How To Use The Opioid Conversion Guide
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mun_chloeHow To Use The Opioid Conversion Guide
Uploaded by
mun_chloeOpioid conversion guide
How to use the conversion guide
February 2016
Why do we need an
Opioid Conversion Guide?
• There are many opioids and many formulations
available (e.g. tablets, patches, injections)
• Each opioid medication binds to opioid
receptors differently
• Therefore, a different amount of each opioid is
needed to have the same analgesic effect
Important considerations
• All opioid conversions are a guide only
• Patients may vary in their response to the effects
of different opioids
• Therefore, ongoing patient assessment is
required after conversion for:
• effectiveness of pain relief; and
• toxicity; and
• adverse effects
Equianalgesic dose
Equianalgesic dose refers to:
• the dose of each opioid needed to provide the
same pain relief
The dose is calculated by using a conversion factor
opioid dose multiplied or divided by factor
= morphine dose
Equianalgesic doses of oral opioids
The guide is colour coded as a visual prompt:
• GREEN shaded opioids are those STRONGER
than morphine mg for mg
• PURPLE shaded opioids are those WEAKER
than morphine mg for mg
Calculating equianalgesic doses
Conversion factor
Oral opioid (opioid dose X or ÷ by factor =
morphine dose)
morphine
oxycodone x 1.5
If a patient is taking Oxycontin®
(that is, 15 mg oxycodone x 2 doses/day or 30 mg oxycodone/day)
Then,
30 mg oxycodone/day x conversion factor = morphine/day
30 mg x 1.5 = 45 mg morphine/day
Calculating equianalgesic doses
Conversion factor
Oral opioid (opioid dose X or ÷ by factor =
morphine dose)
morphine
oxycodone x 1.5
If a patient is taking morphine and is to be changed to oxycodone
then it is necessary to do the reverse calculation and
divide the morphine dose by the conversion factor.
That is,
30 mg morphine/day ÷ conversion factor = oxycodone/day
30 mg ÷ 1.5 = 20 mg oxycodone/day
Equianalgesic doses of oral opioids
Conversion factor
Oral opioid (opioid dose X or ÷ by factor =
morphine dose)
morphine
codeine ÷8
If a patient is taking Panadeine Forte® 2 tablets qid
that is, (2 x 30 mg codeine) x 4 doses or 240 mg codeine/day
Then,
240 mg codeine/day ÷ conversion factor = morphine/day
240 mg ÷ 8 = 30 mg morphine/day
Practical equianalgesic doses
Conversion factor Practical
Oral opioid (opioid dose X or ÷ by equianalgesic
factor = morphine dose) dose
morphine 10 mg
oxycodone x 1.5 5-7.5 mg*
*Dose guided by strength of medication available
• Practical equianalgesic doses are listed
• Dose ranges are listed for medications where the
equianalgesic dose is not practical in the formulations available
e.g. 6.6 mg oxycodone x 1.5 = 10 mg morphine
• The dose prescribed will be guided by clinical decision making
Practical equianalgesic doses
Conversion factor Practical
Oral opioid (opioid dose X or ÷ by equianalgesic
factor = morphine dose) dose
morphine 10 mg
tapentadol ÷3 50 mg*
tramadol ÷5 50 mg
*Dose guided by strength of medication available
• The dose listed for tapentadol is determined by lowest
strength of medication available (50 mg)
• Tapentadol is NOT the same strength as tramadol
Methadone
• Conversion factors have not been provided
for methadone
• Methadone conversions are complicated
• Prescribing should be restricted to medical
specialists with experience of methadone
prescribing for pain management
Subcutaneous route conversions
Conversion
Equianalgesic factor
Opioid Oral dose subcutaneous (oral dose
dose ÷ by factor =
subcut dose)
morphine 30 mg 10 mg ÷3
hydromorphone 6 mg 2 mg ÷3
• The conversion factor for oral to subcutaneous doses is
used for calculating equivalent daily doses OR intermittent
(or ‘when required’) doses
• Equianalgesic doses are listed (as above) on the Guide
Calculating subcutaneous doses
Equianalgesic Conversion factor
Opioid Oral dose subcutaneous (oral dose ÷ by factor
dose = subcut dose)
morphine 30 mg 10 mg ÷3
hydromorphone 6 mg 2 mg ÷3
If a patient is taking MS Contin® 30 mg bd
that is, 30 mg oral morphine x 2 doses/day or 60 mg oral morphine/day
Then,
60 mg oral morphine/day ÷ conversion factor = subcut morphine/day
60 mg ÷ 3 = 20 mg subcut/morphine/day
Transdermal preparation conversions
Opioid Patch strength Equianalgesic oral
morphine dose
buprenorphine 5 microgram/hr 12 mg/24 hrs
fentanyl 12 microgram/hr 30-45 mg/24 hrs
• For transdermal preparations (patches) the
equianalgesic oral morphine dose is listed for the
lowest strength of each patch
Sublingual preparation conversions
Opioid Dose Equianalgesic oral morphine
dose for pain
buprenorphine tablet 200 8-16 mg
microgram
• For buprenorphine the equianalgesic dose of oral
morphine is listed
Sublingual preparation conversions
Opioid Dose Equianalgesic oral morphine
dose for pain
fentanyl lozenge 200 no direct conversion
microgram
• There is no direct conversion for fentanyl lozenge to
other opioids including morphine
• The recommended initial dose of lozenge is
200 micrograms
• If pain is not relieved then the dose can be increased
until effective
