Drugs like Demerol and Oxycodone are used to treat pain. There are several similarities between these two drugs. Both have been classified as narcotics by the government. The US Food and Drug Administration categorizes it into the Schedule II group of drugs, along with other narcotics.
However, there is a subtle difference between these two pain killers. The main differences between these two drugs are their usage conditions.
Demerol is used to treat pain in post-operative cases while the patient is still in the hospital. In some cases, the period of intake is prolonged if the patient had undergone any major surgery. Demerol is known to address the post-operative pain very efficiently and so, it is commonly prescribed after the anesthesia wears off completely after the surgery. However, it is never used to treat pain from chronic conditions like tendonitis or bursitis.
Oxycodone is another narcotic pain killer in the same category. It is commonly prescribed for chronic pains like backaches, muscle pains and severe joint injuries. This is a milder medication than Demerol. However, Oxycodone can be prescribed in high dosages when used in combinations with medications like Oxycontin. This combination makes it as potent as Demerol. So, it is commonly mistaken to be as strong a medication as Demerol.
So, it is important to understand that Oxycodone becomes potent like Demerol only when prescribed in high dosage and in combination with Oxycontin. The potency of these two in single dosages are very different, Demerol is clearly stronger than Oxycodone.
There have been several reports of Oxycodone abuse in the United States. However, this is not the case with Demerol. One reason being the availability and the potency of the latter. Though these two drugs are prescribed for different conditions, their availability is very limited.
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