oxycontin 80mg oxycontin 40mg oxycontin 20mg

OxyContin 40 mg and 80 mg are high-strength, extended-release tablets of the opioid pain medication oxycodone hydrochloride. Both strengths are prescribed strictly for managing severe, around-the-clock chronic pain when non-opioid treatments or immediate-release pain relievers are no longer effective
Key Differences: 40 mg vs. 80 mg


Feature OxyContin 40 mg OxyContin 80 mg
Active Ingredient 40 mg oxycodone HCl 80 mg oxycodone HCl
Pill Appearance Round, yellow tablet imprinted with 40 and OP (or OC) Round, green tablet imprinted with 80 and OP (or OC)
Patient Eligibility Typically used after titrating up from lower doses (such as 10 mg or 20 mg) Restricted strictly to opioid-tolerant patients
Overdose Risk Maximum single-dose threshold for non-tolerant individuals High risk of fatal respiratory depression if taken by non-tolerant patients
Opioid Tolerance Requirement. According to the FDA OxyContin Prescribing Information, single doses greater than 40 mg—including the 80 mg tablet—are strictly for patients who are already opioid-tolerant. Taking an 80 mg tablet without established opioid tolerance can cause life-threatening breathing failure (respiratory depression)