Oxycodone vs Hydrocodone: what is the difference?
Oxycodone and hydrocodone are nearly the same molecule, both semi-synthetic opioids made from thebaine, differing by one hydroxyl group that oxycodone carries.
One hydroxyl group apart.
Sources and notes
- The sentence under the titlefrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notesThe pair's answer line.
- The two drawingscomputedMoleculeFinder rule (RDKit MCS)Drawn the same way round on the skeleton they share; the amber marks where the two differ.
- The captionfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
- What is highlightedfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curatedOne line under each drawing, written from the atoms the amber marks.
- Structural similaritycomputedRDKit Morgan/Tanimoto0.55 of 1, a Morgan fingerprint Tanimoto coefficient. It measures shape, not effect.
Side by side
| Oxycodone | Hydrocodone | |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular weightCalculated PubChem | 315.4 g/molC18H21NO4 | 299.4 g/molC18H21NO3 |
| Hydrogen-bond donorsCalculated PubChem | 1 | 0 |
| FamilyEditorial MoleculeFinder curated | Opioids | Opioids |
| Everyday groupEditorial MoleculeFinder curated | Prescription medicine | Prescription medicine |
| Chemical groupsCalculated Found by rule (RDKit) | Alcohols, Aromatics, Ketones, Ethers | Aromatics, Ketones, Ethers |
| Hazard labelReported ECHA, HSDB via PubChem | Warning | Danger |
| The supplier-filed hazard label's signal word, not a statement about ordinary use. | ||
| LD50Measured HSDB via PubChem | 320 mg/kgpure oxycodone, mouse, another route | 375 mg/kgpure hydrocodone, rat, oral |
| A single acute animal measure, here in two different species. It ranks nothing about human safety. | ||
Sources and notes
- Molecular weightcomputedPubChemComputed from the structure; the formula is under each weight.
- Hydrogen-bond donorscomputedPubChemThe hydrogens on nitrogen or oxygen that each molecule can lend to a hydrogen bond, counted from its structure.
- Familyfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
- Everyday groupfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
- Chemical groupscomputedFound by rule (RDKit)Each group is found in the structure by a chemical pattern.
- Hazard labelfrom sourceECHA, HSDB via PubChem
- LD50from sourceHSDB via PubChem
- ECHAfrom sourceAttributionSource: European Chemicals Agency, echa.europa.eu.
- Identifiersfrom sourcePubChemPubChem CID 5284603 (Oxycodone) and 5284569 (Hydrocodone).
In more detail
These two are close enough that people mix them up routinely. Both bind the mu-opioid receptor, both are prescription painkillers, and both are controlled in the US and elsewhere. Hydrocodone is very often sold combined with acetaminophen, which oxycodone sometimes is and sometimes is not, and that combination is the reason a hydrocodone product carries a second drug's limits along with its own. The weights differ by the oxygen alone, 315.4 against 299.4. Both entries here carry the same GHS hazard framing and the same prescription-medicine bucket.
Sources and notes
- The paragraphfrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notes
Questions
- What is the difference between Oxycodone and Hydrocodone?
- Oxycodone and hydrocodone are nearly the same molecule, both semi-synthetic opioids made from thebaine, differing by one hydroxyl group that oxycodone carries.
- Is Oxycodone bigger than Hydrocodone?
- Oxycodone is the heavier molecule, 315.4 g/mol against 299.4 g/mol for Hydrocodone. Oxycodone is C18H21NO4 and Hydrocodone is C18H21NO3.
Sources and notes
- The answersfrom sourceMoleculeFinderThe first is the pair's answer line; the others are read off the table above.