Percocet vs. Lortab for Pain: Side Effects & Strength Comparison

Percocet (oxycodone/acetaminophen) vs. Lortab (hydrocodone/acetaminophen) review

Percocet and Lortab are combination
prescription medications used to manage moderate to
severe pain.
Percocet is a combination of oxycodone
(a narcotic pain reliever) and acetaminophen (a non-narcotic pain reliever and
fever reducer).
Lortab is a combination of hydrocodone
(a narcotic pain reliever) and acetaminophen used to relieve mild to moderate pain, fever, inflammation, and as a
cough suppressant.
Both oxycodone and hydrocodone are
classified as Schedule II drugs by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA),
which means they have an increased risk for addiction and abuse. Withdrawal
symptoms may occur if Percocet or Lortab are discontinued abruptly.
Percocet and Lortab have similar side
effects that include:
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- Sedation
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Percocet and Lortab contains acetaminophen, and
the most serious side effect of acetaminophen is
liver damage or toxicity due to
taking large doses of acetaminophen, chronic use, or use combined with alcohol.
Both Percocet and Lortab contain
narcotic pain relievers that increase the effects of other drugs that slow brain
function; for example, barbiturates, muscle relaxants, and benzodiazepines
(including diazepam [Valium] and lorazepam [Ativan]). Combined use of these
drugs with Percocet or Lortab may lead to increased respiratory depression,
which may lead to respiratory arrest and death.
The safety of Percocet or Lortab
during pregnancy has not been established. Newborns of mothers who were taking
oxycodone for a prolonged period of time may exhibit withdrawal symptoms and
respiratory depression.
Both Percocet and Lortab are secreted
in breast milk and may cause side effects in the newborn.

What are Percocet (oxycodone/acetaminophen) and Lortab (hydrocodone/acetaminophen), and how do they block pain?

Oxycodone is a strong narcotic pain-reliever and cough suppressant similar to morphine, codeine, and hydrocodone. The precise mechanism of action of oxycodone is not known but may involve stimulation of opioid (narcotic) receptors in the brain. Oxycodone does not eliminate the sensation of pain but decreases discomfort by increasing tolerance to pain. In addition to tolerance to pain, oxycodone also causes sedation and respiratory depression. Acetaminophen is a non-narcotic pain-reliever and antipyretic (fever reducer). Acetaminophen relieves pain by elevating the threshold to sensing pain. It reduces fever through its action on the heat-regulating center of the brain. The combination of oxycodone and acetaminophen achieves greater pain relief than either taken separately. The FDA approved oxycodone/acetaminophen combinations in February 1980.
Hydrocodone is a narcotic pain-reliever and a cough suppressant, similar to codeine. Hydrocodone blocks the receptors on nerve cells in the brain that give rise to the sensation of pain. Acetaminophen is a non-narcotic analgesic (pain reliever) and antipyretic (fever reducer). Acetaminophen works by elevating the threshold to pain, that is, in order for pain to be felt, greater stimulation of the nerves responsible for the sensation of pain is necessary. It reduces fever through its action on the temperature-regulating center of the brain. Frequently, hydrocodone and acetaminophen are combined to achieve pain relief, as in Vicodin and Lortab. The FDA approved
Lortab in January 1983.

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What are the uses for Percocet (oxycodone/acetaminophen) vs. Lortab (hydrocodone/acetaminophen)?

Percocet uses

Percocet (oxycodone/acetaminophen) is prescribed for the relief of
moderate to moderately-severe pain.

Lortab uses

Hydrocodone/acetaminophen is prescribed for the relief of
moderate to moderately severe pain. It also may be used as a cough supressant.

What are the side effects of Percocet (oxycodone/acetaminophen) vs. Lortab (hydrocodone/acetaminophen)?

Percocet side effects

The most frequent adverse reactions of Percocet (oxycodone/acetaminophen) include:

Lightheadedness
Dizziness
Sedation
Euphori
Dysphoria
Rash
Itching
Nausea
Vomiting

Other important side effects of Percocet include:

Drowsiness
Constipation
Spasm of the ureter, which can lead to difficulty in urinating

Possible serious side effects of Percocet include:

Severe reduction in blood pressure (hypotension)
Shock
Seizures
Paralytic ileus
Serious allergic reactions
Severe skin reactions

Oxycodone can depress breathing and, therefore, is used with caution in elderly, debilitated patients and in patients with serious lung disease. Oxycodone can impair thinking and the physical abilities required for driving or operating machinery.

Is Percocet addictive?

Oxycodone can be habit-forming. Mental and physical dependence can occur, but are unlikely when used for short-term pain relief.

Lortab side effects

Common side effects of Lortab are:

lightheadedness,
dizziness,
sedation,
nausea, and
vomiting.

Other important side effects of Lortab include:

drowsiness,
constipation, and
spasm of the ureter, which can lead to difficulty in urinating.

Hydrocodone can impair thinking and the physical abilities required for driving or operating machinery. Hydrocodone can depress breathing, and should be used with caution in elderly, debilitated patients and in patients with serious lung disease.

Acetaminophen can cause severe liver failure if excessive amounts are used and when combined with chronic alcohol use or other drugs that also impair liver function.

Is Lortab addictive?

Hydrocodone may be habit forming. Mental and physical dependence can occur but are unlikely when used for short-term pain relief.

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What brand names are available for Percocet (oxycodone/acetaminophen) and Lortab (hydrocodone/acetaminophen)?

Brand names available for oxycodone and acetaminophen in the US include:
- Percocet
- Roxicet
- Tylox
- Oxycet
Brand names available for hydrocodone and acetaminophen in the US
include:
- Vicodin
- Vicodin ES
- Vicodin HP
- Lortab
- Lorcet
- Lorcet Plus
- Norco
- Zydone
- Hycet
- Maxidone
- Stagesic
- Verdrocet
- Xodol
- Zamicet
- Zolvit
- Anexsia is a discontinued brand and is no longer available in the US.

How should Percocet (oxycodone/acetaminophen) vs. Lortab (hydrocodone/acetaminophen) be taken (dosage)?

Percocet dosage

The dose of Percocet (oxycodone/acetaminophen) is variable and depends on the
needs of the patient and specific circumstances.
The usual dose is one tablet
every six hours as needed.
The maximum oxycodone/acetaminophen dose is 60 mg/4 g
per day.

Lortab dosage

The usual dose of Lortab (hydrocodone/ibuprofen) for adults is 1 to 2 tablets or capsules (hydrocodone
2.5 to 10 mg; acetaminophen) 300 to 750 mg) every 4 to 6 hours or 15 mL of liquid
every 4 to 6 hours as needed.

Which drugs interact with Percocet (oxycodone/acetaminophen) vs. Lortab (hydrocodone/acetaminophen)?

Percocet drug interactions

Oxycodone, like other narcotic pain-relievers, increases
the effect of
drugs that slow brain function, such as alcohol,
barbiturates,
skeletal muscle relaxants, for example,
carisoprodol (Soma),
cyclobenzaprine
(Flexeril), and
benzodiazepines such as
diazepam (Valium) and
lorazepam
(Ativan). Combined use of muscle relaxants or benzodiazepines and oxycodone may
lead to increased respiratory depression.
Since oxycodone causes
constipation, the use of antidiarrheals, for example,
diphenoxylate (Lomotil) and
loperamide (Imodium), in persons taking oxycodone,
can lead to severe
constipation.
Drugs which stimulate and also block opioid receptors, for example,
pentazocine,
nalbuphine (Nubain),
butorphanol (Stadol), and buprenorphine
(Subutex) may reduce the effect of oxycodone and may precipitate withdrawal
symptoms.
A fatty meal may increase the absorption of oxycodone by 27%.

Lortab drug interactions

Combining alcohol and other sedatives with hydrocodone can
lead to increased sedation and even cause
confusion.
Combining
carbamazepine (Tegretol, Tegretol XR , Equetro, Carbatrol) with
acetaminophen may increase the risk of
liver
toxicity.
Hydrocodone should not be taken with any of the monoamine oxidase inhibitor
(MAOI) class of
antidepressants, for example, isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil),
tranylcypromine (Parnate), selegiline (Eldepryl), and procarbazine (Matulane) or
other drugs that inhibit monoamine oxidase, for example, linezolid (Zyvox). Such
combinations may lead to confusion, high blood pressure,
tremor,
hyperactivity,
coma, and death. Hydrocodone should not be administered within 14 days of
stopping an MAOI.

Are Percocet (oxycodone/acetaminophen) and Lortab (hydrocodone/acetaminophen) safe to take during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?

Safety of Percocet during pregnancy or while breastfeeding

Safety of oxycodone/acetaminophen
during pregnancy has not been
established. Newborns of mothers who were taking oxycodone for a prolonged
period may exhibit respiratory depression or withdrawal symptoms.
Small amounts of oxycodone are secreted in
breast milk and
may cause side effects in the
newborn.

Safety of Lortab during pregnancy or while breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies of hydrocodone and acetaminophen in
pregnant women.
Hydrocodone/acetaminophen is excreted in
breast milk,
and, therefore should be used cautiously by
nursing mothers.