There is a difference between Oxycontin and Percocet. I went to http://www.rxlist.com and checked out both meds, and this is what I found.
For Percocet:
>Acetaminophen, 4'-hydroxyacetanilide, is a non-opiate, non-salicylate
>analgesic and antipyretic which occurs as a white, odorless, crystalline
>powder, possessing a slightly bitter taste. Its molecular formula is
>C8H9NO2. The molecular weight is 151.17.
>
>The oxycodone component is 14-hydroxydihydrocodeinone, a white, odorless,
>crystalline powder having a saline, bitter taste. It is derived from the
>opium alkaloid thebaine. Its molecular formula is C18H21NO4·HCl. The
>molecular weight is 351.83.
>
>Capsules
>
>Each capsule, for oral administration, contains:
>
>Acetaminophen: 500 mgOxycodone HCl (WARNING: May be habit forming): 5 mg*
>
>Inactive Ingredients: Black iron oxide, corn starch, D&C yellow #10
>aluminum lake, FD&C blue #1, FD&C blue #2 aluminum lake, FD&C red #40,
>FD&C red #40 aluminum lake, gelatin, magnesium stearate, pharmaceutical
>glaze, povidone, pregelatinized starch, propylene glycol, and titanium dioxide.
>
>Tablets
>
>Each tablet of Percocet contains:
>
>Acetaminophen: 325 mgOxycodone HCl (WARNING: May be habit forming): 5 mg*
>
>*5 mg oxycodone HCl is equivalent to 4.4815 mg oxycodone.
>
>Inactive Ingredients: Microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, pregelatinized
>starch, stearic acid, and other ingredients.
For Oxycontin:
>WARNING
>
>OxyContin® is an opioid agonist and a Schedule II controlled substance
>with an abuse liability similar to morphine.
>
>Oxycodone can be abused in a manner similar to other opioid agonists,
>legal or illicit. This should be considered when prescribing or dispensing
>OxyContin® in situations where the physician or pharmacist is concerned
>about an increased risk of misuse, abuse, or diversion.
>
>OxyContin® tablets are a controlled-release oral formulation of oxycodone
>hydrochloride indicated for the management of moderate to severe pain when
>a continuous, around-the-clock analgesic is needed for an extended period
>of time.
>
>OxyContin® tablets are NOT intended for use as a prn analgesic.
>
>OxyContin® 80 mg and 160 mg Tablets ARE FOR USE IN OPIOID TOLERANT
>PATIENTS ONLY. These tablet strengths may cause fatal respiratory
>depression when administered to patients not previously exposed to opioids.
>
>OxyContin® (oxycodone hydrochloride controlled-release) TABLETS ARE TO BE
>SWALLOWED WHOLE AND ARE NOT TO BE BROKEN, CHEWED, OR CRUSHED. TAKING
>BROKEN, CHEWED, OR CRUSHED OxyContin® TABLETS LEADS TO RAPID RELEASE AND
>ABSORPTION OF A POTENTIALLY FATAL DOSE OF OXYCODONE.
>
>OxyContin® (oxycodone hydrochloride controlled-release) tablets are an
>opioid analgesic supplied in 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg, 80 mg, and 160 mg tablet
>strengths for oral administration. The tablet strengths describe the
>amount of oxycodone per tablet as the hydrochloride salt.
>
>Its molecular formula is C18H21NO4 · HCl. Its molecular weight is 351.83.
>
>The chemical formula is 4,
>5-epoxy-14-hydroxy-3-methoxy-17-methylmorphinan-6-one hydrochloride.
>
>Oxycodone is a white, odorless crystalline powder derived from the opium
>alkaloid, thebaine. Oxycodone hydrochloride dissolves in water (1 g in 6
>to 7 mL). It is slightly soluble in alcohol (octanol water partition
>coefficient 0.7). The tablets contain the following inactive ingredients:
>ammonio methacrylate copolymer, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, lactose,
>magnesium stearate, povidone, red iron oxide (20 mg strength tablet only),
>stearyl alcohol, talc, titanium dioxide, triacetin, yellow iron oxide (40
>mg strength tablet only), yellow iron oxide with FD&C blue No.2 (80 mg
>strength tablet only), FD&C blue No.2 (160 mg strength tablet only) and
>other ingredients.
Although both meds contain the same opiod-derivative, the differences are that Percocet contains 325 mg Acetominophen per tablet while the Oxycontin does not, and that the Percocet is a short-term or immediate release medication while the Oxycontin is an extended release formula.
I don't recall being nauseated when I first went on the Percocet, but that was almost a year ago. I'm still on Percocet for breakthrough with Oxycontin as my primary pain med, and I don't experience any nausea.
Good luck with it. Pain-free hugs,
Nancy in NB
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