acetaminophen/oxycodone vs butorphanol
Side-by-side comparison of acetaminophen/oxycodone and butorphanol. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
Mixed Agonist/Antagonist and Partial Agonist Opioid Analgesics The concomitant use of opioids with other opioid analgesics, such as butorphanol, nalbuphine, pentazocine, may reduce the analgesic effect of PERCOCET and/or precipitate withdrawal symptoms.
Recommendation: Avoid using these two types of pain medications together to ensure your pain is managed and to prevent withdrawal.
Percocet
Stadol
Percocet is a strong pain medicine. It contains acetaminophen and oxycodone, an opioid.
Butorphanol nasal spray is a strong pain medicine. It is used when other pain medicines are not strong enough or cannot be tolerated.
Percocet is used to manage severe pain. It is for pain that requires an opioid medicine. You should only use Percocet if other pain treatments don't work well enough.
This medicine treats severe pain that requires an opioid pain reliever. It is for use when other pain treatments are not strong enough or cannot be tolerated. Do not use this medicine for a long time unless your pain is still severe and other treatments are still not adequate.
Oxycodone works in the brain to block pain signals. Acetaminophen also helps to reduce pain and fever. Together, they provide stronger pain relief.
Butorphanol is an opioid agonist-antagonist. It works by changing how your brain and nervous system respond to pain. It attaches to certain receptors in the brain to reduce pain signals.
- • Lightheadedness
- • Dizziness
- • Drowsiness
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Sleepiness
- • Dizziness
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Nasal congestion
- Tiredness 34,486
- Feeling sick to your stomach 29,571
- Head pain 28,378
- Aches 28,322
- Loose stools 23,628
- Allergic reaction to the drug 48
- Feeling sick to your stomach 25
- Head pain 16
- Discomfort 16
- Itching 16
Percocet has a boxed warning. It can cause addiction, abuse, and misuse, leading to overdose and death. It can also cause life-threatening breathing problems, especially when starting or increasing the dose. Accidental ingestion, even one dose, can cause a fatal overdose, especially in children. Taking Percocet with benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants, including alcohol, can cause severe sedation, breathing problems, coma, and death. Using opioids for a long time during pregnancy can cause withdrawal symptoms in the newborn. Acetaminophen can cause liver damage if you take too much.
This medicine has serious warnings. It can cause addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death. It can also cause life-threatening breathing problems, especially when you first start using it or after a dose increase. Accidental use, even one dose, can cause a fatal overdose, especially in children. Using this medicine with benzodiazepines or other drugs that can make you sleepy, including alcohol, can cause serious problems, including coma and death. If you use this medicine for a long time during pregnancy, it can cause withdrawal symptoms in the newborn that could be life-threatening if not treated.
Taking Percocet for a long time during pregnancy can cause withdrawal symptoms in the baby after birth. Make sure a newborn specialist is available when you deliver your baby.
If you need to use this medicine for a long time during pregnancy, it can cause withdrawal symptoms in your newborn. Make sure a newborn specialist is available when you deliver your baby.
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How to Read This acetaminophen/oxycodone vs butorphanol Comparison
acetaminophen/oxycodone is classified in the Opioid Analgesic Combination drug class, while butorphanol sits within the Opioid Agonist-Antagonist class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, acetaminophen/oxycodone has 144,385 submissions while butorphanol has 121. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to butorphanol can block the pain-relieving effects of oxycodone and may cause sudden withdrawal symptoms. this happens because the two drugs compete for the same spots in your body's nervous system.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between acetaminophen/oxycodone and butorphanol - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.