Common Names for Prescription Opioid Pain Medications
KNOW THE OPTIONS • GET THE FACTS Common Names for Prescription Opioid Pain Medications
Different names are often used for the same drugs, which can make it hard to tell exactly what type of pain medication is being taken. This can result in patients misidentifying the types of medications they are on, failing to report certain medications to their health care provider, or duplicating therapy by unknowingly taking the name brand and generic versions of one medication. The table below outlines some common brand and slang names for prescription opioid pain medications. Be sure to tell your health care provider about any and all medications you are taking, in order to avoid potentially dangerous combinations.
Medication Generic Name | Brand Names | Street/Slang Names |
Oxycodone | OxyContin®, Percodan®, Percocet®, and others |
O.C., Oxycet, Oxycotton, Oxy, Hillbilly Heroin, Percs |
Hydrocodone or dihydrocodeinone (typically combined with acetaminophen) |
Vicodin®, Lortab®, Lorcet®, and others | Vike, Watson-387 |
Morphine | Kadian®, Avinza®, MS Contin®, Duramorph®, Roxanol® |
M, Miss Emma, Monkey, White Stuff |
Codeine | Various brand names; often combined with acetaminophen and aspirin |
Captain Cody, Cody, Lean, Schoolboy, Sizzurp, Purple Drank With glutethimide: Doors & Fours, Loads, Pancakes and Syrup |
Fentanyl | Duragesic®, Actiq®, Sublimaze® | Apache, China Girl, China White, Dance Fever, Friend, Goodfella, Jackpot, Murder 8, Tango and Cash, TNT |
Hydromorphone | Dilaudid® | D, Dillies, Footballs, Juice, Smack |
Meperidine | Demerol® | Demmies |
Oxymorphone | Opana® | Biscuits, Blue Heaven, Blues, Mrs. O, O Bomb, Octagons, Stop Signs |
Sources Consulted:
• National Institute on Drug Abuse. Drug facts: Prescription pain medications (Opioids).
NIDA for Teens. Retrieved
from http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/prescription-pain-medications-opioids
• National Institute on Drug Abuse. Commonly abused drugs charts (Prescription opioids).
Drugs of Abuse.
Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/commonly-abused-drugs-charts
NEED HELP?
Call 1–800–662–HELP (4357) for 24-hour free and confidential treatment referral and
information about mental and/or substance use disorders, prevention, and recovery
in English and Spanish, or visit www.samhsa.gov/find-help.