What is the Generic Name for OxyContin?

OxyContin is a powerful and often talked about opioid pain reliever. Unfortunately, it’s usually discussed in the media and among lawmakers for all the wrong reasons. It does have therapeutic value when it comes to severe pain relief, but it also has many risks and is highly addictive.

The following provides an overview of what OxyContin is, how it works and also information about the OxyContin generic name.

Generic Name For OxyContin

First, what is the OxyContin generic name?

This is a bit of a complex subject. The active ingredient in OxyContin is oxycodone, which is an opioid. OxyContin itself is a brand-name prescription drug that’s a time-release version of oxycodone.

There has been some controversy over the availability of generic oxycodone. The generic, authorized version of OxyContin has exactly the same ingredients.

The generic version of OxyContin includes oxycodone hydrochloride oral tablets in 10, 20, 40 and 80 mg. There are also oral tablets available in 15, 30 and 60 mg.

While there are approved versions of generic OxyContin, there are also fraudulent online pharmacies claiming to sell generic OxyContin. These drugs may be not only counterfeit, but also unsafe to use.

Generic OxyContin has the same risks as brand-name OxyContin, including the risks of addiction and physical dependence, respiratory depression and withdrawal. It can also lead to death.

Generic OxyContin can be prescribed for legitimate purposes, but to use it without a prescription or in a way other than how it’s prescribed is illegal.

All oxycodone products are schedule II under the Controlled Substances Act.

What Else To Know About Oxycodone

Along with learning more about the generic name for OxyContin, what should you know about oxycodone, which is the active ingredient in this drug?

Oxycodone is a powerful prescription opioid that’s intended to be reserved for the treatment of severe pain. It’s a time-release drug, which means that when someone takes it, they don’t get the full effects within a peak time window of 30 minutes to an hour after ingesting it.

Instead, the effects are gradually felt over time and last for around 12 hours. This is useful to treat chronic, severe pain because it offers an around-the-clock solution.

Oxycodone acts like other opioids do, in that it binds to opioid receptors found throughout the central nervous system. It doesn’t necessarily eliminate pain, but instead, it changes how the person senses pain and it increases their pain tolerance.

When it binds to opioid receptors, it also has other effects on the central nervous system. For example, it slows down respiration and heart rate, which can lead to a fatal overdose. For this reason, generally, OxyContin is for patients who are already opioid-tolerant. This means they have taken other opioids that have given them tolerance to the effects of this class of drugs.

OxyContin is highly addictive, and it’s become one of the primary drugs that’s part of the prescription opioid epidemic across the country. When it’s taken as intended, the time-release mechanism of the drug can help lower the risk of addiction somewhat. This is because a person wouldn’t necessarily feel high, and the effects of the drug are spread out over a period of about 12 hours or so.

The effects of OxyContin, in addition to pain relief and euphoria, in some cases can include sedation, constipation, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and itchiness.

Along with addiction, OxyContin can also create physical dependence. This means that a person’s body becomes dependent on the presence of the opioids, and if they stop taking them suddenly, they will go through withdrawal.

Summing Up—OxyContin Generic Name

So, to wrap up, what’s the generic name for OxyContin? The active ingredient is the opioid oxycodone and it’s available in different dosage variations of oxycodone hydrochloride.

No matter whether someone is taking generic oxycodone or brand-name OxyContin, there are many risks associated with this powerful opioid. Some of these risks include respiratory depression, addiction, dependence and even death.

This drug is intended for use in opioid-tolerant patients with severe pain that can’t be managed with the use of other drugs.

Never take it in any way other than how your physician instructs you. It is illegal to take it without a physician because it’s considered a controlled substance in the U.S.

Editor – Camille Renzoni

Cami Renzoni is a creative writer and editor for The Recovery Village. As an advocate for behavioral health, Cami is certified in mental health first aid and encourages people who face substance use disorders to ask for the help they deserve. Read more

Medically Reviewed By – Dr. Wendy Weber, PharmD, MBA

Wendy J. Weber is a pharmacist with almost 20 years of experience in acute care clinical practice, hospital pharmacy leadership, medication safety, and clinical research. Read more