The short answer.
OxyContin and oxycodone are not two different drugs. OxyContin is a brand name for oxycodone — specifically, for a tablet designed to release the medication slowly over about 12 hours instead of all at once.
Oxycodone is the medication itself. It is available under several brand names and in generic form.
What oxycodone is
One medication, several forms.
Oxycodone is a prescription opioid pain medication. It comes from thebaine, a naturally occurring substance in the opium poppy — making it what is called a semi-synthetic opioid: a drug that starts with something found in nature and is then chemically modified in a lab.
It is available in two main forms:
Immediate-release. The tablet releases the full dose right away — effects begin within about an hour and last about 4–6 hours. This form is taken multiple times a day as needed. Brand names include Percocet (oxycodone combined with acetaminophen, the same pain reliever in Tylenol) and Roxicodone (oxycodone by itself). Generic versions of both are available.
Extended-release. The tablet is built to release oxycodone gradually over about 12 hours, so it can be taken twice a day on a set schedule rather than as needed. The brand name for this form is OxyContin. It contains oxycodone alone — no acetaminophen. Generic extended-release oxycodone is also available.
The medication inside all of these is the same. The brand names refer to how it is packaged and delivered — not to different drugs.
What "extended-release" means
Same drug, different delivery.
An immediate-release tablet dissolves quickly, releasing all of the medication within about an hour. An extended-release tablet has a special coating that dissolves slowly, releasing the medication over many hours.
The result is that OxyContin provides a steadier level of medication in the body over a longer period, with fewer peaks and valleys. This is why it is typically used for ongoing pain that needs around-the-clock management rather than as-needed dosing.
The drug being released — oxycodone — is identical in both forms.
History
OxyContin and the opioid crisis.
OxyContin was introduced in 1996 and was marketed as having a lower risk of misuse because of its extended-release design. This turned out to be wrong. The original tablets could be crushed, which defeated the extended-release mechanism and released the full dose at once.
OxyContin became one of the most widely misused prescription opioids and played a major role in the development of the opioid crisis in the United States. In 2010, the manufacturer changed the formulation to make it harder to crush or dissolve — but by then, widespread opioid dependence had already developed.
Drug testing
Both show up the same way on drug tests.
Drug tests do not distinguish between OxyContin and immediate-release oxycodone. Both are oxycodone, and both appear the same on testing.
As noted on the oxycodone detection page, basic drug screens often miss oxycodone because they are designed to find different opioids. A more specific test is needed to detect oxycodone reliably.
OxyContin may take slightly longer to fully clear the body because the drug is still being released hours after the tablet was taken. In practice, the difference is usually small.
Treatment
Dependence on either form is treatable.
Opioid dependence can develop from regular use of oxycodone in any form. The body adapts to the medication, and stopping it abruptly causes withdrawal — regardless of whether it was immediate-release or extended-release.
At MyStreetHealth, Suboxone (buprenorphine) treatment is available for dependence on any form of oxycodone. When starting Suboxone, timing matters — your physician will determine the right window based on what you were taking, when you last took it, and how you are feeling. Extended-release oxycodone may require a slightly longer wait because the medication is still being released after the last dose.
FAQ
Common questions.
Is OxyContin stronger than oxycodone?
No. OxyContin contains oxycodone. A higher-milligram OxyContin tablet contains more total oxycodone per tablet, but the drug itself is the same.
What is inside Percocet?
Percocet is a brand name. It contains two ingredients: oxycodone and acetaminophen (the same pain reliever in Tylenol). Generic versions are widely available.
What is the difference between OxyContin and oxycodone?
OxyContin is a brand name for oxycodone in an extended-release form. Oxycodone is the drug. OxyContin is one way it is packaged — in a tablet that releases the medication slowly over about 12 hours.
Can you get treatment for OxyContin dependence?
Yes. Suboxone (buprenorphine) treats opioid use disorder, including dependence on oxycodone in any form.