common symptoms of overdosing:

• clammy skin
• Risk of overdosage
• Brain Damage and Coma
• Cardiac Issues(eg, low BP, slow heart rate)
• Pinpoint Pupils
• Muscle Damage

Methadone or Oxycodone: Which is Safer and Effective?

Which one is safer? If you want to choose between methadone and oxycodone, there is no choice between them. Both medications have so many side effects and risks, but they are powerful prescription opioids. The safety of each drug depends on the prescribed dosage by the doctors. If you do not take the prescribed dosage, it affects your health.
The effectiveness of the methadone and oxycodone depends on the case being treated with these medicines and the dosage doctors prescribe to you. If you want a medicine that gives you long-term pain relief, methadone is more effective. If you want a medicine that acts fast on the body and gives you quick pain relief, Oxycodone is the best for you.

Methadone and Oxycodone in Addiction Treatment

Methadone is a medication there are used for addiction treatment as a major component of medication-assisted treatment programs. It assists patients in quitting the use of opioids such as heroin by alleviating withdrawal symptoms and decreasing the urge. It enables them to dwell on recovery, therapy, and restructuring their lives. The use of methadone is done daily under supervision in treatment centres.
Oxycodone, conversely, is among the most abused prescription opioids. It causes a powerful euphoric effect and makes one addicted, and some individuals become addicted to it in a short span of time, particularly when they do not take it under the supervision of a doctor.
With time, the body develops some tolerance; the individual requires more doses to experience the same effect, thereby becoming addicted and overdosing.

Conclusion

Methadone and Oxycodone are both strong opioid medications that have the potential to ease the effects of acute pain, but in the process, they should be used with caution and under a physician’s supervision.
Methadone could be safer when closely monitored, whereas Oxycodone is more likely to be abused because of its fast-acting nature. One should never take them without a doctor’s prescription. In case you have opioid dependency, contact a medical professional or treatment facility. There is a way out, through guided treatment, you can regain control of your life again.