| Agent |
Route |
Equianalgesic dose |
Analgesic duration |
Comments |
|
| Morphine sulfate |
IV |
10 mg |
4-6h |
Standard of comparison for narcotic analgesics |
| Morphine sulfate sustained release |
PO |
30 mg |
8-12h |
Excellent for ATC dosing; may be used pr |
| Morphine sulfate elixir (20 mg/cc) |
PO |
30 mg |
3-4h |
Excellent for breakthrough pain management |
| Hydromorphone |
PO or PR |
3 mg |
3-4h |
Short half-life makes this excellent for breakthrough pain; usually 2-4 mg po or 3 mg pr |
| Fentanyl |
Transdermal patch |
0.1 mg |
48-72h |
Convenient for ATC management; slow onset; may have variable absorption depending on patient's fat stores |
| Methadone |
PO |
30 mg |
4-6h |
Long half-life; no advantage over other opioid analgesics |
